The Supreme Lord Donghuang

by Stayrr

Zhou Donghuang, a man from the Earth, is able to destroy any planet in the universe without lifting a finger. His supreme will can sweep across the vast cosmos in the blink of an eye. And his immortal spirit can depart from his body and wander around the universe! In Kunlun Mountains lies a circular slate, which brought him back to one thousand years ago…

4. 97

Read The Supreme Lord Donghuang - Chapter 97 - Shield? online free - Light Novel Full

Boom!

The ground shook as an earth-shattering noise rumbled. Zhou Donghuang stopped as he stared into the distance. As he watched behind the sea of bamboo trees, a large shadow rushed into three figures like a moving mountain.

"Is that… a grizzly bear?" Zhou Donghuang squinted and saw that the shadow was a huge black bear with rows of long sharp teeth and a small tuft of white hair on its forehead. His eyes lit up.

The gallbladder of the grizzly bear was a precious medicine that he could use to produce an elixir that could instantly increase his qi to more than 500kg! Most importantly, there were no side effects.

Just as Zhou Donghuang stared at the grizzly bear, the three men who had been hit by the bear looked on with despair.

"Chief, Second Elder and I will stop him together… you escape!" Seeing the grizzly bear advance towards them faster and faster as if it was about to attack again, the old man in green reached out to wipe the blood on his mouth as he said to the middle-aged man.

"Chief, leave!" the other old man in blue stepped forward in front of the man. Although his injured body was shaking, he stood upright like an indestructible wall.

"We'll leave together!" The man refused to abandon the other two. Compared to the two old men, the middle-aged man was the least injured.

"Chief, our Tang family only has the three of us above level-eight of the gathered qi… today, if all three of us die here, the family will become a grand family!" the old man in green pleaded anxiously. "Then, the three of us will become criminals of the family."

"Chief, you are a level-nine adept, as long as you are alive, even if the two of us are not… the family will still be a superior tycoon family!" Seeing the grizzly bear about to attack again, the old man in blue rushed the man.

"Chief, please think of the family!!" With that, the old man in green shot forward towards the grizzly bear, determined and unafraid. The old man in blue did the same.

"Head Elder! Second Elder!" Seeing this, the man's eyes widened as he grit his teeth and finally turned around and left. Although he did not want to abandon the two old men, he knew that he could not let them down, if he died, Second Elder would have sacrificed himself for nothing!

Whoosh!

Just as the man turned around, from the corner of his eye, he saw a white figure shoot out from the forest towards the grizzly bear.

Bang!

With a loud bang, the grizzly bear stumbled by a few meters and missed the two old men. Not only did he miss the attack, but the inertia of the bear's huge body caused it to roll over twice.

"This…" Immediately, the man turned around and saw a figure in white not far from the two elders. When he saw that the figure was just a teenager, he could not help but gasp. The two stunned elders had the same reaction upon seeing the teenager.

The guttural growl of the grizzly bear brought the three men back to attention. They watched as the bear's eyes flashed murderously as it rushed towards the teenager. The teenager did not flinch as he flew forward and faced the bear head-on.

The teenager seemed minuscule in front of the massive grizzly bear, like David versus Goliath.

"So fast!" The three men realized with a shock that the teenager moved even faster than the grizzly bear. The grizzly bear was an unrivaled level-nine demon and master of the forest, besides the two golden-crowned eagles.

In the country, any adept beneath petty consummation of the gathered qi did not dare to harass this bear.

"Watch out!" Just as the teenager was about to crash into the bear, the man cried a warning. Their stomachs rose to their mouths as they watched the scene unfold.

Whoosh! As the teenager was about to crash, his feet tapped the ground lightly, and he seemed to use some strange footwork to evade the bear.

Bang!!

As the teenager brushed past the grizzly bear, he struck the bear's head loudly with his right fist.

"Ah-woo…" the bear let out a woeful cry as its huge body crashed to the ground, dust billowing about it.

"Is it… dead?" The three men watched in utter shock. The grizzly bear was dead?

With its strength, few petty consummate adepts could even kill it because it was not only strong, but its skin was a thick layer of impenetrable defense. But now, with just a few moments' work, the young man had killed this grizzly bear?

"You are from the tycoon Tang family of Chu royal city?" asked Zhou Donghuang. With the first-grade fist motion technique, "Striking the Bull," Zhou Donghuang had completely beaten the bear's defenses and killed the bear by crushing his brain.

"I have something to do now, you'll take out the bear's gallbladder and bring it to the third room in Chuxiu Inn tomorrow morning. As for the rest of the bear's parts, you can have them." With that, Zhou Donghuang continued towards the depths of the forest because he realized that he was nearing the source that was absorbing all the spirit energy.

From their conversation, Zhou Donghuang had found out their background, so he was not worried that they would take the gallbladder for themselves.

It was only when the teenager's figure disappeared that the three men stared at each other, speechless. The middle-aged man swallowed nervously and said, "Head Elder, Second Elder … are we in a dream? A teenager just killed this grizzly bear?" His face was filled with disbelief.

"Chief, we also feel as if we're in a dream… but it isn't!" The old man in green pinched himself as if to confirm that he was not in a dream.

"Looks like he is going for the spirit fruit," sighed the old man in blue.

"Let's go back… with our injuries, we can't possibly challenge him for the fruit. Even if we were not injured, with that teenager and the people from the Chu royal court, it'll be difficult to get the fruit," commented the man.

The two elders agreed with him. The three of them were from the tycoon Tang family: Chief Tang Liunian, Head Elder Tang Yuxin and Second Elder Tang Yong, the three pillars of the family.

Tang Liunian was a level-nine adept, while Tang Yuxin and Tang Yong were both level-eight adepts. Though the Tang family was not a premier tycoon family in Chu royal city, they were considered a superior tycoon family, far more prominent than the inferior Shi family. Today, the three of them had come for the spirit fruit, but they did not expect to be so unfortunate to run into the only grizzly bear in the forest on the way.

"Although we did not get the fruit, we still gained quite a bit… this bear is full of valuable body parts, even if we leave the most precious gallbladder for the teenager, we will have earned at least a million liang from this trip," smiled Tang Yong.

The level-nine grizzly bear's body parts were worth at least two million liang. Without the gallbladder, the other parts were also worth at least a million liang.

"Second Elder, we cannot be greedy," Tang Liunian shook his head. "Don't forget… if not for that teenager, we would have been dead."

In the depths of the Lost Forest, just outside of the white fog.

"Hmm?" As if it noticed something, the darker golden-crowned eagle flapped its wings and shot out like a bolt of lightning towards something in the distance. "Second Brother, someone is trying to enter our territory!" it reminded the other eagle.

The other eagle's eyes flashed as it flapped its wings, following its brother.

Just after the two golden-crowned eagles had flown away, a white figure raced towards the fog from another direction. This was none other than Zhou Donghuang rushing here after killing the grizzly bear.

"Is that… a shield?" Seeing the white fog and the insects that were immediately killed upon nearing it, Zhou Donghuang's eyes narrowed. "Why would there be such a thing here?"

Even the most simple shields would require primal core to deploy. And only adepts who had achieved primal core stage would have that.

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Chapter 98: Entering the Shield

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the back courtyard of the Wei family household.

"Didn't Tan Zhi, first young master of the Tan family, go to find Shi Yu? Why isn't he back?" Many of the grand family sons who had gathered were beginning to feel perplexed that Shi Yu had yet to come, while Tan Zhi had not come back either.

"It's been so long… even if Tan Zhi had walked slowly from here to the Shi family household, he would've returned by now."

"What's the situation?"

"Could it be that Shi Yu ran into Yang Zixi on the way here?"

"Maybe."

Most of those present were gossiping among themselves. None of them thought that Shi Yu had not dared to come, but rather some special circumstances had occurred. Shi Yu was the first young master of the tycoon Shi family, while that teenager in white was not even from a grand family. Nobody would have thought that Shi Yu had not dared to come.

"Looks like Sister Jiapei did not listen to our warnings." If there was anyone present who thought that Shi Yu had not dared to come, it would be today's host, first young master of the Wei family, Wei Hongtao. Just now, as the young man in white was leaving, he was about to stop him but was stopped by Ren Jiapei, first lady of the Ren family.

Then, Ren Jiapei had told him mysteriously that Shi Yu would not dare to come. Naturally, he did not believe her. But now, it appeared that Ren Jiapei was probably speaking the truth.

"This young man… who is he?" Wei Hongtao did not believe that it was a coincidence. The city was huge, and the chances that Shi Yu had bumped into the teenager on the way were slim. Furthermore, even if they had run into each other, why didn't Tan Jiazhi return to find his brother, Tan Li?

Wei Hongtao glanced at Tan Li but overheard him telling the rest that his cousin, Shi Yu must have run into the teenager on the way.

With nothing left to watch, many of the guests left after bidding Wei Hongtao farewell.

"That Yang Zixi would rather fall for an average teenager than get together with Young Master Shi Yu… do you think she is a fool?" laughed Zheng Qiuhe, third lady of the Zheng family. To her, anyone beneath a grand family was nothing different from an average teenager.

"She used to find Young Master Shi Yu too much of a playboy… but which capable man does not have multiple wives?"

"In my opinion, that Yang Zixi is just playing hard to get… or maybe after the teenager she's with dies in Shi Yu's hands, then she will realize that family background is the most important thing in this world."

"Indeed. That teenager may be talented in martial arts, but what use can that be?"

"If Young Master Shi Yu finds out about how he flirted with Yang Zixi, he'll be done for!"

The people ridiculing Yang Zixi with Zheng Qiuhe were all the grand ladies who used to be sworn sisters with Yang Zixi. in the past, they had been jealous that Shi Yu had taken a fancy to Yang Zixi. but because she used to be the first lady of the Yang family and of the same status as them, they had not dared to show their jealousy. Now that Yang Zixi had been chased out of the Yang family, they were free to express the jealousy that they had repressed for so long.

In the depths of the Lost Forest.

"In front of us is the territory of the two golden-crowned eagles… after going around it, we know that the spirit fruit appeared within their territory." Surrounding the territory of the master of the forest, the two golden-crowned eagles, many people had gathered at different places to peer within fearfully.

"Commander Xue, the spirit fruit should be inside the territory of the golden-crowned eagles; should we take the risk?" asked a white-haired old man in a grey robe as he looked at the man in front of him.

The man was around fifty years old, with a fearsome face. He was in a silver robe, with a sword hanging at his waist. He was none other than the commander of the city's army, Xue Meng. He was also one of the few adepts approaching perfection of the gathered qi within the Chu royal household, and he had come here on the orders of the Chu King.

"We lost our chance," sighed Xue Meng.

"Hm?" Just as the old man in grey was wondering what he had meant, he saw a black figure race towards them from the bamboo forest in the distance. As it got closer, they could see that it was a massive black eagle with a golden crown, circling them from above. Even from this distance, its eyes were murderously sharp.

Whoosh!

Soon, another identical eagle appeared, but this one's golden crown was not as dark as the previous one.

Seeing the two massive eagles circling them above, the old man gulped. He knew that these were the masters of the Lost Forest, the two golden-crowned eagles of petty consummation of the gathered qi.

"Sirs, we have no intention of entering your territory," shouted Xue Meng as he stared seriously at the two eagles above.

Just as the old man in grey was thinking that Xue Meng had achieved nothing, the two golden-crowned eagles flashed them a nasty look and turned to leave.

"They… understood you?" The old man was incredulous. He could not help but question, "Commander Xue… I thought only connate demons could attain intelligence? Why does it seem like… these two golden-crowned eagles already have intelligence?"

Typically, demons could only attain intelligence after reaching the connate stage, and only if the demons were of a certain background.

"Usually, only connate stage demons can attain intelligence… but these two eagles are different. Although they have only achieved petty consummation of the gathered qi, they have already attained it," answered Xue Meng.

"Let's head back… since the spirit fruit appeared in their territory, we cannot touch it. Even if all the adepts approaching perfection in the royal household came along together, we would hardly be able to steal it beneath their watchful eyes." Xue Meng sighed heavily and turned to leave.

The old man turned to look again inside, then turned and caught up with Xue Meng. Even Xue Meng, a great consummate adept, did not dare to enter the eagles' territory. He was just a level-nine adept and stood even less of a chance of getting out alive.

As Xue Meng and the old man were leaving, all the people sent by the other inferior and superior tycoon families were also being stopped outside of the eagles' territory. Initially, they had all considered taking the risk. But when they saw the two golden-crowned eagles asserting their dominance in front of them, they all turned to leave hurriedly, as if afraid that the eagles would attack them.

Soon, the two eagles had circled their territory and scared away all those who had been drawn to the unnatural spirit in the forest.

"These fools must have come thinking that a spirit fruit has appeared," laughed the darker-colored golden-crowned eagle as he spoke in demon tongue.

"If they knew that the unnatural spirit was caused by a yuan-tier lady, they would probably wet their pants," added the other eagle.

"Something's not right!" Suddenly, the eagles ahead drew back. "Second Brother, there's something moving in there… someone has breached our territory!"

Immediately, the two eagles flew towards the depths of their territory. When they reached the edge of the fog, they were just in time to see a white figure pass through the fog. However, it was as if the fog had completely ignored him and did not produce any blinding white light to attack him.

"How is that possible?!" Seeing this, the two eagles looked at each other in disbelief.

"Could it be… the shield has lost its effect?" The two eagles were about to rush in as well, but just as they neared the shield, they were forced back by the blinding white light from the fog. The white light was as scary as it was before.

"Maybe there's an entrance there?" The two eagles turned to enter from where the white figure had bypassed the shield but were turned away by the fog again. The blinding white light from the fog was so powerful, it was no different from an attack from a connate adept and far more powerful than they could resist.

"How did that lad… go in just now?"

"If I saw correctly, he was just a teenager."

The two eagles stared at each other blankly. They could not fathom how a teenager could possibly breach the shield. The fog completely covered their vision, and they could not see within.

That scary lady must have put up the shield to prevent anyone from entering… now that the lad went in, he will definitely be killed by her! thought the two eagles.

The figure who had entered the shield was none other than Zhou Donghuang. Although he was just an adept of the gathered qi, with his impressive history, he still had some knowledge of shields. The shield that had appeared here was only the lowest level of shields. Even at his level, with some effort, he could easily enter the shield unharmed.

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Chapter 99: Luo Qinghan

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"There's a lake." After entering the shield, what appeared before Zhou Donghuang's eyes was a clear lake and two huge trees on the shore.

"Hmm?" Soon, his attention landed on a figure sitting cross-legged on one end of the lake. This was a young lady, roughly twenty years of age, in a light green gown. With her long, flowing hair and beautiful eyes, a high nose and ruby-red lips, she was beautiful. Yet, her features revealed an ice-cold aura.

"Poisoned?" Zhou Donghuang realized that beneath the lady's pale skin, a faint red glow came and went. The red glow began to flash increasingly rapidly.

Just as he stepped towards the lady, she opened her eyes suddenly. Her pretty eyes were like two polished gems, drawing Zhou Donghuang's gaze. Her sparkling eyes really accentuated the lady's beauty. Be it her charisma or her features, she was far more attractive than any lady Zhou Donghuang had ever seen.

But soon, her perfect eyes began to flash with a red glow. As she stared at him, the atmosphere suddenly became gentle yet ambiguous.

"Leave!!" the lady opened her mouth with some difficulty and growled from the bottom of her throat. The red glow in her eyes disappeared momentarily as if they returned to flawless jewels in that moment. At the same time, her gaze revealed her anxiety and worry.

Not long ago, Luo Qinghan had made a promise to herself to continue fighting the poison, and if she really could not suppress the power of the Yin-Yang elixir, she would release the contained primal essence herself. The power released from that would not only incinerate her body, but also the area contained within this shield. But she did not expect a teenager to suddenly appear in the grave that she had dug for herself.

Hadn't she set up a shield? How did this young man get in?

But now, she had no time to explain anything to the young man; she just wanted him to stay clear of the area.

"Wah—!" The massive sound wave that the lady emitted caused Zhou Donghuang's eardrums to burst and blood began to pour from his ears. It also shook his organs, and he coughed out a mouthful of blood.

"She's a primal core stage adept!" Zhou Donghuang's eyes narrowed. He had never expected that the lady who looked just twenty years of age would be a primal core stage adept. In the climate of Ziyun planet, it was impossible to reach the primal core stage at such a young age.

Hence, there was only one possibility: this lady came from beyond Ziyun planet.

"What poison are you infected with? I may be able to help you." Although the lady's voice had injured him, Zhou Donghuang could see determination and reluctance in her eyes; he could easily tell that she had her unspoken difficulties.

Seeing that the young man had no intention to leave, Luo Qinghan was about to attack him, but before she could use the Yuan in her body's contained primal essence, she realized: the Yin-Yang elixir in her body had become even more aggressive when she had lost focus and had spread to the rest of her body, causing her to lose consciousness.

Whoosh!

Just as Luo Qinghan lost consciousness and wobbled, Zhou Donghuang flew out and caught her before she fell. The Yang energy caused the Yin-Yang elixir in her body to become even more powerful, causing her consciousness to sway.

"Leave… Leave!!" Luo Qinghan bit her tongue and in the momentary consciousness, she screamed at the young man supporting her.

"Were you poisoned by the Yin-Yang elixir?" Then, Zhou Donghuang finally confirmed the poison that she had been infected with. Strictly speaking, it was not a poison, but an extremely aggressive medicine called "Yin-Yang elixir" that was tasteless and colorless.

Unless an adept had undergone the divine transformation, they would be fooled by this elixir. The simplest way to treat this poison was to perform the most primitive Yin-Yang mixing.

Besides that, Zhou Donghuang had another way to treat this Yin-Yang elixir.

"Please hang in there… give me an hour, I'll force the poison out of your body!"

Just as he was about to treat the lady using a qi massage, the lady's charming eyes landed on Zhou Donghuang. Her pale skin began to flash red again.

In the next instant, Zhou Donghuang felt a huge force attack him and push him down. He wanted to fight it, but the lady was much stronger than him. He was simply powerless.

In his previous life, he had looked down on adepts of the primal core stage. But now, he was nothing compared to them.

"Oh no! She has already been completely controlled by the Yin-Yang elixir!" Seeing the lady suddenly seem to transform into a crazed demon girl, rush towards him and use her Yuan power to control him, Zhou Donghuang was shocked.

"Wake up, I can treat you using other methods!"

"Stop… Stop… Stop it!"

Soon, an hour had passed.

The lady sat on the edge of the lake, her clothes in a mess. She looked at the red roses scattered across the ground, then at the young man sitting cross-legged and practicing a distance away.

"I shouldn't have cared about him just now!" muttered Luo Qinghan. As she thought of how she had met the young man, her eyes filled with regret. She had planned to release the primal essence just now, but because the young man had barged in, she had momentarily been distracted as she had not wished to harm any innocents.

It was in that moment that the Yin-Yang elixir took full control of her.

What happened after was a mess to her. She could only remember parts of it… with the scene that lay before her, she could easily guess what had happened.

Her eyes flashed as she raised her hand, the primal essence appearing in her hands. She could easily end the young man with just a single stroke.

But eventually, she put her hand down.

Forget it… at the end of the day, this has nothing to do with him. In fact, he is the victim here. Perhaps it was fate that brought him here to detoxify the Yin-Yang elixir poison, so that I would not have to release the primal essence to end myself. Since the heavens do not want me to die yet, I should return to Tianxuan planet and sort out that evil lady!

Luo Qinghan's eyes flashed coldly. She rose to the skies and soon disappeared behind the clouds.

Luo Qinghan was the second lady of the Luo family of Tianxuan planet and was the precious daughter of the Luo family. She was immensely talented and widely recognized as the most powerful among the younger generation of the Luo family, even trumping her elder brother. At just twenty years of age, she had already entered yuan-tier, being the youngest Yuan adept in the Luo family history.

A few days ago, her good friend had asked her out for a meal. She never would have expected her friend to put the Yin-Yang elixir in the food… later, after the elixir had taken effect, she saw the man who had chased her for a long time but had been repeatedly rejected by her. The man wanted to take advantage of her.

She had suppressed the poison and escaped, using all the spirit stones on her to produce an invisible shield around her that allowed her to escape to the nearest galaxy teleporter.

"Teleport anywhere!" To prevent leaving any trace, she had chosen to allow the teleporter to send her to any galaxy and any planet within the galaxy. Then, she had been teleported to Ziyun planet and appeared near the Chu royal city. She had set foot in the Lost Forest and taken over the two golden-crowned eagles' territory; then she set up her shield as she tried to detoxify the poison.

Yet, the Yin-Yang elixir was too strong, and seeing that it was hopeless, she had thought of releasing her primal essence to keep her innocence. She would rather die than allow anyone to taint her purity.

But she did not expect that just as she was about to release the primal essence, a young man would barge in and momentarily distract her from the thought. In that moment, something unimaginable had happened between her and the young man.

"Zhou Donghuang." A while ago, as she had tumbled with the young man, she had found out his name. Of course, she had no intention to have any further connection with this man in her life.

By the time the young man risen from his practice, the sun was setting, filling the skies with a crimson red. Even the fog from the shield could not block the red sky from shining through.

"She's… gone?" Looking around him, Zhou Donghuang did not see any trace of the lady. As the fog started to fade around him, Zhou Donghuang knew that the lady had left without a word.

"Tianxuan planet, Luo Qinghan." That was all he knew about the lady: her name and where she came from. Just as he had expected, she was not from Ziyun planet.

"Looks like it was the first time for both of us…" laughed Zhou Donghuang as he looked at the bloodstains on the ground around him. He never would have dreamt that after so long, he would lose his virginity in such a situation and at such a place.

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Chapter 100: Approaching Perfection of the Qi-Gathering

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"Could this be… what it feels like to be in love?" Zhou Donghuang found that whenever he shut his eyes, the image of Luo Qinghan would float into his brain unconsciously, as if it was deeply rooted within him.

"Tianxuan planet? I will find you there." Zhou Donghuang knew that in his current state, he was too far from Luo Qinghan. Perhaps Luo Qinghan did not think that there was a chance that they would even meet again. After all, Luo Qinghan was already a Primal Core stage adept at just twenty years old. On the other hand, he was almost eighteen but had not even attained the connate stage.

"But after this intercourse where our Yin-Yang energy mixed, because she is a Primal Core stage adept, and her first time, I gained a lot." Zhou Donghuang was practicing when Luo Qinghan awoke because he had gotten some of the Primal Core energy from her and wanted to make use of it before it dissipated.

After one afternoon, he had managed to fully make use of the Primal Core energy and had achieved Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering after entirely skipping level nine. In fact, he was not far from Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering.

Level-nine of the Qi-Gathering was nowhere near Petty Consummation. The latter could produce the strength of nine bulls and a tiger, while the qi of level-nine adepts was only equivalent to nine bulls. A bull's strength was around 400kg, while a tiger's strength was around 1000kg! Because of the huge difference between level-nine adepts and those who had achieved Petty Consummation, there was an even larger jump than from level-seven to level-nine.

"Hm?" Suddenly, as if noticing something, Zhou Donghuang stared at the shield surrounding the area he was at. The shield was produced using Luo Qinghan's yuan energy, and after she left, the shield naturally started degrading as time passed.

Boom!

With an earth-shattering sound, the shield surrounding the lake dissipated along with the fog, as if it had never been there.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two shadows flew across the sky and circled above the lake. These two shadows were the masters of the Lost Forest, the two golden-crowned eagles with Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering.

Now, they circled above the lake, staring suspiciously at the topless young man who was sitting cross-legged at its shore.

"Brother, where is the scary lady? Why is she missing?"

"I've been with you the whole time; how would I know?"

"Brother, I think this was the man who entered the shield just now!"

"He's not wearing a shirt… was he taking a bath in the lake? Doesn't that mean we'll have to drink his bathwater from now on?"

"Brother, shall we kill him?"

The two golden-crowned eagles were conversing in demon tongue as if there was nobody else around.

"I did not bathe there." Zhou Donghuang picked up the white shirt beside him and put it on. As he stood up, he tightened the waist-strap and glanced up at the two eagles above. He replied to the eagles in a language foreign to humans—demon tongue.

In his past life, he had come across all the different languages in the universe, but he was most fluent in the most common languages used in the universe. Demon tongue was one of those languages.

"You… you… can understand us?" The two eagles were so shocked to hear Zhou Donghuang talk in demon tongue that they slowed down and stared at him incredulously.

"Only Petty Consummation but you've already attained intelligence… looks like there was a miracle for the both of you," continued Zhou Donghuang.

Usually, even if it was a demon with talent, it had to reach the connate stage before it could attain intelligence. But these two golden-crowned eagles, which were just demons with Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering, had somehow attained intelligence. There must have been some kind of miracle for them to achieve this so early.

"Brother, this is incredible… a human understands us."

"Second Brother, it looks like this is no simple young man."

The two golden-crowned eagles whispered excitedly to each other after Zhou Donghuang used demon tongue once again. After they had attained intelligence, they had only been able to speak to each other because all the other demons in the forest had yet to attain intelligence. Yet now, there was a human who could communicate with them. As surprised as they were, they could not help but feel excited.

"Young man, how did you breach the lady's shield?" the elder brother of the two eagles asked Zhou Donghuang.

"Such a simple shield, how difficult would it be to enter it?" replied Zhou Donghuang.

"Young man, where is the lady?" the second brother asked.

"Gone," sighed Zhou Donghuang.

"Gone?" hearing this, the two eagles' eyes perked up. They excitedly circled the lake, before returning to the sky above Zhou Donghuang.

"Young man, since you can talk to us, why don't you stay here with us… you'll enjoy yourself here!" said the second brother, as if he wanted to take him as his younger brother.

"I'm not a demon, why would I stay in your Lost Forest?" Zhou Donghuang shook his head as he turned to leave the forest and return to the city. It was getting late, and it would probably be dark by the time he returned.

"Lad, you can't just come and go within our territory!" laughed the elder brother coldly. "You can either stay here to become our younger brother, or die here… you'd better consider carefully."

"What? If I don't agree to stay here, you'll kill me?" Zhou Donghuang turned and glanced at the two eagles. He smiled, "I want to see… how will you kill me?" After making the leap to Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering, Zhou Donghuang had gotten a huge boost in his qi. Seeing the two eagles try to pick a fight, he could not help but feel excited.

"Brother, let me teach him a lesson!" the second brother called out to the other eagle as he dived towards Zhou Donghuang.

His black wings sliced through the air like a knife, but the real weapon of the golden-crowned eagle was not in those wings, but in its pair of razor-sharp talons.

Whoosh!

The eagle flew behind Zhou Donghuang like a bolt of lightning, his talons about to land on Zhou Donghuang's body.

Hoo!

With a swift sidestep, Zhou Donghuang stepped out of the way of the eagle's talons, the movement fluid like water.

Whoosh!

The eagle attacked again. Once again, Zhou Donghuang dodged.

"Is that all you got?" With his first-grade swiftness technique, Zhou Donghuang's footwork was ghoulishly fast as he dodged all of the eagle's repeated attacks.

Finally, the eagle was exhausted, while Zhou Donghuang seemed entirely unfazed.

"Second Brother, you're really useless!" Seeing this, the older brother scolded the other eagle and joined in on the attack.

But even when both eagles attacked together, they could not touch Zhou Donghuang, not even the sleeves on his clothes.

"Lad, do you only know how to hide?" cried the second brother of the eagles.

"Of course not," replied Zhou Donghuang calmly. "I just wanted to see if you could touch me… looks like I overestimated you."

As he spoke, Zhou Donghuang suddenly stopped and stood at his spot. As the two eagles rushed towards him, he stretched out his hands like a pair of talons. Using the first-grade attack technique "Pincer Hands," Zhou Donghuang pushed away the talons of the two eagles rushing towards him. His hands latched onto each of their wings like a pair of pincers.

When the two golden-crowned eagles tried to attack once again, Zhou Donghuang brought his hands together, swinging the eagles around in the air before throwing them against a huge tree across the lake.

Bang! Bang!

The two eagles crashed heavily into the tree, causing it to shake. They awkwardly flapped their wings and narrowly avoided crashing to the ground.

"Lad, we didn't expect you to be so strong… I admit that on the ground, we're not your match," called the elder brother as he flew above Zhou Donghuang, as if taunting him. "But we specialize in flying… once we take to the skies, you can't do anything to us!" His voice was filled with arrogance.

"Is that so?" Zhou Donghuang's feet moved as he kicked a fist-sized stone up into his hands.

"What? You want to hit us with that stone?" laughed the golden-crowned eagle.

Whoosh!!

The stone flew out of Zhou Donghuang's hand like a target-locking missile, flying straight towards the eagle. Even as it accelerated and ducked, the stone struck its head accurately with a loud whack.

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Chapter 101: Two Silly Birds

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

While Zhou Donghuang was still gathering his strength, the golden-crowned eagle suddenly accelerated to a higher altitude but was still unable to dodge. The stone thrown by Zhou Donghuang smashed into its skull.

The golden-crowned eagle plummeted in a daze, and if not for the other golden-crowned eagle that managed to grab it in support, it would have been the first golden-crowned eagle of the species to fall to its death.

"Many thanks for your mercy."

After recovering from its daze, the older golden-crowned eagle finally came to and thanked Zhou Donghuang profusely.

At that moment, they looked at Zhou Donghuang with a gaze full of dread.

Earlier, they had already witnessed the power of the youth when he had grabbed their wings and flung them away, and they could easily tell that the youth had been holding back when he had flung the stone at them.

If not, they would be dead.

"This qi-gathering elixir that I have should be able to help you attain Great Consummation of the Qi-gathering."

With a flick of his arm, Zhou Donghuang tossed a bottle of qi-gathering elixir to the older golden-crowned eagle.

Suspicion and surprise glittered in its eyes, but it nevertheless reached out a talon to catch it and opened the seal on the bottle, pouring the contents into its mouth and draining it to the last drop.

It was not worried that the youth would harm it because if the youth had intended to, he was entirely capable of killing it mercilessly earlier on.

After consuming the qi-gathering elixir, the older golden-crowned eagle closed its eyes and roosted on its younger brother's broad back and began to practice. When it opened its eyes again shortly after, they were glittering with excitement.

This qi-gathering elixir… can actually increase the sensitivity to qi by a thousand percent!

When the older golden-crowned eagle spoke again, it was with barely contained excitement. "Compared to this qi-gathering elixir, the qi-gathering elixir that increases sensitivity to qi by a hundred percent that we stole from several adepts that year are nothing but rubbish!"

That year, the imperial court of Yunyang country had sent a Great Consummation adept of the Qi-gathering into the Lost Forest to hunt the two golden-crowned eagles, and not only had he returned empty-handed, but several members of the party had also been robbed of their qi-gathering elixirs.

"Increases the sensitivity to qi by a thousand percent? Big Brother, are you joking?"

The younger golden-crowned eagle's eyes showed disbelief.

Almost as soon as it had finished speaking, its older brother curled its right talon into a fist and gave it a savage knock on its skull. "You dare doubt what your older brother says?"

The younger golden-crowned eagle laughed in embarrassment. "No, of course not."

Zhou Donghuang swept a casual gaze over the two golden-crowned eagles and turned to leave for the second time.

"Young man, wait!"

Just as Zhou Donghuang turned around, the older golden-crowned eagle spoke up again, making Zhou Donghuang pause in mid-step and turned to look at it, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What is it? You want another round?"

"No, no, no…"

The older golden-crowned eagle shook its head hurriedly. "We are no match for you, we admit defeat."

"I asked you to wait because I wanted to ask for a few more bottles of that qi-gathering elixir that you gave me… just that one bottle is not enough for me to attain Great Consummation of the Qi-gathering."

"Eight to ten bottles more should allow me to barely attain Great Consummation of the Qi-gathering," the older golden-crowned eagle said.

"You want a qi-gathering elixir?"

A smile at his successful ploy pulled at the corners of Zhou Donghuang's mouth, and he casually said, "You and I are neither relatives nor enemies; why would I give you a qi-gathering elixir?"

"This…"

The golden-crowned eagle was stunned. What this youth before him was saying made sense.

Previously, it had always been robbing adepts who entered the Lost Forest of their qi-gathering elixirs, and this had become a habit. This made it think that all the adepts who entered the Lost Forest had to surrender their qi-gathering elixirs to it.

Now, it had just realized that this youth's ability was stronger than its own, and it could do nothing if he refused to give it a qi-gathering elixir.

Seeing the golden-crowned eagle sink into silence, Zhou Donghuang knew the time was ripe and said to it, "Actually, it's not that you can't have more of the qi-gathering elixir I gave you earlier. Leave the Lost Forest and follow me, and as long as you obey me, I can provide a steady supply of that kind of qi-gathering elixir for you. With the qi-gathering elixir that I can give you, in just a short period of time, not just Great Consummation of the Qi-gathering but even if you want to advance to the Connate stage and become Connate stage demons, it will not be difficult."

Zhou Donghuang revealed his "motive."

And this was also the reason that he had not killed the golden-crowned eagles earlier because he wanted to bring the two golden-crowned eagles out of the Lost Forest and bind them into his service.

These two golden-crowned eagles were not only of uncommon ability, but they were also incredibly fast as mounts, far faster in comparison to ferghana horses.

"Younger Brother, what do you think?"

The older golden-crowned eagle asked the other golden-crowned eagle discreetly, but it did not know that even though it had lowered its voice, Zhou Donghuang's could still hear it clearly.

"Big Brother, if he can really provide us with an uninterrupted supply of qi-gathering elixirs that increases the sensitivity to qi by a thousand percent, I feel that we should follow him."

The younger golden-crowned eagle continued softly, "At our current standard, Great Consummation of the Qi-gathering is our limit. If we follow him as he asks, we have a chance to become Connate demons!"

"After we become Connate demons we will no longer need qi-gathering elixir… and we will be entirely capable of leaving him, could he still manage to bind us and prevent us from leaving?"

A qi-gathering elixir was only useful to adepts and demons at the stage of Qi-Gathering, and was of no help to adepts and demons at the Connate stage.

"Younger brother, I notice you have become cleverer," the older golden-crowned eagle chuckled.

Zhou Donghuang laughed to himself in his heart at the whispered exchange between the two golden-crowned eagles.

He, Zhou Donghuang, could formulate a qi-gathering elixir that could help increase the rate of practice of adepts and demons at the stage of Qi-gathering. Could he also not formulate some potion that could help adepts and demons at the Connate stage increase their rate of practice?

These two golden-crowned eagles were too naive.

Now, these two golden-crowned eagles still did not know that they had embarked on a path of no return.

After they had finished their hushed discussion, they both expressed their willingness to follow Zhou Donghuang.

On the way back, Zhou Donghuang stood on the back of the older golden-crowned eagle with his hands clasped behind his back, allowing them to fly him back to the Chu royal city.

The golden-crowned eagles were huge, far larger than ordinary eagles. They stood at around one and a half meters tall and had a wingspan of five meters. Zhou Donghuang was able to stand on them as though he were standing on level ground.

"Young man, how should my big brother and I address you from now on?"

The younger golden-crowned eagle suddenly looked back at Zhou Donghuang and asked as it was clearing the way ahead.

"Just call me 'Young Master.'" Zhou Donghuang smiled casually.

"And you two, do you have names?" Zhou Donghuang followed up immediately.

Seeing the two golden-crowned eagles shaking their heads in unison, Zhou Donghuang continued, "Since you don't, I'll give you names…"

"From today onwards, you'll be 'Big Gold' and he'll be 'Little Gold.'"

In short order, Zhou Donghuang had named both golden-crowned eagles. The older golden-crowned eagle he was standing on was Big Gold, and the other golden-crowned eagle was Little Gold.

On the journey to the Lost Forest, a hundred kilometers from the Chu royal city had taken Zhou Donghuang several hours.

Now, it took him only fifteen minutes to be brought back by the golden-crowned eagles.

This was the normal speed of the golden-crowned eagles without expending their qi. If they expended their qi in flight, they could travel even faster.

A journey of a hundred kilometers in fifteen minutes… a thousand kilometers would need more than half a day. Ferghana horses only travel a thousand kilometers a day in the figurative sense.

Zhou Donghuang did some quick estimates and realized that the normal flying speed of the golden-crowned eagles was around ten times the speed of a ferghana horse. Moreover, ferghana horses required a road, and golden-crowned eagles flew through the air smoothly without obstruction. They did not need to consider the availability of roads.

From the prefecture capital of Yunfeng prefecture to the Chu royal city at top speed, a ferghana horse would take at least two and a half months after including time for rest breaks.

With golden-crowned eagles instead, even at their normal speed and including rest breaks… and considering that there are no obstructions in the air and traveling in a straight line, it would take only about five days at most.

At this thought, Zhou Donghuang increasingly felt that not killing the two golden-crowned eagles and taking them into his service instead had been an extremely wise decision.

"There."

It was late evening, and as the golden-crowned eagles flew into the Chu royal city, no one noticed them even though they slowed down. Zhou Donghuang guided them to land in the back courtyard of the guest compound of Chuxiu Inn.

Usually, this back courtyard was unused. It was just as well that the two golden-crowned eagles could use it as their resting place.

However, to avoid scaring Yang Zixi, Fu, and Aunt Mei, Zhou Donghuang invited them into the back courtyard and introduced the golden-crowned eagles to them.

After almost half a day of rest, Yang Zixi's condition had obviously improved greatly.

When Zhou Donghuang saw her, he could not help feeling rather diffident.

After all, just earlier this morning, he had expressed his feelings to the young lady and told her that he only treated her as a younger sister… but that afternoon, he had fooled around with another woman in the depths of the Lost Forest.

"This is Big Gold, this is Little Gold… umm, they are the two silly birds I took in when I was in the Lost Forest. They'll be staying here in the back courtyard from now on," Zhou Donghuang told the three of them.

"Silly birds?"

The three of them started in surprise, looking at the two majestic golden-crowned eagles, unable to see how they matched the description of "silly birds."

It was also because night had already fallen, and the back courtyard was dimly lit that Yang Zixi and Aunt Mei were unable to see the golden crowns of the two giant eagles.

If not, even if they did not dare believe that these two giant eagles were the two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest, they would definitely have made the connection to those two golden-crowned eagles.

As the most powerful demons in the Western Ridge of the Chu King, the two golden-crowned eagles of the Lost Forest were known to everyone.

After the three of them left the back courtyard, Big Gold looked at Zhou Donghuang and asked doubtfully, "Young Master, were you introducing us to them just now?"

"Although I don't understand most of the human languages, I understand when humans are referring to us… you didn't tell them that we are the golden-crowned eagles?"

In the past, Big Gold could always hear the shouts of panic when he was robbing adepts in the Lost Forest, and over time, he had learned how humans referred to golden-crowned eagles.

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Chapter 102: Coming of Age

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

January 1229 of the Ziyun Era.

"Young Master."

Zhou Donghuang, who was practicing in his room, was startled by Fu. Leaping off his bed, he walked out of his room and immediately saw the three figures standing in the courtyard.

Leading them was a scholarly middle-aged man in a brocaded mandarin gown, with a handsome face and a dignified demeanor. He had an air of superiority, but he was merely standing there, not daring even to take a deep breath.

Behind the scholarly middle-aged man were two old men.

From the posture of the two old men, they were not ordinary people. They wore long brocaded robes, and one of them had a jade ornamental ring on his right thumb, which was obviously valuable. The other old man had a jade plate hung at his waist, and the quality of the jade was obviously not the same as ordinary jade.

These three people were no strangers to Zhou Donghuang; they were the three men from the tycoon Tang family that he had met in the Lost Forest the day before.

At that time, the three men had been pursued by a grizzly bear, and since he had his eye on the gall bladder of the grizzly bear, he had killed the grizzly bear and saved the lives of the three men.

"Patriarch Tang Liunian of the Tang family acknowledges Young Master Donghuang."

Seeing Zhou Donghuang walk out of his room, the scholarly middle-aged man took the lead in bowing in greeting. He had learned Zhou Donghuang's name from the servants earlier.

"Head Elder Tang Yuxin of the Tang family acknowledges Young Master Donghuang."

"Second Elder Tang Yong of the Tang family acknowledges Young Master Donghuang."

Following as Patriarch Tang Liunian did, the two old men behind him both bowed respectfully in greeting to Zhou Donghuang with gratitude in their eyes, not daring to delay the slightest bit.

The day before, they would have been killed by the level-nine demon grizzly bear in the Lost Forest if not for the timely intervention of this youth before them.

They were sincerely grateful towards this youth.

The Tang family? Tang Liunian?

When Fu, who was standing to the side, heard the scholarly middle-aged man introduce himself, his eyes widened in surprise as he exhaled deeply.

Earlier, although he had heard the three men say they were from the Tang family, he had not been thinking of the tycoon Tang family. Now, hearing the scholarly middle-aged man introduce himself, he realized… actually, this middle-aged man was the patriarch of the tycoon Tang family, Tang Liunian.

Tang Liunian, the patriarch of the tycoon Tang family, was a level-nine adept of the Qi-gathering.

It was because of this that the Tang family could be considered a superior-level tycoon family amongst the tycoon families.

And now, such a person was bowing respectfully to his young master.

"Young Master…"

In that moment, Fu looked back at Zhou Donghuang with growing reverence in his gaze.

"Mm."

Zhou Donghuang nodded in acknowledgment of the greetings of the three men as he walked to the stone table in the middle of the courtyard and sat down, looking at Tang Liunian as he asked casually, "Where's the bear's gall bladder?"

"Young Master Donghuang, this is the gall bladder of the grizzly bear."

At a signal from Tang Liunian, the second elder of the Tang family, Tang Yong, stepped forward and placed a brocaded box on the table before Zhou Donghuang, together with a stack of silver notes beside it.

Zhou Donghuang opened the brocaded box and saw a whole gall bladder and nodded as he looked at the stack of silver notes on the table.

Zhou Donghuang placed his right hand on the table palm down and curled it into a loose fist. His curved index and middle fingers rapped lightly on the table as he looked at Tang Liunian and asked, "What do you mean by this?"

"Young Master Donghuang," Tang Liunian said respectfully, "Other than the gall bladder of the grizzly bear, the value of the remaining parts of its body exceeded a million liang of silver… take this one million liang of silver as the price that the Tang family is paying Young Master Donghuang for the remaining parts of the grizzly bear's body.

"I've already said that other than the gall bladder, the rest is yours to do with as you please," Zhou Donghuang said as he looked deeply at Tang Liunian.

"Young Master Donghuang," Tang Liunian said with a start, "Yesterday, your timely intervention saved our three lives, and that is already a great benefit… how could we take advantage of you?"

As soon as he finished and before Zhou Donghuang could reply, Tang Liunian took an invitation card from his pocket and placed it on the table before Zhou Donghuang.

Zhou Donghuang looked at the invitation with a flash of suspicion in his eyes, but Tang Liunian said, "Young Master Donghuang, the Tang family is hosting a banquet in ten days' time. The patriarchs of all grand families and above in the Chu royal city are invited… the objective of the banquet is to thank you for saving my life as well as the lives of the two elders."

"If the three of us had died in the Lost Forest yesterday, the Tang family would have been demoted from a tycoon family to the status of a grand family… so this banquet is to thank you for saving our lives, and also to thank you for the grace you have given the Tang family!"

As Tang Liunian finished, not just him but also the two elders of the Tang family all bowed low once again.

"I'll take the one million liang of silver, but don't bother about the rest," Zhou Donghuang said as he shook his head.

"Young Master Donghuang, the Tang family has already sent out the invitations to the grand families and above of the Chu royal city early this morning… we still invite you to turn up in ten days' time. Otherwise, this banquet thrown by the Tang family will be meaningless."

With that, Tang Liunian and the two Tang family elders bade Zhou Donghuang farewell and took their leave, leaving Zhou Donghuang with no choice.

Of course, Tang Liunian's actions would not have offended anyone.

After all, his intentions were good and were sufficient to show that he was a man who knew how to show gratitude and repay kindness, even if he had some small intention of getting on Zhou Donghuang's good side.

This Tang Liunian really conducts himself properly.

After the three Tang family members had left, Zhou Donghuang shook his head with a smile and opened the invitation. His name was not on the invitation, and there was only the mention of a "benefactor."

Obviously, the Tang family members had not known his name at the time when they prepared the invitation.

"Fu."

After letting Fu put away the gall bladder, invitation, and silver notes, Zhou Donghuang rose and returned to his room and practiced till the afternoon. It was lunchtime when Fu next called him out of his room.

Leaving his room, he immediately saw that a large round table had been added to the front courtyard, and the table was laden with steaming hot dishes. Although they looked unremarkable, they smelled heavenly and whetted one's appetite.

Before the round table, Fu and Aunt Mei were standing to the side.

The slender young lady was standing before the table, smiling slightly as she looked at Zhou Donghuang as he walked out of his room. "Big Brother Zhou, do you remember what day it is today?"

"What day is it?"

Zhou Donghuang was momentarily stunned.

"Young Master, today is the day you come of age."

Fu could not resist reminding him.

"Young Master Donghuang."

At that moment, Aunt Mei looked tenderly at the young lady before the table before looking back at Zhou Donghuang with a smile. "The dishes on the table were all prepared personally by my young mistress."

"Three months ago, she asked me to teach her to cook. It was in preparation for this day, to cook a meal for you to celebrate your coming of age.

At Aunt Mei's words, the still waters of Zhou Donghuang's heart could not help but be moved, and when he next looked at the young lady, his gaze had become much warmer.

"Zixi, I appreciate your effort… however, actually, I'm not really particular about it."

Zhou Donghuang sighed.

"Big Brother Zhou, I've wanted to learn to cook long ago, and this just happens to be the right time, it's just good fortune."

The young lady smiled slightly as she replied, but a look of dejection flashed across the depths of her gaze.

"Big Brother Zhou, let's sit down and eat."

The young lady stepped forward and pulled the chair out from under the table for Zhou Donghuang. Only when Zhou Donghuang walked over and sat down did she take a seat beside him and began dishing the food out onto his plate.

"Fu, Aunt Mei, please be seated too."

The young lady did not forget to invite Fu and Aunt Mei over, and they both took the next seats.

Sometimes, it seems that fate designs to make fun of people.

If not for what had happened the previous day, Zhou Donghuang might have been sufficiently moved by the scene before him for his feelings to change from thankfulness to something else…

However, the incident the previous day had installed another woman in Zhou Donghuang's heart.

Now, although he was grateful, he did not dare be moved.

What was done was done between him and Luo Qinghan, even without considering that he had already fallen for Luo Qinghan, as a man, he had to bear responsibility for taking her virginity.

With Yang Zixi, he could only choose restraint.

After all, he was no longer considered alone, and to take the expression commonly used on Earth, he was no longer "single."

Throughout the meal, Zhou Donghuang was on edge, and after eating, he immediately excused himself and returned to his room, making the excuse that he needed to practice.

Seeing this, the young lady sighed, disappointment written all over her lovely face.

"Young Mistress, don't be discouraged… I can tell that throughout the whole meal, Young Master Donghuang was very touched. I believe Young Master Donghuang will come to appreciate you sooner or later and accept you."

Aunt Mei looked tenderly at the young lady as she consoled her.

Standing off to the side, Fu also could not help shaking his head. He felt all along that this Young Mistress Zixi was a good match for his young master, but he could only watch helplessly and anxiously at this unrequited love.

"Brother Fu, Big Brother Zhou… does he have his eye on someone else?" the young lady asked softly, looking at Fu.

Immediately, Aunt Mei was also looking at Fu suspiciously.

In her opinion, her young mistress had given so much, and a man who was still not moved was either emotionally unavailable or did not like women.

"No."

Fu shook his head with great certainty.

"Fu, could it be that Young Master Donghuang… is not interested in women?"

Aunt Mei asked with a strange look in her eyes.

"This…"

Fu was momentarily stunned, and after sifting through his memories from the time he began following his young master, he realized that he indeed had not seen his young master having any inclination towards women.

"Aunt Mei, I've never seen my young master have feelings for any woman, but I have also never seen my young master have feelings for… any man."

Fu originally intended only to explain things on behalf of his young master, but he regretted it as soon as he had spoken.

As he finished, not only did Aunt Mei's gaze grew more and more peculiar, even the young lady's gaze grew strange.

It was just as well that Zhou Donghuang had already returned to his room and was completely immersed in practicing, and did not hear what Fu had said… otherwise, he would surely not be able to stop himself from giving Fu a kick that would lay him flat out on the ground.

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Chapter 103: A Youth

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

It was only half a month ago that I broke through to level-eight of the Qi-Gathering, and even with the aid of the concentration elixir and qi-gathering elixir that increases sensitivity to qi a thousand percent, it will take at least half a year to break through to level-nine of the Qi-Gathering.

Zhou Donghuang lounged on his bed, his head on the headboard, his thumb sticking out, and his four other fingers curled up. He rubbed his chin between his index finger and thumb as the thought swirled in his head.

And from level-nine of the Qi-Gathering to Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering, it will take at least roughly a year.

Even if I managed to obtain a natural treasure with good fortune that could aid my practice, it would still take almost half a year to break through to Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering.

Now, even if I am not far from Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering… without the aid of any natural treasures, I must attain Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering!

Regarding his current stage of practice, even though Zhou Donghuang had a thousand years of memories from a thousand years before, he still felt as though he was in a dream.

No wonder so many adepts in my previous life were obsessed with practicing day and night… I've already progressed so far, even though I don't know the technique to practice day and night. If I knew the technique, I could have an eighty to ninety percent chance of directly attaining the Connate stage this time!

After all, she is an adept of the Primal Core stage!

At this thought, the image of the lady in the pale green gown Zhou Donghuang and the sight of her devastatingly beautiful face rose unbidden in his mind and stayed put there.

Luo Qinghan…

She said she was from the planet Tianxuan

I don't have any impression of the planet Tianxuan, and I'm certain that it is not anywhere in the region of space near the planet of Ziyun

Neither is it in the region of space near Earth.

Nevertheless, she is only about twenty years old but has already attained the stage of Primal Core… since that planet can produce such martial talent, it is proof that it is not a small backwater planet. After I leave Ziyun, I'll ask around, and I should be able to find out easily.

That's right… I almost forgot, I haven't taken care of the grizzly bear's gall bladder!

At the thought of the grizzly bear's gall bladder, Zhou Donghuang immediately took up a pen and paper and wrote out a long list of herbs, passing it to Fu and instructing him to purchase them all.

These herbs, together with the grizzly bear's gall bladder, could be used to formulate a kind of elixir called "qi-increasing elixir," which could greatly increase the strength of qi in a short period of time and sustain it for about ten breath's time.

Increasing the strength of qi would produce an increase of over a thousand jin of strength. Besides, the qi-increasing elixir that Zhou Donghuang could formulate was different from ordinary qi-increasing elixirs because it would not have any side effects.

Ordinary qi-increasing elixirs would always have some form of side effects, and they were less effective than the qi-increasing elixir that Zhou Donghuang could formulate.

Fu delivered the herbs that night.

With the gall bladder of the level-nine demon grizzly bear, Zhou Donghuang formulated ten bottles of the qi-increasing elixir and stuffed them into his pocket, ready to use in a time of need.

January 11, 1229 of the Ziyun Era.

It was the day of the banquet thrown by the tycoon Tang family of the Chu royal city, and invitations had been sent to all the grand families.

Of course, although the Tang family had sent an invitation to the Chu royal family to invite the king, he could not possibly attend and would at most send someone to represent him.

Even the patriarchs of the elite tycoon families could not possibly attend the banquet, and would at most send an elder of the family instead.

After all, the Tang family was at best a superior-level tycoon family.

"This banquet thrown by the Tang family seems to be just a show to thank someone?"

"Mm. I heard that about ten days ago, the patriarch, head elder, and second elder of the Tang family entered the Lost Forest and encountered a grizzly bear which almost killed them… and was saved at the crucial moment by that person."

"Grizzly bear? From what I know, there is only one grizzly bear in the Lost Forest, and it has already come of age and is a level-nine demon. It is a powerful demon second only to the two golden-crowned eagles in strength in the Lost Forest."

"That's right! It's that grizzly bear that those Petty Consummation adepts of the Qi-Gathering claim to be unable to kill."

"To be able to save the three Tang family members from the grizzly bear, or even if he and the three Tang family members drove the grizzly bear off together, he must be at least a level-nine adept of the Qi-Gathering."

"If the three Tang family members had died there, the Tang family would be demoted to a grand family… receiving such kindness, it is no wonder that the Tang family would put on such a banquet to express their gratitude."

Such gossip was everywhere throughout the Chu royal city.

Obviously, the tycoon Tang family that was hosting the banquet had not revealed the details but only released some general information.

For example, the person who had saved the three Tang family members was only a youth, and the grizzly bear was killed, and not just driven off as most people had guessed.

Also, that grizzly bear had been killed by the youth alone.

The patriarch of the Tang family, Tang Liunian and the two Tang family elders who had been the protagonists had only revealed these details to those closest to them and had not spread the news.

The main entrance of the Tang family mansion.

Because it was a dinner banquet, it was evening when guests began arriving at the main entrance of the Tang family mansion, showing their invitations before entering the mansion.

At first, the guests arrived in a trickle.

But soon, more and more guests began to arrive and even began to form a small group.

"The Shi family members are here!"

Someone in the group recognized two guests who had just gotten off their carriage and were walking towards the main entrance of the Tang family mansion. "It's the second master of the Shi family, Shi Yan. The young man beside him is the first young master of the Shi family, Shi Yu."

Shi Yan was a middle-aged man who was dressed in a silver robe with gold trimmings, with a determined expression and a small goatee, his eyes sparkling with energy. He looked extremely shrewd.

Shi Yu was dressed in a long grey-white robe and walking beside Shi Yan, his expression looking much better than before.

"Second Master Shi, Young Master Shi!"

The Shi family was the first tycoon family to arrive, and the people in the small group were all only members of the grand families. Seeing the two Shi family members arrive, they all stepped aside and allowed them to go to the front.

This was the power of tycoon families; even elite grand families could not match.

"The patriarch of the Wei family is here! With him is the first young master of the Wei family, Wei Hongtao. This Wei Hongtao is also the first among the young generation of the Chu royal city!"

Not long after the two Shi family members had entered, the elite grand Wei family arrived. The patriarch of the Wei family arrived in person with the first young master of the Wei family.

Obviously, the banquet hosted by the Tang family was important to the Wei family.

However, this was normal; after all, the Wei family was only a grand family and had to accommodate the Tang family in many aspects.

"Is that… the Ouyang family's carriage?"

However, even the Shi and Wei family and members could not even begin to compete for attention with the carriage that was making its way over in the distance.

Two large characters were embroidered on the curtains of the carriage, and it caught the attention of the group of onlookers at the entrance of the Tang family mansion from far away.

Ouyang.

Obviously, it was the Ouyang family's carriage.

There was only one Ouyang family in the Chu royal city, and that was the tycoon Ouyang family.

The Ouyang family had three level-nine adepts and almost ten level-eight adepts, and it was one of the only three elite tycoon families in the Chu royal city.

Now, the onlookers standing at the entrance of the Tang family mansion were all not from any grand family or above, but were passers-by who were there just to soak in the atmosphere.

"I wonder who from the Ouyang family is attending."

"The patriarch of the Ouyang family will surely not come… in my opinion, it should be the head elder or third elder of the Ouyang family who is here."

The Ouyang family had three level-nine adepts. They were the patriarch, head elder, and third elder of the Ouyang family.

Soon, under the gaze of the crowd, a strong and sprightly old man in a grey robe stepped out of the cabin and leaped lightly off the carriage, walking towards the Tang family mansion.

Almost immediately, someone recognized the old man. "It's the third elder of the Ouyang family, Ouyang Zhen!"

Ouyang Zhen was one of the only three level-nine adepts that the Ouyang family had, and he held an extremely high position in the Ouyang family.

Level-nine adepts, even in the entire Western Ridge of the Chu King, were people of great stature. It was not unexpected that Ouyang Zhen's presence had attracted everyone's attention.

"Elder Ouyang Zhen!"

Even the Tang family juniors who were guarding the main entrance were far more respectful when they saw Ouyang Zhen compared to any of the people who had already entered.

This was the power of a level-nine adept.

The main entrance of the Zheng family mansion.

"Hurry! Hurry!"

A middle-aged man led a gaudily dressed young lady hurriedly up a carriage that had been waiting at the main entrance, and the carriage moved off towards the Tang family mansion.

"Qiuhe, you're too slow… the Zheng family is only an inferior-level grand family; if we are late, the Tang family will have a bad impression of us."

In the cabin of the carriage, the middle-aged man who was the patriarch of the grand Zheng family Zheng Donglai, frowned slightly as he spoke to the young lady seated opposite him.

The young lady was his daughter, the third young mistress of the Zheng family, Zheng Qiuhe.

"Hehe… father, isn't it just because I want to dress up to make myself a little prettier?"

Zheng Qiuhe giggled. "Didn't you tell me last night that today the Tang family is throwing a banquet as a show of gratitude to their benefactor, who is a youth?"

Zheng Donglai was momentarily stunned but immediately laughed. "So, after all, Qiuhe, this is your intention… fine, fine, fine!"

"Qiuhe, if you can make a good impression on that youth, even if you can only be his concubine, we can look forward to the meteoric rise of our Zheng family!"

Zheng Donglai was close to a side relative to the Tang family.

Earlier, he had found out from the side relative that the benefactor that the Tang family was throwing the banquet for was only a youth who had not yet come of age.

Moreover, this youth possessed the ability to kill the grizzly bear.

Right then, Zheng Donglai realized that if this was true, that youth had to be someone of superlative caliber, and the power behind the youth could be even greater than the Valley of the Medicine Masters!

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Chapter 104: Donghuang Attends the Banquet

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The main entrance of the Ren family mansion.

A carriage was making its way steadily towards the Tang family mansion.

In the cabin of the carriage, a well-built middle-aged man dressed in a dark yellow long robe with a stern face and eyebrows that slanted upwards was sitting facing an old man.

The old man was dressed in a green robe. He was of average build and had an unremarkable appearance. His long grey-white hair was hanging loose behind him as he sat prim and proper at the side of the cabin.

"Patriarch, didn't First Young Mistress say that she wanted to attend the banquet at the Tang family mansion with you?"

The old man was the head elder of the Ren Family, Ren Qiong.

From the way he addressed the middle-aged man sitting opposite him, that middle-aged man was obviously the patriarch of the Ren family, Ren Tianhang.

"I have no idea what's gotten into that girl recently, she has not been out for the past ten days… previously, she loved to soak in the atmosphere, but when I went to look for her yesterday to ask if she wanted to attend the banquet at the Tang family, she declined without the slightest hesitation."

Ren Tianhang shook his head with a bitter smile, a look of incomprehension in his eyes.

"First Young Mistress was often out previously and was very close to that Yang Zixi… it might be a good thing that she stays home. At least she will not draw the ire of the Shi family because she is close to Yang Zixi," Ren Qiong said.

Ren Tianhang and Ren Qiong were talking about the first young mistress of the Ren family, Ren Jiapei.

Since the gathering of the scions of the grand families at the Wei family mansion ten days ago, Ren Jiapei had stayed at the Ren family mansion and not gone out and had lost her previous liveliness. Those people who had interacted with her since then had also noticed that she had also lost her cheerfulness.

She was in this state all because of love.

After that day, Ren Jiapei realized that she had already fallen deeply in love with that youth along with Yang Zixi, even to the extent that she was unwilling to give him up.

Moreover, Yang Zixi had also fallen for that youth.

She treated Yang Zixi as her own younger sister, and in addition, Yang Zixi had also saved her life when she was a child, and on the basis of principle and relationship, she could not possibly compete with Yang Zixi.

Because of this, she had shut herself away in her room ostensibly to practice, but in reality, to escape.

The atmosphere at the Tang family mansion was extremely lively.

All the patriarchs of the grand families in the Chu royal cities were all present without exception. Besides that, many of the patriarchs of the tycoon families of the Chu royal city had also attended in person.

Although the patriarchs of the three elite tycoon families did not attend, they had all sent an elder to attend, and they were all level-nine adepts and could be considered to be giving sufficient respect to the Tang family.

At the moment, out of all the prominent families of the Chu royal city that had received the invitation, only the Chu royal family was not represented.

No one was surprised by this.

The Chu royal family were the rulers of the Chu royal city and also the entire Western Ridge of the Chu King. Even the elite tycoon families had to tread carefully around them to continue to exist in peace.

Although the Tang family was a tycoon family, it was still beneath the notice of the Chu royal family, and they had no need to consider the matter of showing respect to the Tang family.

After all, what could the Tang family do if they did not show respect?

To put it plainly, in the eyes of the Chu royal family, even elite tycoon families were just a slightly bigger ant.

"Besides the representative from the Chu royal family, it seems that everyone from the grand families and above is here?"

At the main entrance of the Tang family mansion, the Tang family juniors in charge of receiving the guests scanned through the guest list that they were holding and quickly noticed that it was not just the representative from the Chu royal family who had not arrived.

There was someone else who had not arrived.

However, this person did not belong to any family. Although he was at the top of the list, he was named simply as "benefactor."

"We didn't notice earlier… the 'benefactor' at the top of the list, could he be the one who saved the lives of our patriarch, head elder, and second elder and for whom we are throwing this banquet?" one of the Tang family juniors guessed.

"It probably is."

The other Tang family junior nodded with a serious expression. "I have some impression of all the guests who arrived today… and there were no new faces."

"Since he is not named on the list, it must be that he is not from the prominent families of the Chu royal city, and perhaps he is not even from the Chu royal city.

"Why is he not here? If he isn't coming, what meaning does this banquet have?"

The several Tang family juniors looked around for a while, but they still did not see anyone walking towards the main entrance of the Tang family mansion and wondered: As the most important person of the day, and after saving the lives of the patriarch, head elder, and second elder of the Tang family, would he fail to turn up?

"The representative from the Chu royal family probably isn't coming."

After some time had passed, the crowd of onlookers at the main entrance of the Tang family mansion slowly dispersed.

And just when most of the crowd had dispersed, a figure dressed in white appeared at the end of the road, together with a figure dressed in a rose-red gown and walked over side by side.

These two walked straight up to the main entrance of the Tang family mansion.

The youth in the white robe produced an invitation from his pocket and handed it to a Tang family junior who was guarding the entrance.

"Are they from the Chu royal family?"

"Impossible! I recognize everyone in the Chu royal family of any importance, these two could not possibly be from the Chu royal family!"

Some among those onlookers who had not yet left guessed that the youth and the young lady they saw were from the Chu royal family, but were quickly rebutted by others.

"That young lady… isn't she Yang Zixi, who was expelled from the Yang family personally by the patriarch of the Yang family, Yang Yunji almost four months earlier?"

"Yang Zixi? No wonder she looks familiar, you're right, she is Yang Zixi!"

Very quickly, someone recognized the young lady in the rose-red gown as Yang Zixi, previously of the grand Yang family, who had been expelled almost four months ago from the Yang family.

"That Yang Zixi, who was expelled from the Yang family? Could you be mistaken? Those Tang family juniors were far more enthusiastic towards her and that youth with her than they were towards the Yang family patriarch Yang Yunji."

"Not just Yang Yunji… they were not so enthusiastic even towards the elders of the three elite tycoon families who entered earlier."

Under the gaze of the gathered onlookers, several Tang family juniors bowed as they welcomed the golden couple and ushered them in.

"I can confirm that she is Yang Zixi! These few Tang family juniors are so enthusiastic probably because of the youth."

"In the Chu royal city, the Tang family juniors will show such treatment to only several people… could it be, you think that this youth is a prince of the Chu royal family?"

"I've seen the princes of the Chu royal family; he isn't one of them."

Zhou Donghuang, who had been warmly welcomed into the Tang family mansion by the Tang family juniors, had no idea that he had been mistaken for a prince of the Chu royal family.

The Tang family juniors who were guarding the entrance were amazed when they saw the invitation that Zhou Donghuang produced, and they ushered him respectfully into the Tang family mansion.

This was because on Zhou Donghuang's invitation, there was only the word "benefactor" on the line for the guest's name.

Of course, the Tang family juniors did not think that this youth before them was the one who had saved the patriarch, head elder, and second elder of the Tang family but was only attending on behalf of his elder, who was the actual benefactor.

However, even so, they dared not slack off.

"Young Master Zhou, this way, please."

Finally, one of the Tang family juniors led Zhou Donghuang and Yang Zixi to the banquet venue, the expansive front courtyard of the Tang family mansion.

Earlier, when asked by a Tang family junior how he should be addressed, Zhou Donghuang had casually given his name. Therefore, the Tang family juniors all already knew that his surname was Zhou.

"Go ahead with your duties, we'll make our way over on our own."

Just as the Tang family junior was about to bring them directly to meet the patriarch of the Tang family, Tang Liunian, Zhou Donghuang stopped him, and he naturally obeyed, not daring to go against Zhou Donghuang's wishes.

As a superior-level tycoon family of the Chu royal city, the Tang family mansion occupied a large plot of land, far bigger than the family mansion of the tycoon Shi family.

Now, in the large front courtyard of the Tang family mansion, many large round tables had been set up, and many guests were already seated at the round tables, but many more were standing around in small groups and chatting.

With a glance, Zhou Donghuang could see that far off, at the easternmost round table in the front courtyard, Patriarch Tang Liunian was chatting with three old men.

Second Elder Tang Yuxin and Third Elder, Tang Yong of the Tang family were also standing at a distance chatting with several people.

Because of the distance, and the general noisiness, they did not notice Zhou Donghuang and Yang Zixi at first when they entered the front courtyard.

However, although they did not notice Zhou Donghuang and Yang Zixi, others did.

"Isn't that Yang Zixi?"

Many people recognized the young lady beside Zhou Donghuang.

"Wasn't this Yang Zixi expelled from the Yang family? She is now no longer a member of a grand family, how can she be here?"

"Today, those invited by the Tang family to the banquet are all members of grand families and above… and according to the law, this Yang Zixi who has been expelled from the Yang family does not have the status to be here, so why is she here?"

"Could that youth with her have brought her here?"

Following the whispered exchanges, the gazes of many of the guests were drawn to Zhou Donghuang.

At present, although Zhou Donghuang was already eighteen years old and more than one point eight meters tall. He was already a young man, his appearance still carrying a hint of youthfulness, and it was easy for someone to mistake him for a youth.

"It's him!"

"This youth, isn't he the youth who maimed the arm of Zhang Yongshan of the Zhang family ten days ago at the Wei family mansion?"

"He's still not dead yet? That First Young Master Shi Yu of the Shi family has not gotten revenge on him yet?"

Many of the scions of the grand families present recognized Zhou Donghuang immediately, and many of them cast their glances at a round table in the distance as they whispered among themselves.

First Young Master Shi Yu of the Shi family was sitting there with his back facing them.

Shi Yu?

First Young Master Wei Hongtao was seated at a round table nearby, and hearing the scions of the grand families whisper among themselves, he could not help shaking his head, the corners of his mouth curling upwards in a mocking smile.

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Chapter 105: Provocation

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Ten days ago, Wei Hongtao had paid a visit to the grand Tan family to see First Young Master Tan Zhi. He had been wondering why Shi Yu had not come over on the day of the gathering of the scions of the grand families and wanted to find out the reason why.

At first, Tan Zhi attempted to evade the question, but later, he revealed something: Shi Yu did not dare offend the youth who had been with Yang Zixi.

At that moment, he received confirmation: First Young Mistress Ren Jiapei of the Ren family had not deceived him.

Because of this, when he heard the group of scions of the grand families talking among themselves, he looked at them as though they were idiots and with a sense of intellectual superiority welling up in him.

"Yang Zixi!"

A gaudily dressed young lady stepped out of the group. It was Third Young Mistress of the Zheng family, Zheng Qiuhe. She had already scanned the surroundings, that First Young Mistress Ren Jiapei of the Ren family was not around.

With Ren Jiapei's absence, she did not have to be concerned that someone would stand up for Yang Zixi.

Although Shi Yu was present, Yang Zixi had brought a man along with her, and with Shi Yu's temper, he wouldn't be of any help to Yang Zixi.

Zhen Qiuhe looked at Yang Zixi with a mocking smile. "How did you get in?"

"Today, the Tang family invited the grand families of the Chu royal city and above to the banquet… I'm very curious how you, as someone who was expelled from the Yang family, managed to sneak in?"

Right from the start, Zheng Qiuhe had not spared the young man with Yang Zixi a glance. In her opinion, someone surnamed Zhou in the country of Yunyang could not possibly have any background.

At most, he could only be the son of a preeminent family.

Zheng Qiuhe considered someone like that below her notice.

"Zheng Qiuhe."

The young lady swept a glance over Zheng Qiuhe. "I don't think that I, Yang Zixi, have ever offended you before. That day at the Wei family mansion, you behaved in such an overbearing manner, and here today at the Tang family mansion, you are still behaving in this way. Are you trying to tell me that I'm an easy target to bully?"

At this, an angry expression began to show on the young lady's beautiful features.

In the past, she had treated Zheng Qiuhe as a sister and had given much without expecting anything in return.

It would not have mattered if Zheng Qiuhe did not give anything in return. But now, seeing that she had been expelled from the Yang family and repeatedly adding insult to injury, she could no longer stand it no matter how good her temper was.

"Hehe… our Young Mistress Zixi seems to be getting angry."

Accompanied by the sound of mocking laughter, another young lady of similar age as Zhen Qiuhe walked over slowly.

"That's not right… I almost forgot. Yang Zixi, you have already been expelled from the Yang family and are no longer fit to be called Young Mistress Zixi."

The young lady was wearing an orange dress and could be considered elegant-looking. But now, there was a mocking smile on her face, and there was a look of delight in her eyes.

"Xie Tingting?"

Yang Zixi's already angry expression grew darker. "As I recall, I also treated you well in the past."

"So, what of it?"

Xie Tingting smiled coldly and took several steps forward to stand beside Yang Zixi and said in a low voice, "If you must blame someone, it is your own fault for looking like a fox spirit!"

Xie Tingting spoke in a tone full of jealousy.

"Yang Zixi, while most of the guests have yet to be seated, I advise you to leave quickly… when the guest of honor arrives and the banquet is about to begin, you will have nowhere to hide once everyone is seated. When you are shooed away by the Tang family, it will be far more shameful for you than if you leave now," another young lady stepped forward and said with a voice full of malicious delight.

She looked at Yang Zixi with eyes full of the same kind of jealousy.

"He Lin."

Seeing this young lady, Yang Zixi's expression grew even darker.

Zheng Qiuhe and Xie Tingting were a small matter. Although she had helped them out before, those were just small favors… but He Lin, she had done her a big favor.

And now, He Lin was also stepping forward to add insult to injury?

On the previous occasion at the Wei family mansion, Xie Tingting and He Lin had ignored her, and she had thought nothing of it. She really did not care if they did not reciprocate even though she had treated them so well.

But she could not tolerate the way they added insult to injury even though she had treated them so well.

"Zixi, they're just three little clowns… why take them so seriously?"

Zhou Donghuang, who had been standing silently beside the young lady all along, spoke up quietly as he detected the young lady's anger.

He could feel the jealousy the three young ladies felt towards Yang Zixi as they were clearly trying to provoke her.

With this statement, Zhou Donghuang kicked the hornet's nest. With a sudden change of expression, the three young ladies stared furiously at Zhou Donghuang in unison with chilly gazes.

"Zhou, do you really think that since you have some martial talent, you can compete with the grand families?" Xie Tingting asked coldly.

"Zhou, the Tang family only invited the grand families and above of the Chu royal city to the banquet… from what I know, there is no grand family and above with the surname Zhou. It seems that you sneaked in, just like Yang Zixi."

Zheng Qiuhe put on a mocking expression. "You've got some guts!"

He Lin swept a cold glance over Zhou Donghuang, then turned and walked hurriedly towards the two people engaged in conversation nearby.

"Patriarch He is chatting with the tenth elder of the Tang family… He Lin is surely going over to inform the tenth elder of the Tang family that someone has sneaked into the Tang family," one of the scions of the grand families guessed.

"I never expected that even before the banquet begins that there would be a show to enjoy."

Many scions of the grand families prepared to get in on the excitement.

"Patriarch Zhang, I believe this youth maimed your son Zhang Yongshan's arm? Now that he is right before your eyes, won't you avenge your son?"

An elder of a grand family standing beside the patriarch of the Zhang family could not resist asking him after hearing the conversation between the young people.

"Revenge?"

The patriarch of the Zhang family was a thin middle-aged man, and hearing the old man beside him, he shook his head, a self-deprecating smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

That day, when his son Zhang Yongshan had been sent home, his anger had been sky-high, and his first thought was of taking revenge.

However, before he had even left the Zhang family mansion, someone from the Shi family had arrived.

First Young Master Shi Yu of the Shi family, seeing that his son was injured in his cause, had sent someone to warn him not to provoke the youth who had maimed his son…

Because even the Shi family dared not provoke that youth.

The Shi family was a tycoon family, and even though it was an inferior-level tycoon family at the bottom of the hierarchy, the Zhang family could not compare to them. The Zhang family could not afford to provoke someone that even the Shi family dared not provoke!

Therefore, he completely aborted any thoughts of revenge.

It was to the extent that now, seeing the three girls from the Zheng, Xie, and He families come into conflict with the youth, he could not help but mourn them silently in his heart.

In his view, if someone who even the Shi family did not dare offend showed up at the Tang family's banquet, he had surely received an invitation from the Tang family.

Fortunately, he was not calculative with me… if not, even if I had been killed by him, it would have been for nothing.

Tan Li, the third young master of the grand Tan family, was sitting beside his father, the patriarch of the Tan family, looking with fear and dread at the youth in white standing not far off.

That day, it was only after he had returned to the Tan family mansion that he found out that this person was someone who even his cousin, Shi Yu, did not dare offend!

Although Zhou Donghuang had caused a fair bit of commotion, Tang Liunian and the other two Tang family members had not noticed him because of the distance between them and the general cacophony.

If the three Tang family members had realized what was happening here, they would definitely have come forward to welcome Zhou Donghuang as soon as they had seen him.

After all, the star of the show, and the benefactor of the Tang family was Zhou Donghuang.

"Big Brother Zhou, although He Lin's father is only the patriarch of a grand family, he is very close to the tenth elder of the Tang family… aren't you concerned that she is going to make a scene?" the young lady asked Zhou Donghuang softly.

Yang Zixi did not know that the star of the Tang family's banquet was her Big Brother Zhou.

She merely assumed that her Big Brother Zhou had only received the invitation from the Tang family and was here to soak in the atmosphere, just like how Ren Jiapei had brought them along to the Wei family mansion ten days ago.

However, even though she spoke very softly, Zheng Qiuhe and Xie Tingting were standing nearby and managed to overhear her.

In an instant, a mocking smile surfaced on both their lips.

"When the tenth elder of the Tang family comes over, I'll see what fate you suffer!"

The mocking smile on Xie Tingting's face grew more pronounced.

"Don't think of leaving now… even if you leave, the tenth elder of the Tang family will still catch you and bring you back in a rage!" Zheng Qiuhe threatened.

At this moment, He Lin returned with two middle-aged men.

One of the middle-aged men had similar features to He Lin. He was obviously the patriarch of the grand He family, He Wuyi.

The other middle-aged man wore a blue robe and was of average build, and he followed He Lin over with barely contained anger.

"Uncle Zhanpeng, it's them!"

After He Lin returned, she swept a gaze over Zhou Donghuang and Yang Zixi as though to flaunt her power; then, her gaze turned serious as she spoke to the middle-aged man in the blue robe beside her.

"Do you have invitations?" Tang Zhanpeng lowered his voice and asked as he gazed coldly at them, obviously controlling his anger."

"How could I have entered without an invitation?"

Zhou Donghuang returned his gaze casually and countered.

"You mean… you have an invitation?"

Tang Zhanpeng's eyes narrowed, and he continued with a cold smile, "Only grand families and above of the Chu royal city received invitations to tonight's banquet by the Tang family. So, which family are you from?"

Tang Zhanpeng's eyes had narrowed to a slit, and a cold look flashed through his eyes.

Although he had just returned to the Tang family half a day ago, he knew that besides the benefactor, only the grand families and above of the Chu royal city were invited to the Tang family's banquet.

But this youth before him surnamed Zhou could not possibly be from any grand family and above of the Chu royal city.

Besides, when he had just arrived, he had heard right from the mouth of the third elder of the Tang family: either this benefactor would not turn up, or he would turn up in person.

Therefore, this youth before him could not be representing the benefactor at the banquet.

All in all, he deduced that this youth before him definitely did not have an invitation.

Even if he did, it must surely be forged!

Of course, Tang Zhanpeng made this deduction also because he arrived back late, and was not in time to learn from the Tang family members in the know that the benefactor whom the Tang family was putting on such a show for, was a youth.

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Chapter 106: Young Master Donghuang

Faced with Tang Zhanpeng's questioning, Zhou Donghuang glanced at him and said calmly and slowly, "I'm not from any family."

Hearing this, Tang Zhanpeng's eyes widened menacingly.

The young lady beside Zhou Donghuang then piped up, "Elder Tang, my Brother Zhou may not be from any grand family in the Chu royal city, but he does have an invite. Otherwise, we would not have been able to enter."

Tang Zhanpeng looked at Zhou Donghuang with a smirk, asking, "Is that so? That means you forged an invite?" His lips raised into a menacing smile as his eyes flashed coldly.

"Forging an invite?" Hearing Tang Zhanpeng's words, the grand family disciples surrounding him murmured as they looked at Zhou Donghuang with a mix of pity and gloating.

"If he really sneaked into the Tang family, he would at most be kicked out… but if he forged an invite, that is no small matter."

"What is this young man thinking? Unless he is trying to show off in front of Yang Zixi, that's why he forged an invite to bring her to the Tang family banquet?"

"The elders were right; beauty really is the cause of trouble."

The chatter from the crowd made the young girl's expression darken. She turned to Tang Zhanpeng and said firmly, "Elder Tang, my Brother Zhou would never forge an invite!"

She then looked at Zhou Donghuang and said anxiously, "Brother Zhou, tell him who gave you this invite."

"Hmph!" Before Zhou Donghuang could speak, Tang Zhanpeng laughed and said, "Our chief had already ordered that only people from grand families and above in the Chu royal city would be invited. That means that every person here is all from grand families and above, except for the Tang family benefactor. Are you trying to tell me… you are representing that benefactor?" Tang Zhanpeng asked as he stared at Zhou Donghuang.

"No," replied Zhou Donghuang calmly. From the start, he had not revealed any nervousness at all. Then, before Tang Zhanpeng could respond, Zhou Donghuang's eyes flashed as he said, "Tang Liunian, is this how your Tang family treats its guests?" His voice was filled with coldness and loud enough to be heard over all the chatter in the courtyard.

Tang Liunian?! Hearing this, everyone was first shocked, then realized… Tang Liunian was none other than today's host, the chief of the tycoon Tang family.

"Not only did you forge an invite, but even dare to call our chief by name, are you tired of living?" He Lin asked, her eyes gloating.

However, hearing Zhou Donghuang's raised voice, the expression of the He family chief He Wuyi turned serious.

Even Tang Zhanpeng's face could not help but change slightly as a sense of foreboding rose.

"Indeed." Not only First Young Master of the grand Wei family, Wei Hongtao, Third Young Master of the grand Tan family, Tan Li, or the chief of the grand Zhang family had thought that Zhou Donghuang had entered by forging an invite. Now, seeing him call the Tang family chief by name without any form of courtesy, they immediately knew that their suspicions had been correct.

"Hm?" As Zhou Donghuang's voice was raised over the chatter in the courtyard, the whole place turned silent as all eyes landed on him. The young man had only attracted the attention of those from the grand families previously, but now, even those from the tycoon families were staring at him.

"Who is this young man? He dares to call the Tang family chief by name." Many of those from tycoon families looked at him with surprise as they gossiped among themselves.

"It's him!" Just then, First Young Master of the tycoon Shi family, Shi Yu, finally noticed Zhou Donghuang.

"Yu, that is Zhou Donghuang?" Noticing the expression on Shi Yu's face, Second Master of the Shi family, Shi Yan, also seemed to guess something as his expression darkened.

"It is him," confirmed Shi Yu as he nodded seriously.

"Young Master Donghuang?" At that point, the host of tonight's banquet, Tang Liunian, heard his voice and his eyes lit up. However, upon realizing the unfriendly tone in his voice, his expression changed again.

"Elders, our benefactor is here… please excuse me." After hurriedly bidding farewell to the representatives from the three premier tycoon families, Tang Liunian rushed towards the young man. The Tang head elder, Tang Yuxin, and the second elder, Tang Yong also followed Tang Liunian.

In the quiet courtyard, their hurried footsteps rang through the night. As everybody watched on, the three rushed to the young man and bowed deeply to the young man as they greeted him earnestly, "Young Master Donghuang!"

At that moment, everyone's expression changed drastically.

Seeing the scene before her, Zheng Qiuhe could not help but stagger backward. Looking at the young man, she shook her head as she screamed internally.

Im… impossible… impossible… it can't be him!

That day, before heading to the banquet, she had spent a long time dressing herself up just to meet the young man who had been invited by the Tang family. Although she did not know who the young man would be, with his strength, it was clear that he would be of no simple background or even come from the Valley of Medicine Masters. Such a young man would surely carry her and her family to great heights. In the future, even the king of Yunyang country would have to treat her respectfully.

But Zheng Qiuhe would never have imagined that the young man whom the Tang family had invited would be someone that she had met before, and someone who knew Yang Zixi. Now, no matter how slow her response, Zheng Qiuhe could also understand that this young man standing beside Yang Zixi was precisely the man for whom this grand banquet had been thrown. She did not dare to believe it, nor did she want to, but she had to believe what was before her eyes. The behavior of the three big figures in the tang family was enough to explain everything.

"What… what is going on?"

"Isn't this young man a nobody? Why are the Tang family chief and the two elders bowing to him so respectfully?"

"Who is he exactly?"

"Someone like him forging an invite? That Tang tenth elder must be joking?"

The scene before them had all the grand family disciples shocked. They now looked upon the young man differently. Previously, their gaze had been filled with disdain, but now, not a single one dared to look down on this young man in white. What a joke! Even the three biggest figures in the Tang family were bowing to this young man.

"Hm?" Tang Liunian had been wondering what had angered the young man, but hearing the chatter around him, his eyes sharpened as his expression changed instantly.

"Tenth elder, what is going on?" Tang Liunian looked at Tang Zhanpeng as he asked, his tone cold enough to make one shiver.

Seeing the three of them come over and bow to the young man, Tang Zhanpeng knew that he had made a huge mistake, his face turning pale. Now, faced with the wrath of Chief Tang, he pointed at He Lin and said, "Chief, she was the one who told me that Young Master Zhou had come in without an invite." Tang Zhanpeng just wanted to shift the blame off himself. At that point, the magnitude of this matter was far beyond what his small position could cover.

As for He Lin, seeing Tang Zhanpeng accuse her, her expression changed. "Uncle Zhanpeng, I indeed told you that he may have entered without an invite. But I never said that he forged an invite. Just now, from the start, it was you who claimed that he forged an invite to enter!" He Lin could see that Tang Zhanpeng was just trying to absolve himself of blame. She would take the blame for simple matters in order to suck up to Tang Zhanpeng, but this was far beyond what she could handle.

Just as Tang Zhanpeng looked at He Lin menacingly as if he wanted to slap her, Tang Liunian raised his brows as he asked, "Who are you?" Clearly, he did not recognize He Lin.

"Chief Tang, this is lady He Lin." Just then, He Wuyi, chief of the grand He family, stepped forward nervously and replied with a bow.

"And who are you?" Tang Liunian's brows furrowed further.

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Chapter 107: The Tang Family's Attitude

As the chief of a tycoon family, Tang Liunian typically only rubbed shoulders with chiefs of premier grand families. He Wuyi was just the chief of an inferior grand family, so Tang Liunian would not have an impression of him even if they had met before.

Although Tang Liunian did not recognize him, He Wuyi did not dare to show any kind of displeasure as he forced out a smile and said courteously, "Tang chief, I am the chief of the grand He family, He Wuyi."

"He family chief?" Tang Liunian's eyes flashed coldly as he cried, "Bring your people and get out of my house! From today on, the Tang family will end all cooperation with the He family. Any family who works with the He family will receive the same treatment from the Tang family!" Tang Liunian turned as his gaze swept around the courtyard.

He did not know if their family had any connections with the He family. But he was sure that there were definitely some of the Tang business partners who also worked with the He family.

With that, the whole courtyard breathed in sharply as some muttered, "The He family is done for!"

"Who is this young man? The three biggest figures in the Tang family are treating him so respectfully."

"Could he be the representative of the benefactor?"

"Just now, Elder Tang Zhanpeng asked him, but he denied it."

"Then who could he be? In Yunyang country, there is no Zhou family? Unless he is from the Valley of Medicine Masters?"

Everybody in the courtyard knew that the He family was gone for after the Tang family chief's words. Those who had connections with the He family had already decided to cut all ties with them once they went back.

He Wuyi was stunned, as was He Lin. They had never imagined that the Tang family chief would destroy their He family just to stand up for the young man in front of them! For sure, once Tang Liunian's word spread, most of their business in the Chu royal city would collapse.

Piak!

He Wuyi slapped his daughter heavily as the loud sound rang through the air.

He Lin was completely shocked. As she opened her mouth and spat out blood, there were pieces of broken teeth mixed within. Clearly, her father had treated her with no mercy.

"Stupid girl, aren't you going to apologize to Young Master Donghuang?" He Wuyi scolded her furiously. However, on the inside, he was filled with bitterness and helplessness. If he wanted to save their family, he had no choice but to treat his daughter like this.

He Lin was not dumb either and knew why her father, who always doted on her, had done that. Clenching her teeth, she dropped to her knees before Zhou Donghuang and begged, "Young Master Donghuang, I was foolish, please forgive me! Please! Please!!"

But Zhou Donghuang did not even glance at her.

Seeing this, He Lin turned to the young girl beside him and begged, "Sister Zixi, it was all my fault, I should not have been jealous of you, I should not have deserted you then, I was wrong, I know I was wrong! Please help me to ask Young Master Donghuang for mercy, ask him to let my family off! Please! Please!!"

He Lin kowtowed to the young girl desperately. Even as the skin on her forehead bled furiously, she did not stop. She knew that with one word, the young girl could save her whole family.

The young girl had never seen anything like this before. Instantly, her face showed a sign of pity as she looked towards the young man beside her.

"Zixi, some people treat you extremely well when you are in power… but when you are in the troughs, they'll trample all over you." Before Zixi could speak, Zhou Donghuang turned to her and said flatly, "Some lessons only need to be learned once."

Over his millennia of experience, he had seen too many people like He Lin. People like her would not return the gratitude even if Yang Zixi spared her today.

The young girl nodded seriously. "Brother Zhou, I understand." With that, no matter how desperately He Lin begged her, the young girl did not spare her a glance, because she trusted her Brother Zhou. Since he had put it that way, he must have had his reasons.

"Get out!" Tang Liunian shouted as he glanced at He Lin, then He Wuyi.

He Wuyi had turned pale with fright. He hurriedly dragged He Lin out of the courtyard and fled.

After the two had left, Tang Liunian then looked at the tenth elder, Tang Zhanpeng, and turned to the second elder, Tang Yong, standing beside him. "Second Elder, he is from your side, please take care of him."

Tang Zhanpeng was from Tang Yong's side of the family, and called Tang Yong "Uncle."

"Yes, Chief," responded Tang Yong as his eyes flashed resolutely. He stepped forward, and as Tang Zhanpeng looked on in despair, his palm landed squarely on Tang Zhanpeng's head, killing him instantly.

Tang Zhanpeng was dead before he could ask for mercy.

Boom!!

Tang Zhanpeng's lifeless body fell to the ground, his eyes still open. Perhaps he never would have imagined that his careless mistake would lead to such an outcome.

With that, a hush fell over the whole courtyard once again.

From how the Tang family chief had treated the two from the He family just now, they had realized how important this young man was in Tang Liunian's eyes. But they would never have imagined that the tenth elder of the Tang family would be executed by the second elder just because he had offended this young man!

The tenth elder of the Tang family was a level-six adept and could easily support an entire grand family. But someone as powerful as him had been executed just because he had offended the young man here.

"Who exactly is this young man?"

Now, even the three elders from the three premier tycoon families of the Chu royal city all looked upon the figure in white with shock. They knew that even if Tang Zhanpeng had offended one of them in that manner, he would not be executed by the family, but at most punished before them.

The young man was in flowing white, with handsome features and a distinguished aura. His expression did not flinch, even as Tang Zhanpeng was killed right in front of him.

The young girl standing beside him was filled with horror as he looked at the lifeless body of Tang Zhanpeng lying on the ground. This was the tenth elder of the Tang family. The Tang family had just killed him just to show her Brother Zhou?

"Looks like the special benefactor for which the banquet was hosted today is none other than Brother Zhou." Now, the young girl realized this.

Pong! Pong!

Before everyone could respond to the execution of Tang Zhanpeng, Zheng Qiuhe, the third lady of the grand Zheng family, and Xie Tingting, the second lady of the grand Xie family, both fell to the ground in shock.

"Zheng Qiuhe and Xie Tingting must have never dreamed that the young man whom they had treated so condescendingly had such status."

"The Zheng family and the Xie family are in trouble."

Many grand family disciples glanced at the two ladies on the ground and shook their heads, but many of them had glee in their eyes. Many of them had disapproved of their behavior.

Previously, both Zheng Donglai, chief of the ground Zheng family, and Xie Yixun, chief of the grand Xie family, were away talking to the tycoon family chiefs and had not noticed what had happened.

Now, seeing the outcome of the He family, they too felt that the He family was really unfortunate indeed. But they never would have expected that their daughters had offended the young man and lady, just like He Lin had.

As they heard the muttering from the rest of the grand family disciples, their expressions changed into fear.

"Zheng family? Xie family?" Tang Liunian looked coldly at the two ladies sitting on the ground. "From today on, the Tang family and all those who work with us will no longer have any connection with the Zheng or Xie family. Now, scram!"

Before Zheng Donglai or Xie Yixun could say anything, Tang Liunian had kicked them out. Seeing what had happened to the He family, the two did not dare to say anything further because they knew that any pleading would be useless. They grabbed their daughters and left the courtyard, their hurried figures disappearing into the distance. They were well aware that from that day on, the Zheng and Xie family would face the same fate as the He family of being ostracized by all the other families in the city.

All the premier tycoon families of the Chu royal city, and even the Chu royal household, could easily disregard Tang Liunian's warning, but those families would never work with them anyway. As for the families who would work with them, none would dare to go against the orders of the chief of the premier tycoon family.

As Zheng Qiuhe and Xie Tingting were being led away, their faces were crestfallen. They pinched their faces to check if they were in a dream. But the pinch reminded them that all of this was really happening in real life!

Especially for Zheng Qiuhe, her face was filled with despair and regret, her eyes empty and forlorn. "How could this be… how could it be… how could it possibly be him…"

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Chapter 108: Uninvited Guest

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the courtyard of the Tang family household, a young man in flowing white with handsome features and an extraordinary aura had now become the center of attention.

"Young Master Donghuang, Lady Zixi, please." The Tang family chief, Tang Liunian, bowed courteously as he led the two of them to the eastern side of the courtyard where the grand banquet table was. As everybody watched on, Tang Liunian invited the young man to the main seat at the table.

That was a seat that even the three elders from the top tycoon families of the city had never sat at before. Seeing this, many of those from the grand families or tycoon families could not help but gasp, "Even the Chu royal family would not receive such treatment."

At that same time, at another round table in the western side of the courtyard, a plump, middle-aged man in a gown smiled at another man at the table and said, "Chief Yang, your family has really produced a phoenix…"

This man, who was known as the Yang family chief, was none other than Yang Yunji, the uncle of Yang Zixi.

Despite his laughing demeanor, this plump man was gloating. The Yang family had indeed produced a phoenix. But that phoenix had been kicked out of the household by Yang Yunji!

With that, the rest of the people at the table also looked at Yang Yunji as if they were mocking his misfortune. With all of them being inferior grand families, they naturally did not wish for someone else to suddenly rise in prominence.

Despite his efforts to control himself, Yang Yunji's expression was dark. Breathing in deeply, he ignored the plump man's words, but his gaze could not help but land on the main table in the eastern side.

A young lady, as beautiful as a piece of art, sat beside the young man. Even the tycoon family chief, Tang Liunian, whom he had to treat so respectfully, was courteous towards her.

"If I had not kicked her out of the family, if she was still part of the Yang family…" Thinking of this, Yang Yunji sighed heavily. In that instant, he seemed to age by decades.

Months ago, for his own benefit, for the family's benefit, he had unintentionally killed his own brother and chased this niece out of the family. Afterwards, the young man had barged into the Shi family and injured the old Shi family chief, Shi Ji, and killed the current chief, Shi Hao. Then, he had realized his folly. Later, out of anger over Shi Hao's death, the Shi family had chosen to no longer work with the Yang family, causing the family to return to their original state. Then, he was even more regretful. He had sacrificed so much in order to gain the support of the Shi family, but in the end, it was all for nothing!

"Head Elder, is he the young man that Jiapei had mentioned previously, Zhou Donghuang?" the Ren family chief, Ren Tianhang, asked quietly.

Back then, his daughter had said before that this young man had broken into the Shi family and had not only defeated the Shi old family chief but also killed the chief, Shi Hao. He had not believed it then. After all, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old could not possibly have such power, even if he were a disciple of the Valley of Medicine Masters. But now, seeing the scene that had unfolded before him, and remembering what his daughter had said earlier, he realized that she may have been speaking the truth.

"It is him," the Ren family head elder, Ren Qiong, finally recovered from his shock and smiled bitterly. "Before he left our household, I had met him before. Now that I think of it, at that time First Lady had reminded me that I would regret chasing them away… Back then, I did not heed her words, but now, it seems that she was serious."

Now, Ren Qiong was indeed regretting his decision. If he had not chased the two of them out of the Ren household, even if the young man had not joined the Ren family, but he would be of immense to the family.

"That girl also reminded me of the same thing, but I ignored her." Ren Tianhang shook his head sadly. He was certain that many people would be fighting to get into the young man's good books after today. As the chief of a middle grand family, he could not compare to the rest of them.

"Now, we can be sure that the benefactor that the Tang family hosted this banquet for is none other than Zhou Donghuang." Shi Yan, the second elder of the Shi family, said seriously to the first young master, Shi Yu. "Looks like he really is a level-nine adept!"

Although Zhou Donghuang had defeated his father, the former Shi family chief, Shi Ji, they could not confirm whether Zhou Donghuang was a level-nine adept or a top level-eight adept. But now, seeing that Zhou Donghuang was the benefactor who had saved the three members of the Tang family from a level-nine grizzly bear, Shi Yan was certain that Zhou Donghuang was a level-nine adept.

"Level-nine adept…" Shi Yu was bitter. Although the family could not avenge his father, knowing that he was a level-nine adept, he felt even more hopeless.

"Who is this man?"

"Someone from a small town, how could he reach such a level at such a young age?" Shi Yu's eyes were filled with doubt. "When the men I sent to Yunfeng prefecture return, we'll find out if he was really born there… if he really has no background, he must have some hidden secret to be able to achieve this at such an age! Maybe… he received some special treasure that gave him such strength. Adepts at the connate stage should not have the ability to keep such treasures… but the legends say that magnificent practitioners who have reached the primordial core stage may be able to keep such treasures!" Shi Yu's eyes glinted. "Of course, even if he had such a treasure, I, or even the Shi family, would not be able to take it from him. We can only make use of the treasure to serve our purpose! Since we can't steal it, why not we make it known to everyone that he has such a treasure? The Chu royal household or even the imperial family would surely be interested in the treasure!" Shi Yu's eyes glinted fervently.

Shi Yu had never forgotten his father's death, so he had sent someone a few months ago to check on the young man's background in Yunfeng prefecture.

At the eastern main table of the Tang family courtyard.

"Elders, this Young Master Donghuang is my benefactor who saved me from the grizzly bear about ten days ago in the Lost Forest," introduced Tang Liunian as Zhou Donghuang sat down at the table with the three other elders. His eyes glinted as he added, "Young Master Donghuang killed a full-grown grizzly bear himself with just one strike!"

His words earlier were enough to surprise the three elders. After all, working together with the three others to scare off the grizzly bear, and killing the bear were two entirely different affairs. However, Tang Liunian's last sentence shocked the three elders entirely as they looked at each other incredulously.

Killing a full-grown grizzly bear with just one strike?

Just this young man alone?

Tang Liunian took the chance to introduce the three elders to the young man:

Third Elder of the Ouyang family, Ouyang Zhen.

Second Elder of the Liu family, Liu Xuyang.

Fourth Elder of the Lv family, Lv Zhongan.

The Ouyang family, Liu family and Lv family were the three most powerful families beneath the Chu royal household. The three elders were all level-nine adepts similar to Tang Liunian.

"Chief Tang, are you speaking the truth?" Ouyang Zhen asked seriously. The other two men looked at the young man as if they doubted Tang Liunian's story.

"Young Master!" Suddenly, an anxious voice rang from the entrance of the courtyard, loud enough that it could be heard over all the chatter.

"Fu?" Hearing the familiar voice, Zhou Donghuang, who had been sitting calmly at the table, stood up instantly. Fu would not have rushed here if it was not a serious matter, nor would he be so flustered.

"Young Master Donghuang." As Zhou Donghuang turned to Fu, he realized that there was another man beside him. It was none other than Lu Qinghu, the chief of the preeminent Lu family from Yunfeng prefecture. But now, Lu Qinghu was not only in shambles but injured all over his body.

"What happened?!" Zhou Donghuang's expression changed immediately. Four months ago, he had gotten Fu to send a messenger on a ferghana horse to inform Lu Qinghu to personally escort his mother, Lin Lan and his sister Yun Lu to the Chu royal city. But now, seeing Lu Qinghu severely injured, he could not help but feel a sense of worry.

Thud!

Lu Qinghu fell to his knees as he cried remorsefully, "Young Master Donghuang, I was useless, I could not take good care of Madam Lin Lan and Lady Yun Lu… they've been abducted!"

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Chapter 109: Fan Family of Tianxiu City

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Four months ago, after producing the concentration elixir, which could allow him to rapidly master "Lord of the Four Supremes," Zhou Donghuang had gotten Fu to find a relay station with ferghana horse messengers, to pass the letter to Lu Qinghu in Yunfeng prefecture.

Such a relay station allowed for a change in messenger and horse between every station, without having to cater for rest stops along the way. That would allow the letter to reach Yunfeng prefecture capital from Chu royal city within a month.

Lu Qinghu appearing here now meant that he had rushed over on a ferghana horse.

"Where were my mother and Xiao Lu taken? By whom?" Zhou Donghuang glared at Lu Qinghu and questioned. Although he was trying hard to suppress his anger, those around him could still sense the fury in his voice.

Lu Qinghu replied, "Madam and Lady Yun Lu were abducted just after we entered the central ridge… both me and Brother Freezing Wing almost died at their hands, if Lady Yun Lu had not threatened to kill herself at that crucial moment, they would have killed us."

"Do you know who they are?" Zhou Donghuang's eyes flashed menacingly, as an icy cold settled over him. Taken his mother? Abducted his sister? Whoever they were would be sorry!

"They said they were from the Fan family of Tianxiu City!" Lu Qinghu said, "Now, Brother Freezing Wind brought Zhou Han and Zhou Feng to Tianxiu City, while I came over to tell you the news."

"The Fan family of Tianxiu City?" Tang Liunian, who had come over with Zhou Donghuang, had wanted to help the young man after hearing the story. However, upon hearing who had abducted Zhou Donghuang's family, he shut his mouth.

Tianxiu City was not a prefecture capital. As compared to a prefecture capital that controlled a prefecture, Tianxiu City was just a city within the central ridge of the Western Chu Ridge. The Chu royal city was in the centre of the Western Chu Ridge, while the other lands that did not belong to any prefecture were known as the central ridge. Within the central ridge, besides the Chu royal city, there were many other cities directly ruled by the Chu royal household. Tianxiu City had four tycoon families, one of which being the Fan family.

The Fan family was similar in power to the Tang family, as the Fan family also had just one level-nine adept. However, Tang Liunian was afraid of them not because it was a tycoon family, but because the Fan family enjoyed a very close relationship with the Chu royal household. The concubine of the prince of the Chu royal household had come from the Fan family, and she was the sister of the current Fan family chief! With such a relationship, not only the Tang family, but even the three greatest tycoon families in the Chu royal city did not dare to offend the Fan family.

"The Fan family?" The elders from the three premier tycoon families, despite all being fearsome level-nine adepts, all shook their heads upon hearing that Zhou Donghuang's family had been taken by the Fan family, their eyes showing a hint of sympathy.

At this point, the other superior tycoon families present all shook their heads sadly. As for those from the other families, they felt that Zhou Donghuang had no chance against the Fan family. After all, the Fan family had the backing of the ruler of the Western Chu Ridge, the Chu royal household!

However, as everybody watched on, Zhou Donghuang looked at Lu Qinghu again and asked, "Do you know the way?"

"I do," answered Lu Qinghu with a nod. He had separated from Freezing Wind somewhere near Tianxiu City, so he knew where the city was and how to get there.

"Young Master Donghuang, the Fan family appears to be a tycoon family," reminded Lu Qinghu quietly. His eyes were filled with fear. Even the most inferior tycoon family had at least a level-eight adept. Although the young man in front of him seemed powerful, but he did not think that he had attained level-eight of the Qi-Gathering in less than a year's time.

"Young Master Donghuang." Tang Liunian could not help but add, "The Fan family of Tianxiu City is a tycoon family no weaker than our Tang family. The family has one level-nine adept and three level-eight adepts." Seeing the young man disregard his words, Tang Liunian continued, "The scariest part is that they are not just a tycoon family, but have close ties with the Chu royal household. The royal concubine is the sister of the current Fan family chief… hence the Fan family is not just a superior tycoon family, but they have an extraordinary status within the Western Chu Ridge region." As he spoke, his eyes shone with fear.

"Even our Lui family does not dare to offend the Fan family," said the Lui family fourth elder, Lui An as he shook his head gently.

"Young man, although I don't know why your family was taken by them, but since it was the Fan family who did it, just give up," added the Liu family second elder, Liu Xuyang, with a sigh.

"In the Western Chu Ridge, even adepts who have achieved Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering do not dare to offend the Fan family," Ouyang Zhen, Third Elder of the Ouyang family, chimed in.

Fear seemed to show on the faces of the three elders, level-nine adepts of the three premier tycoon families in the Chu royal city.

Yet, Zhou Donghuang seemed not to hear any of what the three of them had just said as he turned his head to the sky.

"Finally here… if they took any longer, I would have had them for stew!" Zhou Donghuang's eyes flashed as he muttered to himself.

Hearing this, and seeing him turn to the skies, everybody looked to the skies as they followed his gaze.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

At that moment, high above them, two shadows streaked across the sky like lightning from the distance, only slowing down when they appeared above the Tang family courtyard. The two dark figures then rushed downwards, causing those beneath to scatter out of the way.

Boom!

Bang!

The two dark figures landed on the ground like two huge boulders, causing the large round table to shatter all over, creating a huge mess. The whole courtyard shook as if a massive earthquake had happened.

Looking closely, one could see that cracks had started to form beneath the feet of the two dark figures, wide enough to fit a toddler's first.

"This…" Everybody was stunned. Even Tang Liunian or the three elders were similarly in a state of shock.

It was only when Zhou Donghuang landed a hand on Lu Qinghu's shoulder and brought him with a leap onto the back of one of the figures that everyone recovered from their shock.

"Fu, bring Zixi back," ordered Zhou Donghuang from above. He then turned to the dark figure beneath him, his mouth moving, yet without making a sound. He was conversing in demon-speak.

"Which direction?" he asked Lu Qinghu.

"That way." Lu Qinghu glanced at the golden-crowned eagle beneath his feet and gulped as he raised his hand and pointed in the direction of Tianxiu City.

Flap! Flap!

Suddenly, a huge gust of wind blew as the two black eagles flapped their wings in unison and rose to the skies, flying in the direction that Lu Qinghu had pointed.

It was only after the two figures disappeared that the group of them in the Tang family courtyard regained their senses.

"Just now that was… a golden-crowned eagle?!" Tang Yong, third elder of the Tang family, exclaimed in shock.

"The two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest! Half a year ago, they had robbed me of my concentration elixir when I was hunting in the woods!" screamed a tycoon family chief as his eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost.

"Oh my gosh! Why did the two eagles appear in the city? And that stronger eagle among the two had somehow allowed the young man to ride on it?"

"Even the prince of the Chu royal household can't ride that eagle."

"Who is that young man?!"

The group of people were all shocked and in a state of disbelief.

"Young Master Donghuang…" Tang Liunian gasped. He had thought that he had already thought too highly of the young man, but now, it appeared that he had underestimated him.

The elders from the three premier tycoon families were similarly shocked. Now, they did not dare to doubt the words of Tang Liunian anymore. That young man had even managed to subdue the rulers of the Lost Forest. Of course, he could easily kill a level-nine grizzly bear.

"Brother Zhou…" uttered the young lady as the blood drained from her face. She had never imagined that the two silly birds that her Brother Zhou had talked about were the two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest!

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Chapter 110: Household of the Fan family

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The two golden-crowned eagles of the Lost Forest were renowned demons which had achieved Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering, and even the Chu royal household that controlled the Western Chu Ridge could do nothing about them. The imperial court of Yunyang country had even sent some adepts who had achieved Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering to deal with the two eagles, but to no avail. In fact, among those in the party, with the lowest skill being a level-nine adept, many of them did not make it back. Since then, the fearsomeness of the two eagles was known all around the Chu royal city.

Now, seeing the young man in white stand on one golden-crowned eagle while being escorted by the other eagle, the group of people who had gathered in the Tang family courtyard was shocked. This time, they were even more amazed than when the Tang family chief had treated the young man so respectfully.

"Our Yang family… has lost a great fortune!" cried Yang Yunji, chief of the grand Yang family. Although he had already been extremely regretful about kicking Yang Zixi out of the family, he had still tried to hide his emotions. But now, his face was filled with regret. The more outstanding that young man, the greater his regret.

"Chief, I am so sorry," said Ren Qiong, the head elder of the grand Ren family, as he faced Ren Tianhang sadly, his face twitching slightly.

Ren Tianhang, the chief of the grand Ren family, shook his head as he smiled bitterly.

"He… he somehow managed to overcome the golden-crowned eagles?" Head Elder of the tycoon Shi family, Shi Yu, still looked incredulous. It was unbelievable that the young man could somehow defeat the two golden-crowned eagles, the kings of the Lost Forest. "If he really is from the lowly Yunfeng prefecture… then what secret must he be hiding? How valuable must that treasure he received be?" As he thought of that, Shi Yu's eyes shimmered.

After Zhou Donghuang had left, although the banquet continued, everyone had lost all interest.

Yang Zixi and Fu were treated eagerly by Tang Liunian and only left after their meal.

The elders from the three premier tycoon families left soon after Zhou Donghuang, rushing back to their respective homes to report what they had just seen. The appearance of a young man who had the power to overcome the two golden-crowned eagles of the Lost Forest meant that a great force had come to the Western Chu Ridge… whichever family received that powerful force would surely be able to rise in power!

Tianxiu City was as large as the prefecture capital of a typical intermediate-level prefecture and much bigger than the capital of an inferior prefecture. As the city was located at the edge of the central ridge, even though Lu Qinghu was riding a ferghana force without any breaks, he took a full ten days to rush from Tianxiu City to the Chu royal city.

But with the speed of the golden-crowned eagles, and unobstructed flight in the air, Tianxiu City, was in view by the next afternoon.

"We've reached?" Seeing the city, Lu Qinghu was stunned. He never imagined that he would reach the city within less than a day. He had taken a full ten days previously on horseback.

"Young Master Donghuang, Freezing Wing, Zhou Han and Zhou Feng have stayed in Tianxiu City to watch the Fan family household and gather information about Madam and Lady Yunlu… shall we meet up with them first?" Seeing the eagles about to reach the skies above the city, Lu Qinghu asked Zhou Donghuang respectfully.

"No need," replied Zhou Donghuang, shaking his head. "Just find someone and ask where the Fan family household is."

Zhou Donghuang turned to the other golden-crowned eagle and said in demon tongue, "Little Gold, you find someone and bring him here… be careful, I want him alive."

"Young Master, you want me to catch someone, but not kill him… that's too difficult," Little Gold responded. His talons were so sharp that it would be almost impossible not to grab a person without killing him.

Zhou Donghuang glanced at him and said slowly, "I give you ten breaths, if after that time, I don't see the person, I'll cut off a month's supply of the qi-gathering elixir."

Whoosh!!

With that, Little Gold streaked away like a black bolt of lightning, straight towards the city.

After seven or eight breaths, Little Gold returned with a teenager within his claws. The teenager was pale and shaking all over. He had been strolling along the street when suddenly, a massive black eagle rushed down from above and took him to the skies.

"Young Master, when I flew down, he was the best dressed in the whole street… he probably knows more, so I grabbed him," said Little Gold. Thankfully the teenager did not understand its words. Otherwise, he would definitely never take to the streets in fancy clothes again.

"Do you know where the Fan family is?" Zhou Donghuang asked the teenager calmly.

"Ah?" The teenager had yet to recover from his shock.

"If you don't answer, I'll get it to drop you," said Zhou Donghuang.

The teenager's face turned stone cold as he hurriedly pointed into the distance. "The Fan family household is on the east side of the city, along the eastern border… the biggest house there is the Fan family household."

"Thanks," replied Zhou Donghuang as he nodded. He then called to Big Gold and sped towards the East. Before leaving, he instructed Little Gold to release the teenager, then meet them at the Fan family household.

Soon, the teenager was returned to the streets.

Seeing Little Gold rise to the skies and fly towards the Fan family household, the teenager was still stunned.

"The black eagle that captured the Hua second young master had a golden crown… it really looked like the mythical golden-crowned eagle of the Lost Forest," muttered a bystander not far away.

"Now that you mentioned it, it really does look like what the legends said… if that really is a golden-crowned eagle, the Hua second young master is really lucky to be alive!"

"The Hua second young master is really lucky indeed."

"Although the Hua family is a tycoon family, the two golden-crowned eagles of the Lost Forest are demons with Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering. Even if he had been killed, the Hua family would not have the power to avenge his death."

The teenager was none other than the second young master of the tycoon Hua family. As he was not arrogant and treated both the elderly and young kindly, he was well-loved by the residents of Tianxiu City.

"Golden-crowned eagle?" Hearing the commotion, the teenager did a double-take as his eyes widened. "Those two eagles really looked just like the mythical golden-crowned eagles of the Lost Forest."

But soon, his face changed. "That young man and the middle-aged man standing on the eagle… who were they? The golden-crowned eagle became their stead? And that young man asked for directions to the Fan family household, he doesn't seem like he's paying them a friendly visit! Are they seeking trouble?"

The Fan family household was much larger than the Tang family household of the Chu royal city. Of course, this was also because this was Tianxiu City, which had more resources and land. As a tycoon family, the Fan family could easily occupy a huge plot of land.

Within the household, there was a small dungeon used to hold disciples who had made mistakes.

Now, within a cell in the dungeon, a small eight or nine-year-old girl was tied to the wall. Her body was bruised and scarred, and her breathing was weak.

The cell door opened with a clang. A mean-looking old lady walked in and squinted at the young girl, asking, "She hasn't talked yet?"

"Aunty Xin, this girl has kept her mouth shut. Even if we torture her to death, she may not say anything," replied the middle-aged lady in the cell. In her hands, she held a thick whip that was dripping blood.

"Hmph!" snorted the old lady. "In that case, change our methods… bring the woman that was with her here and torture the woman in front of her. Even if she does not fear death, I want to see if she cares about that woman!" As she spoke, an icy cold glint flashed across her eyes.

"Old lady Xin, if you dare to touch my mother, I, Yun Lu, will not let you off even if I die!!" screamed the young girl. Her originally muted eyes now shone with a murderous glint.

"Oh? Looks like this girl cares about that woman," said the old lady with a laugh.

The middle-aged lady laughed and said, "Aunty Xin, I will bring the woman here right away."

"No!!" cried the young girl. Her eyes shone with fury as she screamed, "If you let my mother go, I'll tell you where it is!"

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Chapter 111: The Patriarch of the Fan Family

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the air above the Fan family mansion.

A youth wearing a snow-white robe stood on a golden-crowned eagle with his hands clasped behind his back, looking down expressionlessly on the entire Fan family mansion.

"Little Gold, destroy the Fan family mansion for me."

The youth gazed dispassionately at the buildings below him as he spoke evenly to the other golden-crowned eagle.

"Yes, Young Master!"

Little Gold had long been itching for some action, and when he heard the youth's command, his eyes lit up, and he immediately dived towards the building that occupied the largest area.

Crash!!

The black golden-crowned eagle was like a black bolt of lightning, and as it passed, building after building collapsed with a crash. Not a single building could withstand its attack.

A Petty Consummation demon of the Qi-Gathering, just like a Petty Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering, could exert a force of nine bulls and one tiger by using its qi.

A force of nine bulls and one tiger already exceeded nine thousand jin of force.

In addition to Little Gold's original strength, being a demon was far greater than a human's maximum muscular strength. The sum of his total strength from his muscular strength and the strength from his qi was incomparable to a human Petty Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering.

Even Zhou Donghuang, who was already at the level of Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering, could not compare in terms of pure strength to Little Gold.

The reason he could overcome both Little Gold and Big Gold with his all-around abilities was entirely because he had used human martial arts techniques.

Human martial arts techniques were sufficient enough to make up for the difference in physical strength between humans and demons.

Of course, some demons were simply too strong, and even though a human at the same level demonstrated a reasonable level of martial arts, he might not be a match for the demon.

For example, the grizzly bear that Zhou Donghuang killed in the Lost Forest was an unsurpassed level-nine demon of the Qi-Gathering, but the patriarch of the tycoon Tang family, Tang Liunian, who was at the same level, was no match for it.

The grizzly bear's physical form was even stronger and more robust than the golden-crowned eagle!

Following Little Gold's attack, the entire Fan family mansion very soon descended into chaos as it had been almost half destroyed by Little Gold in the blink of an eye.

Little Gold's speed was too great, and in addition to his strength, no demolition team on Earth would have been able to match him.

"What's happening?"

"What is that?"

"My god! That's an eagle!"

A crowd of Fan family members rushed out from the collapsed buildings with fear in their eyes. When they looked at the giant eagle that had caused the destruction in the Fan family mansion, their expressions changed completely one by one.

"Pui."

Lu Qinghu, who could stand steadily beside the youth only because the youth held on firmly to his shoulder, spat savagely at the scene before him.

"Young Master, this… this eagle, what level of demon is it? Why do I feel that when it attacks, there seems to be a sonic boom? That is the mark of a Great Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering!"

Witnessing firsthand the speed of the two giant black eagles, Lu Qinghu could easily tell that they had considerable ability, but he could not be sure of their exact level. Now, seeing one of the black eagles in action, he was completely shocked.

Sonic booms were the mark of a Great Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering. Besides that, moving with a thousand jin of force or more could produce a sonic boom. And now, this black eagle had demolished the buildings of the Fan family mansion and occasionally produced sonic booms. This had prompted him to ask Zhou Donghuang this question.

"It's a Petty Consummation demon of the Qi-Gathering, but because of a demon's physical strength together with the strength from its qi, it has enough strength to barely muster a thousand jin of force," Zhou Donghuang said unhurriedly.

Although he was long since mentally prepared, Lu Qinghu could still not help sucking in a cold breath when he heard Zhou Donghuang say that the two black eagles were Petty Consummation demons of the Qi-Gathering.

"You mean to say, he… he is also a Petty Consummation demon of the Qi-Gathering?"

Lu Qinghu looked down at the black eagle he was standing on as he mumbled his question.

"He is the elder brother of the silly bird that just attacked, so what do you think?" Zhou Donghuang countered.

Lu Qinghu was stunned.

Two Petty Consummation demons of the Qi-Gathering, moreover flying demons, had been subdued by his Young Master Donghuang?

How long had it been?

Had his Young Master Donghuang already grown to such extent?

"Young Master Donghuang, you… have you now… already attained Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering?" Lu Qinghu asked in a trembling voice as he swallowed hard.

"Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering?"

Zhou Donghuang shook his head. "Almost… in half a year, I should more or less be able to attain it."

Zhou Donghuang was being overly modest about this, but he nevertheless shocked Lu Qinghu so severely that his heart trembled. He looked again at the youth as though he was looking at a stranger, like the first time he had seen him.

Crash!

Very soon, all the buildings with some height in the Fan family mansion had been demolished by Little Gold, and swirls of dust rose into the air accompanied by the loud crashes booming out.

"Young Master, could you give me this kind of assignment in the future? Little Gold is having all the fun while I'm getting bored watching from here."

Big Gold was watching as Little Gold shot out from the clouds of dust and flew over towards him while speaking to the youth on his back.

"You will have your chance in the future," Zhou Donghuang said calmly.

"Young Master, I did well, didn't I?" Little Gold asked Zhou Donghuang happily as he tried to claim all the credit.

"A little sloppy," Zhou Donghuang answered off-handedly.

"This is considered sloppy?"

Little Gold stared back at him in indignation.

"What? Any objections?"

Zhou Donghuang exchanged looks calmly with Little Gold, frightening him into looking away as he shook his head. "No… no… no objections! None at all!!"

At this crucial moment, Little Gold remembered the qi-gathering elixir. If he irritated this youth and caused him to withhold the qi-gathering elixir, he would lose out big time.

Why did he leave the Lost Forest and follow this youth? Was it not for the qi-gathering elixir? If not, why had he left when he had been known as the tyrant of the Lost Forest, free to do whatever he desired?

After about fifteen minutes, the cloud of dust engulfing the Fan family mansion slowly dispersed.

At this moment, Zhou Donghuang allowed Big Gold to dive down to a lower altitude, revealing themselves to many of the Fan family members.

Little Gold followed suit and dived down.

In an instant, several sharp-eyed Fan family juniors spotted Big Gold and Little Gold. "Look over there! That was the work of those two black eagles just now!"

"Correct! It's them!"

"Where did they come from? Why did they attack our Fan family mansion?"

Several Fan family juniors obviously thought that the attackers were the two black eagles they saw, and immediately, a vengeful tinge look crept into their frightened looks.

"Young Master, what are they saying?" Big Gold asked Zhou Donghuang as he spotted several of the Fan family juniors staring at him.

"They are saying that it was you and Little Gold together who destroyed the Fan family mansion."

Zhou Donghuang laughed casually.

"What?!"

Hearing Zhou Donghuang's translation, Big Gold got angry. "I didn't do anything, but they said I attacked them? Young Master, if you want to wipe them out, let me do it… I, Big Gold, have never been so depressed before in all my life!"

"Only Little Gold enjoyed himself while I didn't, and they said I had fun? I can't stand it! Can't stand it!!"

Earlier, seeing that Little Gold had been allowed to destroy the Fan family mansion, Big Gold was extremely envious and dearly wished that he could have been part of that demolition team, but with his young master on his back, he dared not act rashly.

But now, with the Fan family members were accusing him of attacking when he had not, how could he tolerate it?

"Golden-crowned eagles! I think they're golden-crowned eagles!"

Suddenly, from among the crowd of Fan family members, there came a shocked shout that cut through the noise from the crowd.

Soon, more and more people noticed after carefully observing the two giant black eagles circling at low altitude that the two giant eagles looked exactly the same as the two golden-crowned eagles of the Lost Forest were said to appear.

"Correct! These are golden-crowned eagles!"

"My God! Why did the golden-crowned eagles come to our Fan family?"

"No wonder I vaguely heard a sonic boom when these two black eagles were destroying our Fan family mansion… it seems that these two black eagles are the two golden-crowned eagles of the Lost Forest, the tyrants of the Lost Forest, the Petty Consummation demons of the Qi-Gathering!"

After confirming that the two black eagles they were watching as they circled at low altitude were the two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest, which were also Petty Consummation demons of the Qi-Gathering, the Fan family members all had panic written on their faces.

"Why would the golden-crowned eagles come and cause such destruction at our Fan family mansion?"

"Do you all see that? There are two people standing on the back of the golden-crowned eagle with the deeper-colored gold crown! A youth and a middle-aged man."

"There really is! I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me."

"My God! Who can they be? Using the golden-crowned eagle as a mount… even the king who controls the entire Western Ridge of the Chu King does not have the ability to subdue those two golden-crowned eagles."

When the crowd of Fan family members saw Zhou Donghuang and Lu Qinghu, they were so frightened that their expressions changed completely, and at the same time, they had a hunch: the reason these two golden-crowned eagles had wrought such destruction on the Fan family mansion was inextricably linked to these two people.

"Patriarch!"

"Patriarch!"

As more and more Fan family members gathered, soon, a middle-aged man in a silver robe with gold borders strode over quickly as he was respectful greetings were called out.

This middle-aged man was ordinary-looking and of average build, but his eyes were bright and lively, and they seemed to bring him to life.

Behind this middle-aged man were two old people. One of the old people was an old woman.

"The patriarch of the tycoon Fan family, Fan Chen, acknowledges the two sirs."

The middle-aged man in the lead arrived at the spot below where the golden-crowned eagles were circling and bowed to the two people on the eagle's back.

Although his eyes were filled with a towering rage, they did not dare show the slightest hint of anger when faced with the two golden-crowned eagles.

He had once entered the Lost Forest with men from the Chu royal family and had been robbed of his qi-gathering elixirs by the two golden-crowned eagles.

Therefore, he could tell with a single glance that these two golden-crowned eagles were the same two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest, the absolute tyrants of the Lost Forest!

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Chapter 112: Spare No One!

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"But how… how has our Fan family offended you gentlemen?

Although the two people were unfamiliar to him, as the patriarch of the tycoon Fan family, Fan Cheng was not sloppy. He spoke respectfully in a low voice as he voiced his question.

What kind of joke was this!

The two people before him were using the golden-crowned eagle from the Lost Forest as a mount, so how could they possibly be ordinary people?

Even his brother-in-law, the king of the Chu royal family or even the emperor of the country of Yunyang, did not have the ability to make these two golden-crowned eagles their mounts.

Of course, these two people could have used some unconventional methods to subdue these two golden-crowned eagles, but even so, they were not people he could afford to provoke.

At their command, the golden-crowned eagles had caused such destruction to their Fan family mansion, and it could be seen that the golden-crowned eagles obeyed their orders completely.

From start to finish, Fan Cheng did not think that the golden-crowned eagles were acting of their own will, because he had never heard of the golden-crowned eagles leaving the Lost Forest, what more leaving the Lost Forest and attacking any family clan.

Even if the two golden-crowned eagles decided to attack a family clan, they could not possibly have chosen the Fan family, could they?

From the Lost Forest to Tianxiu City where the Fan family was, not only did they have to pass the Chu royal city, but also two other cities that had many family clans; there were over a hundred family clans in the Chu royal city.

"About ten days ago, your Fan family members abducted a woman and a girl on the road south of Tianxiu City."

Lu Qinghu spoke solemnly and reached out to point at the old woman behind Fan Cheng. "That day, it was this old woman who led the group that carried out the abduction!"

The old woman was the second elder of the Fan family, Fan Qizhu.

Earlier, she had found the middle-aged man on the golden-crowned eagle's back rather familiar, but could not quite recall where from in that moment. Now, hearing his words, her expression changed in an instant, panic and disbelief on her face. "It's you!"

She could not have imagined in her wildest dreams that someone she had seen as ants and whom she could kill at will ten days ago would today be standing on the back of a golden-crowned eagle, using it as a mount and looking down at her.

Who could tell her how this was possible?!

"Her?"

A cold gleam flashed across Zhou Donghuang's eyes, and his mouth twitched.

The next moment, Little Gold, who had been circling beside, suddenly shook his wings and grabbed Fan Qizhu like a black bolt of lightning. By the time she reacted, she was already grasped tightly and more than a hundred meters in the air.

The way Little Gold had grabbed Fan Qizhu was completely different from how he had grabbed that young man in the mandarin robe in Tianxiu City earlier.

He had not hurt the young man.

But now, his sharp talons pierced right through Fan Qizhu's shoulder, and as she was carried up into the sky, blood sprayed through the air, bright and eye-catching.

"No—!"

Before the gaze of the crowd, Little Gold released his talons a hundred meters up in the air, and Fan Qizhu let out a shrill, piteous cry as she plummeted to the ground.

Crash!!

Before the crowd of Fan family members, Fan Qizhu had only been wounded in both shoulders before she was carried into the sky, but when she landed, she was smashed into a meat paste, completely lifeless.

Not even a Great Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering, what more a level-eight adept like Fan Qizhu, could possibly hope to survive a fall from a height of over a hundred meters.

"Second… Second Elder…"

"This… this…"

The whole crowd of Fan family members, including Patriarch Fan Cheng of the Fan family, felt their scalp tingle and a chill run up their spine as their expressions changed completely.

A whole and healthy person had been thrown to her death in an instant right before their eyes!

As Little Gold threw Fan Qizhu to her death, he purposely flew lower, circling around the crowd of Fan family members, frightening them so much that the fear showed on their faces.

"Just who has Second Elder offended?"

Fear was on the faces of many Fan family juniors, and some of the more timid ones had wet themselves with fear.

Even the strength of the entire Fan family would definitely not be sufficient to resist such powerful demons.

"The woman and girl abducted ten days ago… it seems that Patriarch… sent Second Elder to abduct them?"

A direct relative of the Fan family spoke softly as he glanced subconsciously at Patriarch Fan Cheng of the Fan family.

When Fan Cheng heard it, his expression changed completely, and he stared in fury at him, as though he wanted to skin him alive that very moment.

Saying something like that at this time was akin to getting him into more trouble.

Fortunately, however, it was not very loud, and the two people on the back of the golden-crowned eagle probably did not hear it.

But what the youth in white standing on the eagle's back said next made Fan Cheng despair. "Was it you who sent people to abduct my mother and little sister?"

Zhou Donghuang looked down indifferently at Fan Cheng, his tone casual, as though he felt no emotion whatsoever.

"Sir, that Yun Lu is only a member of an insignificant grand family, how could she be… your sister?"

Fan Cheng sucked in a deep breath as he looked anxiously at the youth on the eagle's back as he asked, "You… could you be mistaken?"

"Grand family?"

Zhou Donghuang came to a realization. That was why Freezing Wind had said that Xiao Lu had considerable martial talent, for she had been born into a grand family.

"Where are they?" Zhou Donghuang asked flatly.

Almost as soon as Zhou Donghuang had finished speaking, Fan Cheng hurriedly turned to glance at the old man behind him. "First Elder, hurry! Quickly go and invite Madam and Young Mistress Yun Lu over."

"Yes, Patriarch."

The old man acknowledged and left.

"Sir."

Fan Cheng looked anxiously at Zhou Donghuang. "I… I did not know the lady traveling with Young Mistress Yun Lu was your mother, but I guarantee, the Fan family's target was only Yun Lu and not your mother."

However, Zhou Donghuang paid no attention to him and stood silently on the golden-crowned eagle's back and waited.

After about fifteen minutes, the old man returned with a cunning-looking old woman and a middle-aged lady, both looking extremely foul.

They could never have imagined that just when they had managed to force the location of the object from the girl's mouth according to the instructions of the patriarch of the Fan family, the little girl's savior would arrive. Moreover, he was a savior so powerful that the Fan family could not hope to resist.

"It really is the golden-crowned eagles!"

At that moment, they knew that the first elder had not deceived them.

Now, the three of them were clustered around a beautiful lady as they walked, and the beautiful lady was holding a little girl who was covered in wounds, clinging to life by a thread.

"Xiao Lu, your brother is here, endure, you must endure."

Lin Lan's expression was full of anxiety, and her tears flowed freely, her gaze never leaving the little girl she was holding.

"Mother!"

In the split second when he saw Lin Lan, Zhou Donghuang ordered Big Gold to fly towards Lin Lan and land just in front of her. He leaped off the eagle's back with Lu Qinghu.

Zhou Donghuang walked before Lin Lan, and looking at the little girl in her bosom all covered in wounds and soaked in blood, his eyes suddenly turned cold, and a murderous rage rose in him.

"Donghuang, quick take a look at Xiao Lu… you can do something right? Am I right?"

Lin Lan was stricken with panic as she passed the little girl to Zhou Donghuang.

Zhou Donghuang took the little girl and produced a small medicine bottle and tipped the elixir in it into the little girl's mouth. "Xiao Lu, this is the wound-healing elixir that your brother has formulated, take it, and you'll recover in no time."

Zhou Donghuang's tone was as gentle as water.

"Cough… cough…"

The little girl swallowed the elixir with some difficulty and opened her eyes with an effort. When she saw Zhou Donghuang, her pretty face broke into a brilliant smile. "Brother… you're here?"

"I… I protected mother, Xiao Lu did not let mother get hurt… cough… cough… Brother, I am sleepy, so very sleepy…"

Seeing Zhou Donghuang, the little girl seemed to let out a long breath and shut her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Zhou Donghuang solemnly produced a bottle of blood-staunching elixir, and drop by drop, he dropped it very carefully on the wounds on the little girl's body.

He had been fine initially, but when he saw that all ten of the little girl's fingernails had been pulled out, he could no longer control his emotions as he raised his head suddenly and looked up, a red mist descending over his eyes.

"Big Gold, Little Gold… everyone in this Fan family mansion, spare no one!"

"Leave the leader for last."

After Zhou Donghuang instructed Big Gold and Little Gold, he gathered up the little girl and greeted Lin Lan, walking with her towards the main entrance of the Fan family mansion.

Lu Qinghu followed them closely.

When the patriarch of the Fan family Fan Cheng stepped forward and saw the youth leading them towards the main entrance of the Fan family Mansion, he could not help heaving a sigh of relief, thinking that the Fan family had escaped a calamity.

Perhaps he knows about the Fan family's connections with the Chu royal family and dares not cross the line.

Fan Cheng said to himself.

However, just as the youth had taken several steps, he noticed that the two golden-crowned eagles had moved.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The two golden-crowned eagles shot out like lightning, and in the blink of an eye, they killed the head elder of the Fan family as well as the old lady and lady beside him.

Immediately, the two golden-crowned eagles turned and swooped towards him, and just as he thought he was about to die, he saw the two golden-crowned eagles sweep a cold glance over him and ignore him as they proceeded to slaughter the other Fan family members.

And those Fan family members, faced with two golden-crowned eagles that were Petty Consummation demons of the Qi-Gathering, naturally had no way to defend themselves. They were killed one by one as they screamed shrilly.

"Make them stop now!"

Fan Cheng looked at the youth who was walking away as he shouted, "My sister is the consort of the Chu royal family! The king of the Chu royal family is my brother-in-law!"

However, the youth did not even glance back and led his family out of the Fan family mansion to find an inn to stay in.

Yun Lu was too severely injured and was in no shape to travel. Even with the wound-healing elixir and blood-staunching elixir that Zhou Donghuang had formulated, she would need several days to recover.

On January 12, 1229 of the Ziyun Era, the Fan family of Tianxiu City was wiped out, root and branch.

Apparently, the ones responsible for wiping out the Fan family were none other than the two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest!

When the news spread, it created an uproar in Tianxiu City, and as it spread further from Tianxiu City, it shook everyone who heard it!

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Chapter 113: The Sword Sphere

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

With the wound-healing elixir that Zhou Donghuang administered to Yun Lu, it took only three days before Yun Lu's internal injuries were seventy to eighty percent healed, and it would be several more days at most before they were completely healed.

As for Yun Lu's external wounds, they had already scabbed over with the aid of Zhou Donghuang's blood-staunching elixir.

Only the ten fingernails that had been pulled out would need time to recover slowly.

"Big Brother, I've been awake for two days… aren't you curious why the Fan family wanted to capture me?"

Half-lying on the bed in a room in the inn, Yun Lu glanced at the youth sitting at the head of the bed with a witty smile.

"There's nothing to be curious about."

Zhou Donghuang smiled casually. "I only know that you are my little sister… that is enough."

"Then would Big Brother like to hear of my past?" Yun Lu asked.

"If Xiao Lu would like to share, of course Big Brother is willing to listen."

Zhou Donghuang smiled as he patted the girl's head. His warm and gentle demeanor made him seem like a totally different person from his usual aloof self.

"Big Brother, I was originally the daughter of the patriarch of the grand Yun family… when I was five, some people from the Fan family came to my home and killed my parents, my grandfather, and killed everyone in the Yun family."

Yun Lu could still control her emotions at the beginning, but when she reached this point, her little fists were clenched together and her expression was taut, her eyes showing a look of vengeance.

Usually, even major tycoon families did not readily exterminate another family, not even if the other family was only a grand family.

But the Fan family was different.

The elder sister of the patriarch of the Fan family was the consort of the Chu royal family and had the support of the Chu royal family, and they did not need to abide by the decrees passed down by the imperial court of Yunyang country.

This was the advantage of one's background.

"My mother took advantage of the chaos and sent me away from the Yun family mansion, and entrusted the item that the Fan family was after to me. I wanted my mother to come with me, but she refused and insisted on meeting death together with my father. After a long time, after I had walked very far and escaped the pursuit of the Fan family, I found myself in Yunfeng prefecture… after four years, I met Uncle Freezing Wind, and he originally did not agree to take me, but I viewed him as my hope for revenge and insisted on following him.

"Big Brother, you don't know… when I attained level-two of the Qi-Gathering, how happy I was because I had the hope of revenge."

"Later on, when I met Big Brother and Mother, it was the first time I had the feeling of belonging to a family."

"The only thing I did not expect was that while traveling with Mother on the way to meet you, I was recognized by the Fan family."

At this, Yun Lu's expression was full of regret. "Big Brother, I should not have insisted on riding a ferghana horse with Mother to rush to the Chu royal city, if I had ridden in a carriage with Mother, I would definitely not have attracted the attention of the Fan family.

"Silly girl, that isn't your fault."

Zhou Donghuang shook his head. "Anyway, Mother is fine, but you have been wronged."

"Hehe… Big Brother, I'll take you to retrieve that item. You've helped avenge the Yun family. I would like to give you that item," Yun Lu said earnestly.

"No need for that."

Zhou Donghuang shook his head again. "I avenged you only because you are my little sister and no other reason. Whatever it is, it is yours, since it belongs to the Yun family. In the future, keep it with you, and Big Brother will teach whoever tries to take it from you a lesson," Zhou Donghuang said with a slight smile.

"Big Brother, although the Yun family treats that thing as a family heirloom, several generations of research has yielded nothing about it… if not for my uncle who talked about it when he was drunk, it would never have drawn the attention of the Fan family."

Yun Lu shook her head and said, "That thing in my hands is useless. However, if I give it to you, perhaps you could find out something about it. After all, Big Brother is so capable."

As Yun Lu said this, she looked at Zhou Donghuang with a look of worship, like a complete fangirl.

"Big Brother, accompany me to retrieve that thing, will you?" Yun Lu asked as she held Zhou Donghuang's hand with both her hands, swinging his arm and pouting.

"Fine, fine, fine, I will go with you to retrieve that thing," Zhou Donghuang answered helplessly. "Where did you hide it?"

"In Nanzhao prefecture."

Nanzhao prefecture was the superior-level prefecture that one had to pass through when traveling from Guangling prefecture to the Chu royal city.

"Big Brother will make arrangements for Mother and Freezing Wind, then we'll go together to Nanzhao prefecture."

After Zhou Donghuang said this to Yun Lu, he left her room to look for Freezing Wind, Lu Qinghu, and the others. Now, Freezing Wind had already met up and gathered together with Zhou Han, Zhou Feng and the others.

"The three of you, I'll get Little Gold to send you and my mother to the Chu royal city."

Zhou Donghuang looked at Freezing Wind, Zhou Han, and Zhou Feng. "When you reach the Chu royal city, Fu will arrange accommodation for you when you see him.

As Freezing Wind and the others acknowledged respectfully, Zhou Donghuang looked at Lu Qinghu. "As for Patriarch Lu… you'll return to the prefecture capital of Yunfeng prefecture."

"Young Master Donghuang."

Lu Qinghu gritted his teeth and knelt down before Zhou Donghuang. "In the future, I want to follow you and give my all in your service!"

"You are a patriarch of a family; why should you follow me?"

Zhou Donghuang shook his head.

"I can hand over the Lu family to my second brother, Lu Bao… as for me, I would like to follow Young Master Donghuang and experience some of the world out there!" Lu Qinghu said with an earnest look on his face.

Each time he saw the youth before him, he always gave Lu Qinghu a different surprise. How long had it been, and the youth was already a Petty Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering? And the amount of improvement in everyone with the youth had shocked him and made him extremely envious.

Being the patriarch of the Lu family had its glory, but its appeal to him could not be compared to the appeal of attaining the legendary "Connate stage." He e still felt that if he followed this youth, he had the chance of attaining the Connate stage in the future!

Zhou Donghuang looked deeply at Lu Qinghu, who was waiting anxiously and said casually, "You'd still better make a trip back to the Lu family. If you don't change your mind on the way, make all the necessary arrangements in the Lu family, then come and find me in the Chu royal city."

"Many thanks to Young Master Donghuang."

Zhou Donghuang's assent left Lu Qinghu in a state of frenzied joy.

"Mother, you return to the Chu royal city first, Xiao Lu, and I will be back in two days," Zhou Donghuang told Lin Lan with a smile as he personally saw her off onto Little Gold's back.

"Donghuang, Mother knows your current ability is very great… but be careful nonetheless, don't be arrogant."

Lin Lan said this with a serious expression, obviously worried that Zhou Donghuang would swell up with pride because of his great ability and do as he pleased. "You must remember, there's always a bigger fish."

But she did not know that Zhou Donghuang had a thousand years of experience and knew these principles better than her. "Mother, don't worry, I know this."

"Xiao Lu, keep an eye on your big brother," Lin Lan said to Yun Lu before leaving, looking at her with a tender expression.

"I will, Mother."

Yun Lu giggled.

"Go on."

At Zhou Donghuang's command, Little Gold took flight with Lin Lan, Freezing Wind, Zhou Feng and Zhou Han on its back, and headed towards the Chu royal city.

Only when they were on their way did Zhou Donghuang gather Yun Lu up in his arms and mount Big Gold's back, and they flew off in the direction indicated by Yun Lu.

With Big Gold's speed, it only took them a day and a night to arrive at the place Yun Lu spoke of.

A bamboo forest outside a small town.

"I remember… I think it is here."

It had been three years ago, and Yun Lu had then been six years old. Although she had matured as a result of the through tough times she had endured, it had been too long, and her memory was still fuzzy. Only after they had combed half the bamboo forest did they find the parcel she had buried years before.

The parcel was not big, only about the size of an adult's fist. When Yun Lu opened the parcel, a small metal box with rusted frames was revealed.

Yun Lu gazed at the small box with mixed emotions. It was because of this thing that her whole family was destroyed.

"Big Brother."

Yun Lu passed the box to Zhou Donghuang, forcing out a smile. "Take a look, see if it is any use to you."

Zhou Donghuang took the box and opened it and saw at once something lying in the box that looked like a metal ball about the size of a baby's fist. It gave off a piercing sense of chilliness.

"This is… a sword sphere?!"

As he picked up the small metal ball, Zhou Donghuang's eyes widened involuntarily. "This… how did this appear here?"

In Zhou Donghuang's view, this should not have even appeared in the Valley of the Medicine Masters, much less in the country of Yunyang.

This was a "sword sphere," something that only adepts at the Primal Core stage and above could produce using their Samadhi fire. Once it was activated, it could transform into a sword and attack.

Sword spheres were something that adepts of the Primal Core stage and above produced for the personal protection of their juniors who were at a lower level of practice.

Of course, activating the sword sphere took a certain technique. Without that technique, even Connate stage adepts would be unable to activate the sword sphere.

"Big Brother, you recognize this thing?" Yun Lu asked in surprise. "You just said… it's called a sword sphere?"

"Xiao Lu, watch carefully."

Zhou Donghuang smiled as he called out to Yun Lu and activated the qi in his body, using a special technique to transfer his qi into the sword sphere.

After his qi had entered the sword sphere, Zhou Donghuang felt a sense of hunger from the sword sphere that swallowed up more of his qi. It was only after half the qi in his body had been swallowed did Zhou Donghuang stop transferring his qi to the sword sphere. The sword sphere immediately flashed in Zhou Donghuang's hand as it transformed into a small, unremarkable-looking sword, glittering with a visible coldness.

Whizz!

At a flick of Zhou Donghuang's hand, the small sword shot out and circled the bamboo forest. In a flash, it had sliced all the bamboo in half, then transformed back into a small metal ball and returned to his hand.

"That attack… below the Connate stage, no one can defend against it."

Zhou Donghuang's eyes gleamed. "Transferring forty percent of my qi into the sword sphere activated it like this… if I transfer all my qi into the sword sphere, even an ordinary Connate stage adept cannot escape death!"

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Chapter 114: Uproar in the Chu Royal City

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"This…"

When Yun Lu saw the small metal ball in the youth's hand transform into the small sword, she had been dumbfounded.

In the blink of an eye, seeing the small sword vanish, she was stunned once more and only came to her senses when the small sword had reverted to a small metal ball and returned to the youth's hand.

At the same time, she heard a swoosh.

She looked around and noticed that a large swathe of bamboo in the forest had all been cut, and moreover the cut was clean and was obviously made by a sharp instrument.

"Big Brother, this… did you do this?"

Yun Lu stared blankly at the youth, shock and disbelief on her face.

"More accurately, we did this."

Zhou Donghuang indicated the small metal ball in his hand and replied with a slight smile.

"It?"

Yun Lu looked wide-eyed at the small metal ball. "Big Brother, was I seeing things just now? I think… think… I saw it suddenly transform into a sword.

"You were not seeing things; it really did transform into a sword just now."

Zhou Donghuang shook his head with a smile. "Xiao Lu, this small metal ball is a sword sphere, and by right, it should not appear in a backwater like the country of Yunyang… and I have no idea where the ancestors of the Yun family obtained this sword sphere from.

"Sword sphere?"

Yun Lu's expression indicated that she was at a loss.

"I'll explain on the way back." Zhou Donghuang told Yun Lu and grabbed her as he leaped onto Big Gold's back. He noticed immediately that Big Gold had not reacted at all, as though he were daydreaming.

"Big Gold, let's go," Zhou Donghuang prompted Big Gold impatiently in demon speech, who acknowledged abruptly before he spread his wings and took flight.

However, as he flew off, his sharp eyes were full of terror.

Earlier, when the small metal ball in the youth's hand had transformed into a small sword and shot out, he had been frightened.

After witnessing the small sword's speed and destructive power, he realized: If the youth had directed the sword at him, he would be dead!

"Youth, that thing just now… what is it? Why does it feel so fearsome?"

At last, Big Gold could not resist questioning the youth. "In that moment just now… I felt that I could not resist it. Even if I flew up over a hundred meters into the air, if that sword could track me, I don't think that I could block it."

Zhou Donghuang smiled casually. "Unless its target is a Connate stage adept or demon, and unless that adept has some special defensive technique or the demon has an exceptionally strong defense, they would be killed in a single attack."

"That fearsome?"

"Big Gold exhaled a cold breath, and his feathers went taut. "What on earth is it?"

"A sword sphere."

Zhou Donghuang explained to the little girl in his arms using human speech as he explained to Big Gold, "Sword spheres are something that only adepts of the Primal Core stage and above can produce because it requires the Samadhi fire forged from the essential core and a special type of metal. The sword sphere contains many complicated scenarios… usually, the sword sphere is in the form of a metal sphere, and only when a particular scenario is activated will it transform into a sword.

"And if the sword sphere is activated and transforms into a sword, the more qi is transferred into it, the stronger it will be, and the amount of power it can utilize will be greater."

"Wow! Big Brother, you really know a lot!"

Yun Lu lifted her little head and looked at the youth worshipfully.

"Xiao Lu, for now, leaving this sword sphere with you will not be useful… why don't I hold on to it for now and keep it safe for you?" Zhou Donghuang asked as he stroked the girl's head with a gentle smile.

The sword sphere belonged to the girl, and if she resolutely wanted it back, he would not insist even though his heart said otherwise.

Since he had not yet attained the Primal Core stage, the sword sphere was still of some use to him. Once he attained the Primal Core stage, the sword sphere would be no more than scrap metal to him.

At that point, he would be able to produce as many sword spheres as he wanted.

Of course, he would first need to obtain the special metal required to manufacture the sword sphere. Otherwise, he would not be able to manufacture it even if he had the ability.

"Big Brother, I originally wanted to give it to you."

The girl giggle. "At first, I was worried that it would be useless even to you, but now that I know how useful it is, I'm very happy."

"This sword sphere is not merely just useful to me; it is a great advantage."

Zhou Donghuang looked at the girl with an indulgent smile.

Now, with the sword sphere, it was just as though he had hacked a game back on Earth.

Of course, the sword sphere could not be used indiscriminately.

After all, every use of the sword sphere required a great expenditure of qi. If he only transferred a small amount of qi to the sword sphere, it would not be very effective.

At Big Gold's speed, Zhou Donghuang and Yun Lu were able to return to the Chu royal city in only two days, and they arrived at the back courtyard of apartment number three at Chuxiu Inn.

When they arrived at Chuxiu Inn, it was already late into the night, and it was pitch black in the back courtyard.

"Young Master, Big Brother."

Little Gold had been sprawled lazily in the back courtyard as he napped but stood up hurriedly upon seeing that his young master and big brother had returned.

Golden-crowned eagles had extremely acute night vision, and even without any light, Little Gold was able to see clearly.

After Zhou Donghuang had left with Yun Lu, Big Gold looked at Little Gold as he told him about the sword sphere, leaving him shivering with fear.

"In other words… with Young Master's current ability, if he activates that sword sphere with all his ability, even an ordinary Connate stage adept or demon would probably not be able to escape him?"

Little Gold's eyes began to glitter as he recovered from his fear and remembered that the owner of the sword sphere was his young master and not someone else.

"You idiot, don't you find it strange why Young Master not only recognizes something like that but even knows how to activate it?" Big Gold asked in exasperation.

"Oh, right, that is a little strange."

It took Big Gold's reminder to bring Little Gold back to his senses. "Moreover, the qi-gathering elixir that Young Master has is also far more effective than the qi-gathering elixir that we took before."

"The best qi-gathering elixir that we have ever taken could only increase the sensitivity to qi by a hundred percent… but what he gave us could increase the sensitivity to qi by a thousand percent," Little Gold said.

"These two days, I have a very strong premonition… if we follow him, perhaps the Connate stage is not the limit for us in this lifetime."

"Big Brother, you mean… by following Young Master, we could hope to attain the legendary Primal Core stage and become Primal Core demons?"

Little Gold sucked in a cold breath.

After Zhou Donghuang returned with Yun Lu, they went to find Fu and found out that Fu had taken over the adjacent apartment number two for Freezing Wind, Zhou Han and Zhou Feng to stay in.

He had moved in together with them too.

"Young Master, I have already allocated this room here for Madam… and the biggest master bedroom in the middle of apartment number two is reserved for you," Fu said. "As for Young Mistress, she can stay with Madam or in the room that Young Mistress Ren was previously staying in."

"Oh, well done."

Zhou Donghuang nodded in satisfaction.

"Xiao Lu, Mother is surely already asleep, stay in this room tonight… tomorrow, Big Brother will come look for you and Mother tomorrow," Zhou Donghuang said, smiling at Yun Lu as he indicated the room that the young mistress of the Ren family Ren Jiapei had previously slept in.

"Mm."

Yun Lu nodded in understanding and waited until Zhou Donghuang and Fu had walked out of the main entrance of the apartment before she returned to her room and shut the door.

"Young Master."

As they entered the adjacent apartment number two, Fu looked at Zhou Donghuang with a slight frown. "I heard about the incident with the Fan family of Tianxiu City from Brother Freezing Wind. That Fan family is related to the Chu royal family, and moreover, the first wife of the king of the Chu royal family, the consort, is the elder sister of the current patriarch of the Fan family Fan Cheng.

"Now that Fan Cheng is dead and the Fan family is wiped out… it will only be a few more days at most before the news reaches the Chu royal city and the Chu royal family. When that happens, it will only take a simple check by the Chu royal family for them to find out that the two golden-crowned eagles were the culprits. And many people saw the two golden-crowned eagles land in the Tang family mansion and leave with you several days ago.

"This Chuxiu Inn is, after all, a business belonging to the Chu royal family… would we be putting ourselves in harm's way by continuing to stay here?"

Fu stopped there, dread in his eyes. "That day, when I left the Tang family mansion, the patriarch of the Tang family Tang Liunian reminded me… the Chu royal family has a Great Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering, so that I could warn you in turn so you could exercise caution."

Obviously, Tang Liunian had already expected that Zhou Donghuang would antagonize the Chu royal family by offending the Fan family.

"A Great Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering?"

Zhou Donghuang smiled casually.

It did not matter that he had the sword sphere now. Without the sword sphere, he would not have been afraid even if the Chu royal family had a Great Consummation adept.

His current level of practice was already approaching Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering, and with his maximum muscular strength, he could exert more strength than most Great Consummation adepts of the Qi-Gathering.

Together with the all the first-grade techniques from his memories and the qi-increasing elixir formulated from the gall bladder of the grizzly bear, there was no one his equal in the country of Yunyang below the Connate stage.

"Fu understands."

Seeing the confident smile on his young master's face, an expression of realization came over Fu's face, and the dread in his eyes vanished. He was calm once more.

Seeing his young master in this state, he knew: His young master was not afraid of the Chu royal family.

Because of this, he had nothing to be worried about.

Three days later, the news that the Fan family of Tianxiu City had been wiped out finally reached the Chu royal city and spread through to every corner of the Chu royal city.

There was an uproar in the Chu royal city.

"The Fan family of Tianxiu City has been wiped out?"

"My God! Who did it? Don't the culprits know about the connections the Fan family has to the Chu royal family?"

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Chapter 115: The Chu Royal Mansion

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The Tang family mansion.

"The Fan family has been wiped out? All of them killed by flying demons?"

The patriarch of the tycoon Tang family Tang Liunian was frightened out of his wits once he heard the news from Tianxiu City.

He knew that the youth would surely provoke the Fan family and hence offend the Chu royal family… but he never imagined that the youth would wipe out the Fan family in one trip to Tianxiu City!

They were a superior-level tycoon family comparable in strength to the Tang family!

"Patriarch, do you think it is the work of that Young Master Donghuang?" the second elder of the Tang family Tang Yong, who was standing to the side, asked.

"Other than him, do you think it could have been anyone else?"

Tang Liunian smiled bitterly. "Moreover, according to the news we received, all of the Tang family was killed by flying creatures… it is definitely the two golden-crowned eagles acting on his orders."

"Two Petty Consummation flying demons wiping out the Fan family would be too simple."

Tang Liunian stopped here, shaking his head.

"Isn't he afraid of offending the Chu royal family?"

Tang Yong smiled bitterly.

"The Chu royal family?"

Tan Liunian shook his head. "Even if the Chu royal family knows he was responsible for this incident, they might not dare to confront him directly, even if he is staying in Chuxiu inn that is owned by the Chu royal family."

"The Chu royal family might have a Great Consummation adept, but doesn't he have two golden-crowned eagles?"

"It will only take a command from that Young Master Donghuang, and that Great Consummation adept of the Chu royal family will only be able to stand and stare as the two golden-crowned eagles massacre the entire Chu royal family."

"Unless they are confident in killing Young Master Donghuang first… but who can predict whether the two golden-crowned eagles will continue to attack the Chu royal family after Young Master Donghuang is killed?"

"That year, the imperial court of Yunyang country sent a Great Consummation adept specifically to deal with those two golden-crowned eagles, and he was even stronger than the current Great Consummation adept of the Chu royal family who was only recently promoted. Wasn't he still unable to do anything about the two golden-crowned eagles?"

"Not only was he helpless against the two golden-crowned eagles, but many of the Petty Consummation and level-nine adepts accompanying him were killed."

"In the end, that Great Consummation adept of the imperial court could only stare in impotent rage."

"Apparently, he was so vexed that he vomited blood."

Evidently, Tang Liunian knew all about the expedition sent by the imperial court of Yunyang to deal with the two golden-crowned eagles.

"So, the Chu royal family can only accept the situation?"

Tang Yong appeared to be in shock.

"The Chu royal family will definitely not dare make an overt move… but the Chu royal family will definitely not take this lying down. If I were the king of the Chu royal family, I would report this to the imperial court of Yunyang and let the imperial court deal with the matter."

Tang Liunian stopped here with a gleam in his eye. "After all, wiping out a tycoon family is already in violation of the decree of the imperial court."

"If the imperial court of Yunyang country does not take action to resolve this, they will lose credibility once the news spreads."

"Therefore, I'm guessing… the imperial court of Yunyang will take action against Young Master Donghuang and those two golden-crowned eagles," Tang Liunian said with certainty.

When the tycoon Tang family received the news that the Fan family of Tianxiu City had been wiped out, the other tycoon families and even grand families of the Chu royal city had also received the news.

At that point in time, all these families were both baffled and shocked.

Of course, they could easily guess who was responsible for wiping out the Fan family.

The image of the two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest arriving at the Tang family's banquet that day came flooding back.

"The entire Fan family was killed by flying demons… it must have been the handiwork of those two golden-crowned eagles!"

However, although they could be certain that the youth was connected to the Fan family's demise, the various prominent families were certain that even so, the Chu royal family might not dare to move against that youth carelessly.

Not only because of some unfathomable background that the youth might have, but just the two golden-crowned eagles were enough to make the Chu royal family wary enough to think twice before acting.

If they were just two Petty Consummation demons, the recently-promoted Great Consummation adept of the Chu royal family would be able to kill them.

However, those two Petty Consummation flying demons were not something that the Great Consummation adept could easily kill.

Unless that Great Consummation adept was accomplished in ranged attacks, for example in the use of ranged weapons such as bows, and even then, he would require a special bow.

This was because ordinary bows could not bear the strength of a Great Consummation adept, and they would not be sufficient to express the full strength of a Great Consummation adept!

The Chu royal mansion.

As the mansion of the Chu royal family that controlled the entire Western Ridge of the Chu King, it occupied a vast plot of land, almost ten times larger than the land occupied by the tycoon Tang family's mansion. It was like a royal palace.

And now, the atmosphere in the great hall of the Chu royal mansion was extremely somber.

A middle-aged man wearing a dark gold long robe embroidered with many with four-clawed dragons sat at the place of honor in the great hall with a gloomy expression.

This middle-aged man was tall and well-built, with fierce brows and a stern gaze, and exuded an intimidating aura. The middle-aged man was the king of the current generation of the Chu royal family, Xiang Xiong.

Now, beside Xiang Xiong stood a beautiful lady in a dark gold phoenix gown, graceful and luxuriously dressed. She seemed to be not very young, but one could not make out any wrinkles on her face, and age seemed to not have left any mark on her face.

However, the beautiful lady's face was now tear-streaked, and her lovely eyes were red. She had obviously been crying her heart out.

She was the first wife of the Chu king Xiang Xiong, the royal consort, Fan Ji.

"Commander Xue, how is the investigation going?"

Xiang Xiong asked in a low voice as he looked at the middle-aged man standing closest to him with an electrifying gaze.

The middle-aged man was about fifty years old, with a square face and a naturally imposing expression. He wore silver-colored light armor, and a longsword hung in a scabbard at his waist.

He was the commander of the city guard, Xue Meng, and also one of the Petty Consummation adepts of the Chu royal family.

"Your Majesty, the situation is basically thoroughly investigated."

Xue Meng hurriedly answered Xiang Xiong's question. "That youth named 'Zhou Donghuang' saved the lives of patriarch Tang Liunian, the head elder, and second elder of the tycoon Tang family in the Lost Forest."

"As such, the Tang family hosted a banquet to thank him for this several days ago."

"During the banquet, that youth received news that his mother and younger sister had been kidnapped by the Fan family of Tianxiu City, and summoned the two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest. He used the golden-crowned eagle with slightly stronger ability as his mount and left the Tang family mansion."

Xue Meng stopped and hesitated, and after a careful glance at the consort of the Chu king Fan Ji, he continued after a pause, "On the afternoon of the second day, other than those Fan family members who were not at the Fan family mansion, the Fan family was almost wiped out."

"Calculating the time taken… at the speed of the golden-crowned eagles, he would have arrived at the Fan family around this time. In addition to the fatal wounds on the Fan family members being inflicted by flying demons… we can deduce from this that that youth is inextricably linked to the wiping out of the Fan family. At least, if it was not done at the youth's command, those two golden-crowned eagles would not have wiped out the Fan family for no reason."

Xue Meng finished in a single breath.

"The Great Consummation adept that the imperial court of Yunyang sent that that year was helpless against those two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest… how could a youth have subdued them?"

Xiang Xiong's expression was extremely foul. "Did you manage to find out the youth's origins?"

"Your Majesty."

At that moment, an old man dressed in a long grey robe stepped forward, addressing Xiang Xiong respectfully. "Regarding the origins of that youth, there is someone who is extremely familiar with it."

"Who?"

Xiang Xiong gave the old man a piercing gaze.

"The first young master of the inferior-level tycoon Shi family, Shi Yu."

The old man continued, "This morning, Shi Yu came looking for me, asking to be summoned to the Chu royal mansion if Your Majesty wanted to know more about that Zhou Donghuang."

"First Young Master Shi Yu of the Shi family?"

Xiang Xiong raised an eyebrow. "If that's the case, Sixth Elder, please go and bring him here."

"At once."

The old man acknowledged and left.

After the old man left, Xiang Xiong swept a piercing gaze across the people gathered in the great hall, including Xue Meng, and said in a low voice, "From what we know, that youth has outstanding abilities and is at least a Petty Consummation adept. Otherwise, he could not possibly have killed that grizzly bear in the Lost Forest in one exchange, as claimed by the Tang family members."

"However, even if he is a Petty Consummation adept or even a Great Consummation adept, he could not possibly have subdued those two golden-crowned eagles by pure brute strength."

"Therefore, he could have subdued those two golden-crowned eagles using some unorthodox methods."

"Even in the history of the Valley of the Medicine Masters, much less the country of Yunyang, there has never been an adept with such ability at such a young age. He either has some fantastic background or has had some unnaturally fortunate encounter."

As he finished, there was a feverish look in Xiang Xiong's eyes. "Now, we'll wait for First Young Master Shi Yu of the Shi family to arrive and see if we can learn anything valuable."

After about an hour, the sixth elder of the Chu royal family returned with a youth in brocaded clothes.

This youth in brocaded clothes was none other than the first young master of the tycoon Shi family, Shi Yu.

"I acknowledge the king and the royal consort."

After Shi Yu entered, he bowed respectfully to Xiang Xiong, who was seated on the throne, as well as Fan Ji.

"Shi Yu, you are familiar with that Zhou Donghuang's origins?" Xiang Xiong went straight to the point.

Without waiting for Shi Yu's reply, he immediately continued, "If you are able to provide any valuable leads, the Chu royal family will not be stingy with you."

"Your Majesty, my father, Shi Hao was killed by this Zhou Donghuang."

Shi Yu's expression darkened slightly, and he continued angrily, "Since then, I sent men to the prefecture capital of the inferior-level Yunfeng prefecture to find out everything they could about that Zhou Donghuang. Just several days ago, the men I sent out returned and reported the results of their investigation to me."

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Chapter 116: The Decision of the Chu King

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"They investigated separately but came to the same conclusion: Zhou Donghuang just turned eighteen this year, and was born and raised in the inferior Yunfeng prefecture. He has no background at all." Shi Yu paused.

"Yunfeng prefecture? An inferior prefecture? Born and raised there?" Hearing what Shi Yu just said, the whole hall turned silent. From the Chu king, Xiang Xiong, to the royal concubine, Fan Ji, to the Chu royal city guard commander, Xue Meng and the elders from the Chu royal household—everyone was shocked.

That young man who had defeated the two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest and destroyed the whole Fan family was from an inferior prefecture?

"Impossible!" Xue Meng was the first to respond as he shook his head fervently. "Someone from an inferior prefecture cannot possibly accomplish this; it would be a miracle for the person to even achieve level-six of the Qi-Gathering."

"I think it's impossible too."

"Absolutely impossible!"

The other elders from the Chu royal household also shook their heads in disbelief.

What a joke! How could such a young person from an inferior prefecture, who has just turned eighteen, already achieve Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering? If so, then what would that make of them? Simply ridiculous!

"What proof do you have?" Xiang Xiong glared at Shi Yu as he asked coldly. "You should know that if you dare lie to me, not just you, but your whole family will pay the price!"

"Your Highness." Shi Yu dropped to his knees as he said seriously, "Shi Yu would not dare to lie to Your Highness. All that I say is the truth. If Your Highness does not believe what I say, you may send people to Yunfeng prefecture to investigate. That Zhou Donghuang was adopted from young by his mother, Lin Lan… and Lin Lan was a disciple of the side family of the preeminent Lin family and was sent to a town beneath Yunfeng prefecture to run a guild. That town is called Qingshan town, and her guild is Magnolia Guild. Everyone in Yunfeng prefecture knows this. Furthermore, in Yunfeng prefecture, Zhou Donghuang is something like a legend… because he is just a young man from a small town, but in such a short time, he caused such an uproar in the prefecture."

Shi Yu continued, "If I uttered a lie, the royal household may execute me after investigating its truth!"

With that, Shi Yu's words brought silence over the hall again.

"Your Highness!" Xue Meng said to Xiang Xiong. "I am willing to make a trip to Yunfeng prefecture myself to find out more about Zhou Donghuang to see if he really is as what Shi Yu says."

"Thank you for the trouble."

With Xiang Xiong's approval, Xue Meng turned and rushed out of the hall.

"Your Highness," said Shi Yu after Xue Meng had left. "I suspect that Zhou Donghuang could possibly have received the essence from a Primal Core adept, which allowed him to achieve such power at such a young age and even overcome the two golden-crowned eagles."

Primal Core! Hearing this, Xiang Xiong's eyes narrowed. If what he said was true… then there was really such a possibility! Otherwise, there was no possible explanation for how someone born and raised in an inferior prefecture could achieve Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering at such a young age.

"Enough, you may take your leave first." While Fan Ji and the other elders were all stunned by Shi Yu's words, Xiang Xiong waved his hand and said, "If Commander Xue returns and verifies all that you said, I will definitely reward your Shi family."

"Thank you, Your Highness." With that, Shi Yu turned and left.

Once he left the hall, Shi Yu broke into a wide smile. "Zhou Donghuang, you killed my father, now I will destroy you too! If the Chu royal household cannot handle you, there is still the imperial court of Yunyang country… and even if the imperial court fails, there is always the Valley of Medicine Masters. I don't believe that they will not be able to defeat you."

After Shi Yu left, Xiang Xiong ordered, "Second Elder, head to the imperial city as quickly as possible and tell the imperial court everything so that they can send people to deal with Zhou Donghuang and the two golden-crowned eagles. Also, tell them everything that Shi Yu just said."

"Your Highness!" The second elder hesitated before he continued, "If everything that Shi Yu said was true, then Zhou Donghuang really received the essence from a Primal Core adept… if we tell the imperial court, wouldn't we be left with nothing?"

"Fool!" Xiang Xiong shook his head as he smiled sadly. "Even if what Shi Yu said was true… do you think we can defeat this young man based on our current capability? Although Father achieved great consummation of the Qi-Gathering a few years ago, even he could not overcome the two golden-crowned eagles. Our Chu royal household will not fight that young man unless we are entirely confident of success!"

Xiang Xiong's words were wise, but he still looked extremely displeased. Even then, there was nothing he could do about it. The young man was simply too powerful for the Chu royal household to control.

"Your Highness, from my understanding, he stays in Chuxiu Inn run by us." Fan Ji, who was standing beside Xiang Xiong, pointed out. "Shall we try… to poison him?"

"No!" Her suggestion was immediately rejected by Xiang Xiong. "Notwithstanding how unlikely success would be, but even if we poison him, what do we stand to gain? We'll surely be attacked by those two golden-crowned eagles. You may poison Zhou Donghuang, but not those two eagles… as demons, they are extremely sensitive to any poison."

Zhou Donghuang was naturally ignorant to whatever had transpired in the Chu royal household. Of course, the news that the Fan family had been destroyed had spread like wildfire throughout the Chu royal city, but he was not concerned.

Now, he was troubled. His mother had taken a liking to that lass Yang Zixi, and knowing that Yang Zixi was interested in him, he could not wait to bring them together.

"Donghuang, what's wrong with Zixi? Not only is she beautiful, but her figure is also nice. After you marry her, she can definitely give birth to a healthy grandson for me." Lin Lan could not understand her son. "Where else can we find such a great daughter-in-law? You don't realize your own fortune. Xiao Lu, do you agree?"

That morning, Lin Lan brought Yun Lu to the second courtyard where Zhou Donghuang was now staying and has thrown a bunch of questions at him.

"Brother, I also think Sister Zixi is very good, why don't you make her my sister-in-law?" agreed Yun Lu with a smile.

"What do you know!" Zhou Donghuang glared at Yun Lu, then turned and smiled bitterly at Lin Lan. "Mother, have you forgotten what happened with Chen Dandan? Now, you want to do this again?"

Lin Lan was quiet. Back then, she had almost forced Zhou Donghuang to agree to marry Chen Dandan once he grew up, but she had mercilessly betrayed the both of them. Before leaving, she had even called Zhou Donghuang a piece of "trash."

"Donghuang, Zixi is different, don't compare her to Chen Dandan… Chen Dandan is not worthy of her!" Lin Lan breathed heavily, her tone softening.

"Mother, I know that Chen Dandan cannot compare with Zixi. But I really have no intentions towards Zixi. Just like Chen Dandan back then, I only treat her as my younger sister," replied Zhou Donghuang with a smile.

"Plus… I already have someone else in mind." Seeing Lin Lan about to continue, Zhou Donghuang pulled his killer move. At the same time, an image of the figure flashed through his mind.

"What… What… what is your name?"

"My… My… My name is Luo Qinghan."

The scene that unfolded in the Lost Forest seemed to appear before his eyes. Although that had been an accident, it was that accident that had made that girl, Luo Qinghan, leave such an unforgettable impression on him. Every time his mind wandered, he would think of her uncontrollably.

"Who knows… does she think of me in her free time too?" wondered Zhou Donghuang anxiously.

"Wow!" Just as Lin Lan was shocked by his words, Yun Lu had already cried in surprise, her eyes widening. "Brother, Brother… no wonder every time I see you in a daze, you have a smile on your face, and your gaze will seem so gentle. That gentleness is different from when you look at Mother or me. Were you thinking of that lady then? No! Were you thinking of my sister-in-law?" Yun Lu looked excited at Zhou Donghuang, as if she had just discovered a whole new world.

"You're a troublemaker!" After being exposed by Yun Lu, Zhou Donghuang glared at her and reached out towards her.

"Mother! Brother is turning angry!" Yun Lu hid behind their mother and made a face at Zhou Donghuang. "Naughty brother, I must have guessed correctly, right? Brother, when are you bringing her back for us to see? Is she as beautiful as Sister Zixi? Also, is she from the Chu royal city?" Yun Lu was just like an excited baby.

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Chapter 117: Imperial Court of Yunyang Country

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"Donghuang, are you speaking the truth?" Lin Lan asked seriously.

"Mm." Zhou Donghuang nodded.

"Which family is she from?" asked Lin Lan anxiously. "Is she a lady from a reputable family? Or just an ordinary family? You are already eighteen and an adult who can get married. If the two of you love each other, can I visit her family someday? After that, you can marry her on a favorable day." Lin Lan seemed anxious to marry Zhou Donghuang off so that she may hold a grandchild soon.

"Mother, she is not from this planet," answered Zhou Donghuang, shaking his head sadly.

"What do you mean?" replied Lin Lan with a frown.

"I meant that she is not from Ziyun planet," said Zhou Donghuang.

"Not from this planet? You mean she is from another planet?" Lin Lan's eyes narrowed. "From what I know, only magnificent practitioners who have achieved Primal Core stage can leave the planet. Are you trying to tell me… she is someone like that?"

"Yes," answered Zhou Donghuang, nodding seriously.

"Donghuang, your power… could it be from her?" Lin Lan breathed in sharply as she asked.

Zhou Donghuang was stunned: he had never imagined that his mother would link his power with Luo Qinghan. But soon, he realized. From his current performance, it was indeed unusual, but if he had gotten into contact with a magnificent practitioner, his power would make more sense.

"Yes," he nodded.

Lin Lan's brows furrowed. "Donghuang, since she is a magnificent practitioner who has entered the Primal Core stage, how old is she? As far as I know, on Ziyun planet, magnificent practitioners who have achieved the Primal Core stage are all at least a hundred years old. The younger ones are all almost a hundred years old. Although they may live up to three centuries… but at such an old age, won't it affect their fertility?"

"Mother," responded Zhou Donghuang, laughing. "She is not that old, at most just two or three years older."

"Just two or three years older than you but achieving the Primal Core stage? You think I'm stupid?" Lin Lan clearly did not believe him.

"Mother, just two days ago in Tianxiu City, you told me… there is always someone better. There are some planets out there with twenty-year-old adepts achieving the Primal Core, some even younger than that," replied Zhou Donghuang.

Quickly, using practice as his excuse, Zhou Donghuang escaped to his room and sat cross-legged on the bed frame, but he could not calm himself. Towards Luo Qinghan, even he was unsure of what he felt towards her.

Was it responsibility? Or had he really fallen for her? The former was acceptable, but the latter was simply unimaginable because they had only met once and did not know each other at all. As someone who had been single for a whole millennium, Zhou Donghuang was still clueless about relationships.

Yunyang country was ruled by the imperial court, the Jiang family. For a country like Yunyang, the innermost city was the imperial city, while the imperial city of Yunyang country was named the Yunyang imperial city.

The palace of the imperial court was found within the imperial city. As the ruler of the country, the Jiang family was so high in status that even the royal households of the big ridges meant nothing to them.

And now, the atmosphere was tense in the imperial court. This was all caused by someone's sudden appearance.

From the Chu royal city of the Western Chu Ridge, the second elder of the Chu royal household, Xiang Donghua had finally reached the imperial city of Yunyang country. Xiang Donghua was a Petty Consummate adept, but standing in the imperial court, he was afraid to even breathe. Every person in there, including the man sitting on the throne, were Great Consummate adepts. Before these people, his petty consummation of the Qi-Gathering meant nothing. In fact, any of them could easily kill him.

"I understand everything that you just said." The man sitting on the throne was clad in a long robe embroidered with nine golden dragons. His appearance was fearsome, his thick brows completing his cold look. He was none other than the emperor of Yunyang country and chief of the imperial Jiang family, Jiang Tianchen. He was also one of the many Great Consummate adepts in the imperial family.

"Commander Xiao," said Jiang Tianchen, his eyes landing on a man in golden armor. The man looked almost sixty years of age, half of his hair was white, yet his eyes were ferocious. He was none other than the commander of the imperial guard, Xiao Jiancheng. He was also a famous Great Consummate adept in Yunyang country.

"I remember… four years ago, I ordered you to go to the Lost Forest and kill those two golden-crowned eagles. But then, not only did you fail, but many of those with you also perished." Jiang Tianchen looked at Xiao Jiancheng and said, "I also heard that in the past four years you have been working on your bow and arrow skills, even going to the second elder from the Valley of Medicine Masters to pick up the second-grade arrow technique 'Guanhong Arrow.' Are you confident of shooting down those two golden-crowned eagles?"

Second-grade technique? Hearing this, not only Xiang Donghua, but everyone else present also turned to look at Xiao Jiancheng.

"Commander Xiao, you even went to learn a second-grade technique from the Valley of Medicine Masters? And an arrow technique? Looks like what happened four years ago really affected you!"

"Second-grade technique… Commander Xiao, even if you had some ties with that second elder from the Valley, it must have taken a lot to exchange for that technique?"

"Commander Xiao, I've never heard you mention this at all… you really hid it well!"

The other Great Consummate adepts in the court all burst into a discussion. Clearly, they had just found out about this.

"Based on Commander Xiao's strength, with the second-grade technique 'Guanhong Arrow.' The two golden-crowned eagles should not pose any problem." Xiang Donghua, the second elder of the Chu royal household, looked at Xiao Jiancheng as if he could already imagine the two eagles being killed by him.

"Your Majesty," said Xiao Jiancheng, his expression dark. "I do not dare to boast in front of you. With my current ability with the arrow, even with the second-grade technique, I am only half-confident of handling those two eagles. If you give me a few more years…"

Jiang Tianchen interrupted him, "We don't have that much time." He smiled sadly. "If I lend you the Cloud Condor… how confident will you be?"

"Cloud Condor?" Xiao Jiancheng's eyes lit up and cried, "Your Majesty, with the Cloud Condor, I am fully confident of killing those two golden-crowned eagles!"

The Cloud Condor was a flying beast trained by the imperial family and was a Petty Consummate demon like the golden-crowned eagle. Its speed was similar to the eagle, but if the two beasts were put to a fight, any of the eagles could easily kill it. The golden-crowned eagle hailed from the Lost Forest and was wild and used to killing. However, the condor was just like a flower in a greenhouse. Based on speed, it was not slower, but it was not the eagle's match when it came to killing.

"With the Cloud Condor's speed and Commander Xiao's power, the two eagles will be no problem!"

"So what if the young man achieved Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering? Can he be stronger than Commander Xiao, who reached that stage ten years ago?"

"Commander Xiao and the Cloud Condor will definitely triumph!"

The other people in the court also seemed to envision the triumphant scene.

Xiang Donghua, who was standing at the side, was similarly excited. With Commander Xiao and the Cloud Condor together, wouldn't it be simple to defeat both Zhou Donghuang and the two golden-crowned eagles?

"Commander Xiao." Hearing Xiao Jiancheng's confidence, Jiang Tianchen nodded with satisfaction and added, "That young man called 'Zhou Donghuang,' if he really is someone from an inferior prefecture… try your best to keep him alive and bring him back here. He could really have gotten the essence from a magnificent practitioner of the Primal Core stage."

Jiang Tianchen's eyes shimmered. If he could gain that essence, their Jiang family could even be more powerful than the Valley of Medicine Masters!

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Chapter 118: Unnatural

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

As adepts who had achieved Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering, Xiang Donghua, the second elder of the Chu royal household, or Xue Meng, commander of the Chu city guard, had their own demon stead. Xiang Donghua rode a level-seven demon, "Lightning Leopard," which could run many times faster than a ferghana horse. Xue Meng's stead was a level-eight demon "Saber-toothed Tiger" which was even faster than the Lightning Leopard.

The distance from the Chu royal city and Yunfeng prefecture was shorter than that from the city to the Yunyang imperial city, so Xue Meng returned to the Chu royal city sooner.

"Your Highness." Xue Meng rushed to the Chu royal household once he returned to report his findings to Xiang Xiong. "I have investigated… everything is as what Shi Yu said. Zhou Donghuang was indeed born and raised in Yunfeng prefecture. He did not grow up in the Yunfeng prefecture capital, but in a small town. I went to that small town and asked many people, and they said they all saw Zhou Donghuang grow up with their own eyes. Just a year ago, in that town, Zhou Donghuang was known to be a martial invalid… he only began to show his martial arts power at the end of the year 1227 of the Ziyun Era. Since then, in just a few months' time, he became a hated figure of even the Yunfeng prefecture governor and even became famous in the prefecture!

"On April 1, 1228 of Ziyun Era, he left the inferior Yunfeng prefecture capital and headed to the city. A month later, he destroyed the entire Wu family of the governor's household of Guangling prefecture, which contained four level-six adepts. On September 9, 1228 of the Ziyun Era, he arrived at the royal city. Your Highness knows what happened next."

In two months, Zue Meng had traversed between Chu royal city and Yunfeng prefecture capital and dug out all of Zhou Donghuang's history.

Xiang Xiong was silent. After a moment, he then slowly asked, "A year ago, he was still a martial invalid? Was he faking it?"

"I don't think so," replied Xue Meng, shaking his head.

"Don't think?" Xiang Xiong frowned.

"Your Highness, with that young man's arrogant character… would he pretend to be powerless when he got bullied a year ago?" asked Xue Meng. "He was born and raised in that small town, where a lesser family disciple bullied him for years… a year and a half ago, he was always being bullied because he lacked qi, or rather, he could not train his qi. At the end of 1227, where that lesser family's disciple tried to humiliate him on the streets… that time, he struck out and paralyzed that man's arm! I looked for that man… he said Zhou Donghuang paralyzed him in December 1227, but just a month before that, he had bullied Zhou Donghuang, and Zhou Donghuang had no power to fight back. That shows that before December 1227, Zhou Donghuang was really a martial invalid."

Both Xue Meng and Xiang Xiong realized something terrifying: that young man Zhou Donghuang only began practicing in December 1227. In just ten days, he had the power to destroy a level-two adept. Three months later, he could defeat a level-four adept. Now, in less than two years since he began, he had already achieved Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering, even possibly Great Consummation.

"In less than two years, from zero to Petty Consummation or even Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering?"

At this point, even Xiang Xiong, the most powerful man in the Western Chu Ridge, was shocked. After a while, he turned to Xue Meng, breathed deeply and asked, "Xue Meng, you think… what kind of miracle would allow a lad from such a poor background to reach such heights in less than two years? Such growth can even be said to be unnatural!"

"Your Highness, I think you know the answer," answered Xue Meng with a bitter smile. "Besides the legendary essence of a magnificent practitioner of the Primal Core stage, I can't think of any other way that the young man could achieve this in less than two years."

"The essence left behind by a magnificent practitioner of the Primal Core stage…" Xiang Xiong's eyes lit up, then he shook his head and said with a laugh, "Too bad we did not find out about his secret earlier. If we had found out before he grew up, we could easily have taken him down. But now, he is so strong that we can no longer defeat him. Hopefully, the imperial court will leave some goodies for us after they deal with him." Xiang Xiong sighed.

"Who knows… who the imperial court will send this time." Xue Meng's eyes flashed with curiosity.

Chuxiu Inn, second guest courtyard.

In the largest master bedroom, the young man stood cross-legged on the mattress. "Progress has been pretty good recently… I'll reach Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering within three months."

Since his return from Tianxiu City, two full months had passed. It was now March 19, 1229 of the Ziyun Era.

Freezing Wind, Zhou Han and Zhou Feng were all still with him, staying in the second guestroom so that they could practice together with him. In the past, he had wanted the three of them to extend their power outside because he did not expect his own power to rise so quickly. With his current strength, the three of them had no need to head out to increase their power, but rather stayed with him and practice faithfully.

"Young Master, Lady Jiapei is here to look for you." Suddenly, Fu's voice came from outside the door.

Zhou Donghuang was surprised. "Lady Ren?"

Since the end of 1228, when he had gone with Ren Jiapei to the Wei household to attend the gathering there, he had not seen her since they left. Even at the Tang family banquet two months ago, he had only seen the Ren family head elder, Ren Qiong, and the man who seemed like Ren Jiapei's father, the Ren family chief.

"Ren… Lady Ren?" Jumping off the mattress, Zhou Donghuang finally saw Ren Jiapei again after he pushed open the door. At a glance, the girl before him was unrecognizable.

Ren Jiapei was as pale as paper, her eyes listless and her body was skinny. She had none of her former grace and beauty.

"Brother Zhou, can you stop calling me that? If you can call Sister Zixi by her name, can't you call me by 'Jiapei?'" Hearing Zhou Donghuang's greeting, a sadness seemed to flash across her eyes as she smiled.

"Sure… Jiapei." The appearance of the young girl caused Zhou Donghuang to lose any thought of rejecting her. Furthermore, he had always thought highly of her. But now, from her gaze, he realized something else. He suddenly thought: he could be the reason why they had not met in more than three months.

First Zixi, now Jiapei… this is a real headache.

Now, from the girl's eyes, Zhou Donghuang could tell that she still had feelings for him, because that was the same look in Yang Zixi's eyes when she looked at him.

"Lady… Jiapei, I haven't seen you in so long, are you looking for me?" Zhou Donghuang avoided her eyes as he asked with a smile.

Hearing this, Ren Jiapei's expression turned serious. "Brother Zhou, I came today to tell you something. Today, the tycoon Tang family chief, Tang Liunian, suddenly came to my house. When my father welcomed him, he asked me to join them. Then, in front of me, he told Father about how the Chu royal household has done nothing to you yet. He said that perhaps the Chu royal household does not dare to touch you. But they will definitely not let the matter rest and will send someone to inform the Yunyang imperial court. He even said that if the imperial court sends someone, the person will definitely be confident of defeating you."

Ren Jiapei's face was fraught with worry. "Brother Zhou, maybe you should leave the Chu royal city and lay low outside? With the speed of those golden-crowned eagles, you can surely hide somewhere safe well before the people from the imperial court arrive." Ren Jiapei tried to persuade Zhou Donghuang to leave.

"That Tang Liunian is really interesting… he doesn't dare to come tell me, but went to the Ren family to get you to relay the message." Zhou Donghuang shook his head and laughed.

"Brother Zhou, did you hear what I said?" Ren Jiapei said seriously, "If the imperial court sends someone, it will definitely be someone confident of defeating your two golden-crowned eagles. You may not be afraid of the Chu royal household… but the Yunyang imperial court, as the ruler of the country, is far more powerful. Although they say that the strongest in the imperial court is just a Great Consummate adept… but the same rumor says that the strongest person in the Chu royal household is just a Petty Consummate adept. But in reality, the Chu royal household has a Great Consummate adept!"

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Chapter 119: Valley of the Medicine Masters

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"The Tang family chief said… the imperial court of Yunyang country could have an adept who has already reached the Connate stage!" Ren Jiapei told Zhou Donghuang seriously. "He even said, the court also rears a Petty Consummate demon Cloud Condor. That condor is as fast as the golden-crowned eagle. If the imperial court sends a Great Consummate adept together with the Cloud Condor, then your two golden-crowned eagles will no longer have any advantage."

Ren Jiapei tried her best to persuade Zhou Donghuang to leave, just short of personally sending him out of Chu royal city.

"Jiapei, thank you for telling me of all this." However, after hearing Ren Jiapei's words, Zhou Donghuang merely smiled and said, "However, if the imperial court is really just as powerful as you say… I don't think that's enough to make me leave the city to hide."

Yunfeng prefecture capital.

"You're finally back!" The man in a loose green robe looked extremely tired as he rode through the prefecture capital walls on a ferghana horse. His entrance was recognized by many people.

"It's the chief of the preeminent Hong family, Hong Wei."

"Greetings, Chief Hong."

Many people along the street greeted the man. Clearly, he was none other than Hong Wei, chief of the preeminent Hong family of Yunfeng prefecture capital.

"I heard that his son, the first young master of the Hong family, Hong Yunfei, managed to enter the Valley of the Medicine Masters… is it true?"

"The Valley of the Medicine Masters? The sect that rules over Yunyang country and has adepts of the Connate stage?"

"Indeed. Accordingly, all sixteen countries in the western valley, including Yunyang country, have to prepare offerings to the Valley of the Medicine Masters every year to seek protection."

"I've heard of that too. Apparently, it was only because of their protection that other Connate stage adepts did not come and cause trouble in Yunyang country."

"The Valley of the Medicine Masters is truly the guardian angel of Yunyang country."

"But, where did you hear that Hong Yunfei entered the Valley?

"From a drunk disciple of the Hong family."

Hearing the commotion, Hong Wei frowned slightly and asked, "Who spoke so loosely?" However, almost immediately, his frown disappeared. "Forget it, even if they don't know about it now, they will find out eventually when Yunfei and Dandan return home. Now, maybe it's for the better that the news has spread… at least the governing Zhao family will not treat us so poorly anymore."

Soon, Hong Wei returned to the Hong family household.

"Second Brother, has anything happened in Yunfeng prefecture recently?" After washing up, Hong Wei asked his second younger brother, Hong Kun. In the time that he had been away, he had left all matters regarding the family to his brother to handle.

"Big Brother, nothing much has happened in Yunfeng prefecture… however, that Zhou Donghuang has really grown too quickly." As he spoke, his expression turned serious.

"How so?" asked Hong Wei.

"A few months ago, someone came to Yunfeng prefecture to find out about Zhou Donghuang… at that time, I thought nothing of it, just thinking that he had made some enemies outside, who were now seeking revenge against his family. But just a month ago, someone from the Chu royal household came straight to the Zhao governor's household. I heard some people from the Zhao family say that the man was the commander of the Chu royal guard, Xue Meng, a Petty Consummate adept!" Hong Kun's face darkened as he spoke.

"If it was someone else finding out about Zhou Donghuang's background, they may just be seeking revenge. But why would the Chu royal household do something like that? Even if they did want to do that, they would not create such a huge fuss just to find out about his background. Although I have no idea why… but if Zhou Donghuang was able to get the attention of the Chu royal household in just a year after leaving Yunfeng prefecture, and even have the royal household send a Petty Consummate adept personally to check on him, he must be doing well out there." Hong Kun shared his thoughts.

"Hmph!" Hearing Hong Kun's words, Hong Wei just snorted, as if he was unimpressed. "So what if he is doing well out there? Could he possibly be on the level of the Chu royal household? At most, he is highly regarded by the Chu royal household. Taking a step back, even if he has the power to compete with the Chu royal household, not just the Chu royal household, even the Yunyang imperial court is nothing compared to the second elder of the Valley of the Medicine Masters! And my daughter-in-law, Chen Dandan, is the biological daughter of the second elder from the Valley of the Medicine Masters!"

The sixteen countries of the eastern valley, including Yunyang country, were all closely linked geographically. The Valley of the Medicine Masters was found in the south-western area of the sixteen countries of the eastern valley. It was a vast valley, highly developed, and it had major roads leading out of the valley. On each of these main roads, there was a majestic gate that stood over ten-meters tall and four-meters wide. On the side of each gate, a huge five-meter-tall stone was carved with the flowing words "Valley of the Medicine Masters."

Now, just outside of one of these gates, there were three people, and one was sprawled on the ground.

"Chen Dandan, what is this? Are you destroying the bridge once you've crossed it?" The young man, with blood spewing out of his mouth and dirt all over his face, stared forlornly at the young girl not far away.

The young girl was in a light blue shirt and had a childishly beautiful face that was sure to evoke the envy of other girls her age. She was looking coldly at the teenager who lay injured on the ground, her watery eyes filled with disgust.

"Hong Yunfei, you are not fit to say anything like that," said the girl with a cold laugh. "I used to find it strange why a young master from a preeminent family would come to a deserted place like Qingshan town and chase me so desperately as if I was the only girl left in the whole world. Actually, both you and your father had always known that my father was the second elder of the Valley of the Medicine Masters. You tried so hard to get close to me, while your father tried so many ways to please me; surely it was because you were eyeing my father's prestige and power. But I will not be made use of so easily. Today, I am being merciful by not killing you. You had better scram back to Yunyang country and be the preeminent young master you are. Someone as worthless as you is not fit to enter the Valley of the Medicine Masters."

Clearly, the two of them were Chen Dandan and Hong Yunfei, from the inferior Yunfeng prefecture of Yunyang country. Hong Yunfei was the first young master of the preeminent Hong family of Yunfeng prefecture. Chen Dandan was originally the adopted daughter of a guild master of Qingshan town, but after being chased by Hong Yunfei, she had gotten close to him. In order to please him and the Hong family, she had even betrayed her adopted mother who had taken such good care of her. She had thought that it was finally her chance to shine, like a phoenix rising into the skies. However, she had never imagined that she had always been a phoenix, and one that could look over the whole Yunyang country!

"Not only was that invalid, Zhou Donghuang not worthy of me… even you, Hong Yunfei, are not worthy of me either!" Chen Dandan looked at him with disdain and walked towards the gate. The disciples standing guard outside the gate all bowed and greeted her respectfully, "Lady Dandan."

Seeing Chen Dandan disappear into the gates, Hong Yunfei struggled to stand up to chase after her.

Bang!!

The loud sound came from one of the two young men who were just about to turn to leave with Chen Dandan. He had just stepped on Hong Yunfei and pushed him to the ground. He smiled and said, "Hong Yunfei, did you not hear what Sister Dandan said? You better return to Yunyang country, otherwise, I will make you stay outside these gates forever!" The man smiled coldly, his eyes filled with a murderous glint.

"Hong Yunfei, I advise you not to yearn for something unattainable… even the princes of Yunyang country are not worthy of Sister Dandan; who do you think you are? You're just someone from a preeminent family of Yunyang country." The other young man shook his head and said, "Sister Dandan already asked you to scram, and Second Elder has also kicked you out of the sect… even if you do not wish to leave, you can never step foot into the Valley."

"What?!" The color drained from Hong Yunfei's face. "Teacher… has kicked me out? What did I do wrong? Did I do anything wrong?" His eyes were filled with indignance.

"You think Second Elder would accept you based on your pitiful talent? He had only accepted you because you had helped him to find his daughter. Now, Sister Dandan does not want to see you any longer… why would Second Elder keep you? Ridiculous!"

Hearing their condescending words, Hong Yunfei was filled with regret. He punched the ground furiously as blood flew from his fist. With a deep breath, he struggled to stand up. After a long look at the gate to the Valley of the Medicine Masters, he then dragged himself home.

He was filled with anguish. "The biggest mistake I made was bringing Chen Dandan out of Qingshan town… I should have let her stay there forever to be a country bumpkin! I regret it!!"

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Chapter 120: Arrival of the Imperial Court

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

March 30, 1229 of the Ziyun Era. Deep in the night.

Whoosh!

A huge creature swept through the night like a gust of wind into the skies above the Chu royal city, directly above the Chu royal household. As the huge creature paused in the sky, a forceful order came from above its back, "Down!"

Immediately, the creature broke through the clouds, going straight down towards the Chu royal household. As the clouds spread, a majestic condor appeared, its wings spreading to more than eight meters wide. The bird's body was a pale green, its eyes ashen grey. Soon. it had landed in the open courtyard of the Chu royal household.

"Who?!"

"Who is it?!"

The sound of the condor landing was loud enough for the patrolling guards to be alarmed. They shouted and came from all directions, holding onto weapons that glinted in the moonlight. But when they saw the massive creature before them, their expression changed, "A flying… flying beast?!"

The condor was more than two-meters tall, as huge as a small hill, giving one a sense of overbearing.

"It's me." As an old voice rung out, an old man leaped out from the bird's back and appeared in front of the guards. As the moon lit up his face, all the guards stood at attention and bowed, "Second Elder."

Clearly, the old man was the second elder of the Chu royal household, Xiang Donghua.

However, when he landed, he did not pay any attention to the guard, but turned around to face the bird and bowed deeply. "Commander Xiao, I'll bring you to see our king."

"Alright," came the response from the back of the bird. A burly figure leaped off the bird, his actions as graceful as flowing water, much more at ease than Xiang Donghua.

The man was in a body of golden armor and looked almost sixty years old. Half his hair was white, but his fearsome eyes were terrifying.

"This is the commander of the Yunyang imperial guard, Xiao Jiancheng, Commander Xiao." Xiang Donghua introduced him to the guards as if afraid they would offend him.

The guards were momentarily stunned before bowing in unison, "Greetings, Commander Xiao!"

"Mm," responded Xiang Donghua before he immediately led to the way to the king's residence.

After the two men had left, the guards then regained their composure.

"My goodness! That man… is the commander of the imperial guard, Xiao Jiancheng? I heard that he achieved Great Consummation ten years ago, and he is one of the strongest Great Consummate adepts in the imperial household," said one of the guards softly.

"That Commander Xiao came to our Western Chu Ridge four years ago, but he did not enter the city but went right into the Lost Forest… he was here to hunt the two golden-crowned eagles."

"Yes, I know about that too. Apparently, although he was a Great Consummate adept, he was severely defeated by the two golden-crowned eagles, and most of his party died."

"The golden-crowned eagles can fly, so even though they are just Petty Consummate demons, they do not fear Great Consummate adepts."

"Looks like Commander Xiao is here to make up for his mistake."

"If he is not confident, he definitely wouldn't have come."

"If I am not wrong, this condor is the tamed Petty Consummate demon from the Yunyang imperial court, the Cloud Condor!"

The guards in the Chu royal household were well-read and knew of the Cloud Condor of the imperial court.

"If even the Cloud Condor has been activated, looks like the imperial court is not messing around this time!"

"Four years ago, if Commander Xiao had come with the Cloud Condors, the two golden-crowned eagles would not be around today."

"A well-established Great Consummate adept paired with a Petty Consummate demon against two golden-crowned eagles, wouldn't that be easy?"

By now, Xiang Donghua had brought Commander Xiao to the king's residence.

"Your Highness." As he stood in the courtyard, Xiang Donghua called into the rooms.

Although it was late in the night, the light was still lit in the room. The man inside was clearly still awake.

"Second Elder, you are back so quickly?" came the shocked response from inside the room.

Not long later, the door opened as the Chu king, Xiang Xiong, stepped out. He was in a sleeping gown and was evidently about to go to bed.

"Commander Xue?" Just as he walked out of the door, Xiang Xiong noticed Xiao Jiancheng standing beside Xiang Donghua. He would never have thought that the imperial court would send someone here.

Four years ago, this man had come to the Western Chu Ridge once to hunt the two golden-crowned eagles but had returned unsuccessfully after suffering a heavy defeat. In his eyes, although four years had passed, the man may still be unable to defeat the two golden-crowned eagles.

"Chu king, it's been long." Xiao Jiancheng nodded to Xiang Xiong. Although Xiang Xiong was the king of the whole ridge, his position in Yunyang country was still not any higher than his, and his strength was far less than his own, so there was no need for Xiao Jiancheng to be respectful.

On the other hand, Xiang Xiong hurriedly bowed as he greeted, "Xiang Xiong of the Chu royal household of the Western Chu Ridge pays his respects to Commander Xiao." Although Xiang Xiong doubted that Xiao Jiancheng could defeat the two golden-crowned eagles, with the man's position and power, he still did not dare to be disrespectful.

"Looks like the king has no confidence in me." Xiao Jiancheng easily saw through Xiang Xiong.

"Commander Xiao must be joking; I wouldn't dare think that." Xiang Xiong laughed awkwardly.

"Your Highness," said Xiang Donghua, who was standing at the side. "Commander Xiao has been training with the bow since his defeat four years ago and even spent a huge amount to learn the 'Guanhong Arrow' technique from the second elder of the Valley of Medicine Masters. Commander Xiao has been so ashamed by his defeat that he has been working tirelessly since to make up for it."

Xiang Xiong's eyes lit up. "Trained in the bow technique for four years? The second-grade technique 'Guanhong Arrow?'" If he had lacked confidence in Commander Xiao previously, he was now fully confident. Based on his martial arts achievements, Commander Xiao was definitely a talented man and would surely have mastered the bow technique in four years. With the second-grade 'Guanhong arrow' technique and his Great Consummation power, it would not be difficult for him to kill the two golden-crowned eagles.

"The most important thing is…" continued Xiang Donghua, "Commander Xiao came with the Cloud Condor of the imperial court."

Xiang Xiong's eyes narrowed. "Cloud… Cloud Condor?!" Now, he finally understood why Second Elder had been able to return in such a short time. Usually, on the Lightning Leopard, it would take almost four months to go between Chu royal city and the Yunyang imperial city. But now, he had returned in just two months. Looks like he had flown back together with Commander Xiao on the Cloud Condor.

"Haha…" Xiang Xiong began laughing hysterically. Finally, once he stopped his laughter, he turned to look at Commander Xiao, his eyes brimming with confidence. "Commander Xiao, with the Cloud Condor… this time, you will definitely be able to easily kill those two golden-crowned eagles! Commander Xiao, when are you planning to strike?" asked Xiang Xiong seriously.

"It has been a long journey, I want to wash up and take a good rest before we attack tomorrow morning," Xiao Jiancheng said flatly. "Before that, I hope that you can send someone to watch that young man and don't let him escape. If he tries to run, wake me immediately!"

"Yes," answered Xiang Xiong respectfully. He got Xiang Donghua to arrange a room for Xiao Jiancheng, before returning to his own room to change.

"Your Highness." In the room, the beautiful Fan Ji helped Xiang Xiong to change. She asked, "That Commander Xiao and the Cloud Condor should be more than enough to deal with the young man and the two golden-crowned eagles?"

"As long as that young man does not escape, it will definitely be a success." Xiang Xiong changed his clothes and rushed out of the door. "Now, I will look for Xue Meng to send someone to watch Chuxiu Inn to prevent anyone from tipping the young man off. My lady, tomorrow, Commander Xiao and the Cloud Condor will definitely be able to help you avenge your Fan family! Tonight, you just have a good rest."

As Xiang Xiong left, some of the guards who had just changed shift had already spread the word that Commander Xiao and the Cloud Condor of the imperial court had arrived.

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Chapter 121: A Sleepless Night

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Once the news got out from the Chu royal mansion, it reached the ears of some of the major tycoon families very quickly.

News spread extremely fast between the various major tycoon families of the Chu royal city, and less than half a day later, all the major tycoon families in the Chu royal city knew that the imperial court of Yunyang was sending someone to the Chu royal city.

As time passed, the news continued to spread, and it spread to all the major grand families.

At the same time, Chuxiu Inn was also under tight surveillance by the city guard, to the extent that all the streets and alleys surrounding Chuxiu Inn had been sealed off, and no one was allowed to enter.

"Tonight, I have only one demand. Do not let anyone approach or enter Chuxiu Inn to bring news to that Zhou Donghuang!"

Xiang Xiong, the Chu king, said only this one sentence to Commander Xue Meng of the city guard when they met.

If no one brought him news, he did not think that Zhou Donghuang could know about Commander Xiao bringing the Cloud Condor to the Chu royal city, and would not need to worry that Zhou Donghuang would leave.

Of course, if Zhou Donghuang had coincidentally decided to leave that night, the city guard could not possibly stop him, because he had two golden-crowned eagles to ride and could simply fly out.

For this reason, he had ordered Xue Meng to personally keep watch on the sky above Chuxiu Inn before he returned from their meeting, and if he saw any hint of movement from the golden-crowned eagles, he was to send word back to the Chu royal family immediately.

If that occurred, he would wake commander Xiao, who would ride the Cloud Condor in pursuit of the Zhou Donghuang who would be riding the golden-crowned eagles.

There are several people with Zhou Donghuang, they cannot possibly ride the two golden-crowned eagles and leave together… they will need two trips at least to ferry everyone away.

Xiang Xiong's confidence grew as he realized this.

The Shi family mansion.

The spacious courtyard was brightly lit.

There were three people seated around the stone table in the middle of the courtyard.

"Grandfather, I remember four years ago that the Great Consummation adept that the imperial court of Yunyang sent to kill those two golden-crowned eagles was Commander Xiao Jiancheng of the Yunyang imperial palace guard. He will be coming again, right?"

Shi Yu glanced at Shi Ji who was sitting beside him with a slight frown. "That time, he left with his tail between his legs; this time, what could he possibly do to those two golden-crowned eagles?"

Shi Yu had just arrived at his grandfather Shi Ji's accommodation, and at the moment, he knew only that the imperial court of Yunyang had sent Xiao Jiancheng and did not know that the imperial court's Cloud Condor would be coming with him.

"Father, you should be direct and make it clear to Xiao Yu… you see, not just me, but also Xiao Yu feels that Xiao Jiancheng alone does not have the capability to handle those two golden-crowned eagles.

Second Master Shi Yan of the Shi family was also present, looking at Shi Ji and shaking his head.

"Mm?"

Shi Yu gave a start at Shi Yan's words. "Second Uncle, what do you mean by that?"

"Haha…"

Shi Yan laughed for a long time at that. After he had stopped laughing, he made a guess. "Xiao Yu, Commander Xiao will not be coming alone."

"Not coming alone?"

Shi Yu's eyes lit up. "Who else is coming with him?"

"Make a guess."

Shi Yan chuckled.

"Guess?"

Shi Yu frowned slightly, and after muttering to himself for a while, his eyes lit up. "Second Uncle, the one who is coming with Commander Xiao… could it be that Cloud Condor of the Yunyang imperial court?"

"Xiao Yu, you managed to guess that?"

Now, not only was Shi Yan stunned, even Shi Ji was stunned.

"Is it true?"

Shi Yu did not expect himself to have guessed correctly, and he smiled and shook his head. "Actually, I was just putting myself in the shoes of the emperor of Yunyang and imagining what he would have done."

"If I were him and if I were to send Commander Xiao again, I would definitely not send other Great Consummation adepts with him because that would be too wasteful. Moreover, I would not do anything I was not confident about. Therefore, I would send the Cloud Condor with Commander Xiao, that is the best decision.

Shi Yu finished in the same breath.

After listening to Shi Yu, Shi Ji said with an expression of satisfaction, "Yu'er, having you is the Shi family's fortune… I believe, in the future, the Shi family will go far under your leadership!"

"Grandfather flatters me."

Shi Yu smiled humbly and glanced subconsciously in the direction of Chuxiu Inn with a cold look.

"With Commander Xiao and the Cloud Condor together, those two golden-crowned eagles are done for!"

"As for Zhou Donghuang… they probably will not kill him. After all, there probably are some great treasures left behind by a Primal Core adept on him."

"However, even if they don't kill him for now, that Zhou Donghuang cannot have a pleasant fate. The imperial court of Yunyang cannot allow such a threat to exist."

"Father, your killer is on his way to join you!"

The Tang family mansion.

The great hall was also brightly lit.

The patriarch of the Tang family, Tang Liunian, sat at the seat of honor, his expression extremely serious. "It really turned out as I guessed, the imperial court of Yunyang sent that Petty Consummation demon, the Cloud Condor."

"Together with the accomplished Xiao Jiancheng… this time, Young Master Donghuang is in danger."

As he finished muttering to himself, Tang Liunian heaved a long sigh.

"Xiao Jiancheng, together with a flying demon that can match the two golden-crowned eagles in speed… those two golden-crowned eagles will have no advantage, and they will definitely be killed in the battle!"

Head Elder Tang Yuxin shook his head with a bitter smile.

"With the two golden-crowned eagles dead… will Young Master Donghuang have the ability to stand up to Commander Xiao, who is accomplished and famous in the country of Yunyang for many years?"

Second Elder Tang Yong was also present, uncertainty showing in his eyes.

"It will be difficult."

Tang Liunian shook his head. Although he knew the youth was confident, the youth's opponent this time was Xiao Jiancheng who had the help of a Petty Consummation demon, the Cloud Condor, and he could not help but feel that the youth's chances were slim.

"Patriarch, are we only able to watch helplessly as Young Master Donghuang goes to his death?"

Tang Young frowned and said in a low voice, "Whatever is said about him, he has saved our lives, and if not for him, Head Elder and I would definitely be dead, and you might not have managed to escape from the grizzly bear."

"Yes, Patriarch."

Tang Yuxin also looked at Tang Liunian. "Why don't we make a trip to Chuxiu Inn and look for Young Master Donghuang to warn him about this, so that he can leave as soon as possible?"

"Head Elder, in your opinion, am I, Tang Liunian, an ungrateful person?"

Tang Liunian smiled bitterly. "As soon as I heard the news, I wanted to personally go to Chuxiu Inn, but I could not even approach it… Chuxiu Inn is completely surrounded by the city guard under the personal command of Xue Meng."

"Now, even a housefly cannot get near to Chuxiu Inn, much less enter Chuxiu Inn."

Tang Liunian finished, shaking his head.

"Moreover, I recently made a special trip to the Ren family mansion to warn Young Master Donghuang to leave through Young Mistress Ren Jiapei, who is rather close to Young Master Donghuang.

"In the end, although Young Mistress Ren did warn him, he has no intention of leaving. Because of this, I made another trip to the Ren family mansion to confirm this with Young Mistress Ren… but she said that she was confident that her Big Brother Zhou could weather this storm. I have already done so much… what else do you think I can do?"

Faced with Tang Liunian's counter-arguments, Tang Yuxin and Tang Yong both could not help shaking their heads with a bitter smile.

Now they knew that their patriarch of their Tang family had done so much behind the scenes.

Moreover, this Young Master Donghuang did not seem to appreciate it.

The Yang family mansion.

"The imperial court of Yunyang has sent both Xiao Jiancheng and that Petty Consummation demon, the Cloud Condor? Excellent!"

Upon receiving the news, Patriarch Yang Yunji of the Yang family was full of excitement.

Over this period of time, when he saw the two golden-crowned eagles from the Lost Forest arrive at the Tang family banquet, and witnessing the youth standing on one of them as he departed under the escort of the other, he was green with regret.

If he had not expelled his daughter from the Yang family, the Yang family would be able to grow in strength on the back of that youth who was close to his daughter.

If they got together, it was almost a given that the Yang family could become a tycoon family!

In any case, there was no medicine for regret.

Once things were done, they were done for good. The floodwaters could not be swept back.

Later on, when he found out that the youth had ordered the golden-crowned eagles to wipe out the Fan family of Tianxiu city, he no longer had any regrets but instead immediately began to take delight in the youth's impending misfortune, as he felt the youth was about to be in trouble.

Wiping out the tycoon Fan family and disregarding the decree of the imperial court of Yunyang, the youth was trying to get himself killed!

Even if the Chu royal family was unable to deal with the youth, in order to preserve the authority of the imperial court of Yunyang, the imperial court could not possibly tolerate the youth breaking the law at will!

That night, he received news.

The imperial court of Yunyang had sent an accomplished and experienced Great Consummation adept and a Petty Consummation flying demon Cloud Condor to deal with that Zhou Donghuang.

Under these circumstances, he did not think that Zhou Donghuang could escape with his life.

Die… if only he is dead, I will no longer need to have any regrets!

A cold gleam flashed across Yang Yunji's eyes, and he gritted his teeth with a savage expression on his face. When he dies, it will prove that my decision was correct.

If I did not expel that girl, Yang Zixi from the Yang family, Zhou Donghuan*g's close relationship with that girl would have dragged the Yang family into disaster when he offended the imperial court of Yunyang.

At the same time.

The seniors of many of the tycoon and grand families were gathered through the night, discussing the arrival of the men from the imperial court that night.

"The Chu king has ordered the city guard to seal off the streets and alleys surrounding Chuxiu Inn, with the intention of preventing anyone from bringing news to Zhou Donghuang."

"Commander Xiao from the imperial court obviously does not intend to strike tonight."

"He and the Cloud Condor had a long journey here, and with a night's rest, they will be able to recuperate and regain their energy and face Zhou Donghuang and the two golden-crowned eagles in their best possible state."

"Tomorrow, I fear there will be a terrible battle at Chuxiu Inn."

"Let's all disperse and go back to rest… tomorrow morning, we'll go to Chuxiu Inn and watch Commander Xiao from the imperial court and the Cloud Condor fight Zhou Donghuang and the two golden-crowned eagles!"

Of course, most people could not sleep that night due to their anticipation of the fight at Chuxiu Inn the next morning.

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Chapter 122: Great Power Arrives

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The morning of March 31, 1229 of the Ziyun Era.

Swoosh!!

A huge creature flew through the air above the Chu royal mansion, swift as thunder, and before long arrived at Chuxiu Inn, circling in the air and surveying the courtyards and guest rooms below.

"Commander Xiao has arrived."

The commander of the city guard stationed outside Chuxiu Inn, Xue Meng, saw the large Cloud Condor high above Chuxiu Inn flying into Chuxiu Inn, and his eyes lit up.

"We'll enter."

The Chu king, Xiang Xiong, was standing beside Xue Meng and saw the Cloud Condor fly into Chuxiu Inn at the same time as Xue Meng. He gave the order and led the way into Chuxiu Inn.

Two old men followed closely behind Xiang Xiong.

One of the old men was the second elder of the Chu royal family, Xiang Donghua, who had personally made the trip to the imperial court of Yunyang to invite Commander Xiao Jiancheng of the imperial guard over.

The other old man was the head elder of the Chu royal family, Xiang Chong.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Xue Meng acknowledged and turned to give the order to his lieutenants. "Let everyone withdraw, those who should rest may go, and those on patrol duty in the city may carry on!"

At Xue Meng's order, the city guards who were sealing off the streets and alleys around Chuxiu Inn dispersed.

The presence of these city guards was only to prevent anyone from approaching Chuxiu Inn to bring word to that youth.

Now that the commander of the imperial guard and the Cloud Condor from the imperial court of Yunyang had arrived, there was no need to be concerned that someone would bring news to that youth.

It would be tempting death for someone to dare bring news to that youth now, and even if he were successful, that youth had lost the opportunity to flee.

Under these circumstances, there was no purpose for the group of city guards to maintain their presence here.

As the Cloud Condor carrying Xiao Jiancheng flew into the air over Chuxiu Inn, no less than twenty flying demons took off into the air surrounding Chuxiu Inn and approached Chuxiu Inn.

One or two people stood on the backs of each of these flying demons.

However, only two of these flying demons flew into the airspace bordering Chuxiu Inn, and the other flying demons could only fly around the surrounding area.

"This Cloud Condor is a Petty Consummation flying demon… the golden flame eagle, the level-seven flying demon raised by our Ouyang family, dares not go any further."

An eagle covered with feathers like golden flames circled in the air around Chuxiu Inn. It was obviously a size smaller than the golden-crowned eagles, and two people were standing on it.

One was a middle-aged man, and the other was a young man.

The one who had sighed was the middle-aged man. He was of average build, wore a green robe and had long hair that was black as ink hanging over his shoulder. He stared at the Cloud Condor circling in the air above Chuxiu Inn with his sharp and far-sighted gaze.

"Patriarch Ouyang, that applies not only to the golden flame eagle of your Ouyang family… isn't it the same for the level-seven white-headed vulture flying demon raised by our Lu family?" a cheerful voice piped up from nearby.

The speaker was another thin middle-aged man in a long grey robe with salt-and-pepper hair, looking at the middle-aged man standing on the back of the golden flame eagle with a slight smile.

This middle-aged man had also arrived standing on the back of a flying demon.

This flying demon was a vulture completely covered in black feathers, and only the feathers around its bare head were white. While circling in the air, it had caught the gaze of the Cloud Condor and also gave off waves of fear.

"I acknowledge Uncle Lu."

Just then, the young man on the back of the golden flame eagle bowed respectfully to the middle-aged man in the grey robe on the back of the white-headed eagle.

"Haha… Qiuping has grown up so quickly. How is it? Any intention to take a wife yet? If not, Uncle Lu will choose a beautiful one from the Lu family, and just as well the Lu family can be related to your Ouyang family by marriage."

The middle-aged man laughed heartily at the young man's bow, an amicable expression on his face.

The three of them were from two of the three elite tycoon families of the Chu royal city. They were Patriarch Ouyang Ye and First Young Master Ouyang Qiuping of the Ouyang family, and Patriarch Lu Yuanshan of the Lu family.

"Patriarch Lu, actually we should be content… in the Chu royal city, other than the Chu royal family which raises a level-eight flying demon, only the flying demons raised by our two families have that level of ability."

At Lu Yuanshan's words, Ouyang Ye glanced towards the east as he said with a smile, "Didn't you see the patriarch of the Liu family standing on the back of the level-six flying demon gale bird, looking at Chuxiu Inn from such a distance?"

"What can he see at such a distance? I don't know what excitement he can catch."

Flying demons were notoriously difficult to rear.

Only the Chu royal family had managed to rear a level-eight flying demon in the entire Chu royal city or even the entire Western Ridge of the Chu king.

In any case, the Chu king had not ridden that flying demon because he knew that it would not dare approach the Cloud Condor or the golden-crowned eagles.

He might as well enter Chuxiu Inn himself, and this way he would be able to watch from the closest distance possible as the man sent by the imperial palace attacked and killed those two golden-crowned eagles and captured that youth.

In the entire Chu royal city, only the two elite tycoon families, the Ouyang and Lu families, had level-seven flying demons.

As for the other families, they could only rear some level-five or level-six flying demons and could only look on from the outskirts of Chuxiu Inn.

"The Liu family originally had a level-seven flying demon… however, their little son roasted and ate the baby flying demon not long after it hatched."

Lu Yuanshan laughed.

"The Chu king and Commander Xue are standing outside that guest apartment… it seems that the youth is staying in that apartment."

Suddenly, Lu Yuanshan's gaze sharpened, and he stared into Chuxiu Inn.

Now, due to the distance, he could only see four figures standing outside the courtyard of one of the guest apartments, and from the attire of the leading figure, it was not difficult to tell that he was the king of the Chu royal family, Xiang Xiong.

"We are closer than them, but we can barely see anything… Old Liu and the rest must surely have an even worse view."

Ouyang Ye shook his head with a bitter smile.

"That can't be helped… we cannot brazenly walk into Chuxiu Inn to gawk, can we? Even if the Chu king doesn't mind, who is to say whether that man from the imperial court will take offense at the sight of us and do something unpleasant to us?"

Lu Yuanshan also broke out into a bitter smile. "He is a Great Consummation adept, even if he used just one arm, we would not be able to resist him."

"Father! Uncle Lu!"

Just as Ouyang Ye and Lu Yuanshan were smiling bitterly at each other, Ouyang Qiuping spotted a commotion in Chuxiu Inn. "Look! It's those two golden-crowned eagles! They were in the neighboring courtyard, now they are in the air above the courtyard where the Chu King and the others are at."

When Ouyang Ye and Lu Yuanshan heard this, they refocused their gaze on Chuxiu Inn and saw that it was indeed the case. "It seems that youth is really staying in that guest apartment."

In the courtyard of the second guest apartment.

A youth dressed in clothes whiter than snow was sitting at a stone table, contentedly sipping tea.

"Young Master!"

"Young Master!"

As the voices of his two companion demons reached him, in the sky above the courtyard, the youth appeared immediately with the two giant eagles, with pitch-black bodies and golden heads.

"Big Gold, Little Gold… it's early in the morning, what are you fussing about?" the youth asked lazily, as he raised an eyebrow sluggishly, and swept a languid gaze over the two golden-crowned eagles circling in the air.

"Young Master, there is a Cloud Condor above, and it looks to be no weaker than us… it is probably also a Petty Consummation flying demon."

Big Gold cast a wary glance at the air above him and continued, "The person on his back seems familiar, he is the human who was soundly defeated by Little Gold and I four years ago and left with his tail between his legs, a Great Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering."

"Big Brother, I remember that too now that you mentioned it."

Little Gold looked at the sky above, and continued, "I also find this human familiar. That time, those people with him all had qi-gathering elixirs that increased the sense of qi by a hundred percent. That occasion was the largest bounty we had after living so long in the Lost Forest."

Little Gold quickly looked back again. "However, with the qi-gathering elixir from Young Master, that kind of qi-gathering elixir is nothing more than rubbish.

"That Cloud Condor is descending!"

Following Big Gold's warning, the Cloud Condor swooped down from on high into the air above the courtyard the youth was in, circling and keeping a watchful eye on Big Gold and Little Gold.

"You are Zhou Donghuang?"

On the Cloud Condor's back, a robust middle-aged man with hair that was turning white, dressed in golden armor, looked down coldly on the youth sipping tea in the courtyard. He spoke in an interrogative tone.

This man and bird were the Great Consummation adept, Xiao Jiancheng and the Petty Consummation demon Cloud Condor sent by the imperial court of Yunyang.

Crash!!

Almost as soon as Xiao Jiancheng's voice died away, the door of the courtyard of the second guest apartment was burst open by brute force. Crumbled stone was all over the floor and rubble rolled in all directions.

Immediately, four figures led by a middle-aged man in a dark gold dragon robe strode into the courtyard of the second guest apartment, staring ferociously at the youth.

"I was just saying that you were standing outside foolishly, not making a sound and not coming in… turns out that you were waiting for him."

The youth spread his arms and stretched as he stood up unhurriedly, his gaze sweeping over the four people who had just come through the door, finally landing on the well-built man on the back of the Cloud Condor.

The four men led by Xiang Xiong could not help staring in shock when they heard the youth.

They knew then that the youth had long been aware of them.

"You, are you from the imperial court of Yunyang?"

The youth squinted as he stared at the well-built middle-aged man in golden armor on the Cloud Condor's back, questioning him in an even tone.

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Chapter 123: The Sword Sphere Transforms Into a Sword

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"Correct!" the well-built middle-aged man answered proudly with a cold, dispassionate expression. "I am the fourth elder of the imperial court of Yunyang, the commander of the imperial guard, Xiao Jiancheng!"

Xiao Jiancheng was not only the commander of the imperial guard of Yunyang, but also the fourth elder of the imperial court of Yunyang, one of the Great Consummation adepts of the imperial court of Yunyang, and moreover one of the strongest.

It could be said that in the country of Yunyang, anyone who was not hopelessly out of touch would know of Xiao Jiancheng, the accomplished Great Consummation adept of Yunyang country.

"Never heard of you."

The youth spoke casually, causing Xiao Jiancheng's expression to turn serious immediately. The arrogance Xiao Jiancheng displayed earlier was shattered to bits.

"But… I don't like having someone standing above me."

The youth spoke again, and suddenly he was toying with a small metal ball which seemed to have appeared from nowhere. He raised his arm gently, and a small metal sword that gleamed coldly flew out.

Swish!!

The small metal sword cut through the air with an ear-piercing whistle.

Pak!

The moment the whistling sound died away, the youth's right hand, which he had not even had time to lower, opened as though to catch something, and the small metal sword which had returned transformed back into the small metal ball was caught in his hand.

In the same instant, the Petty Consummation flying demon Cloud Condor which had been circling in the air plunged to the ground under the shocked gaze of the four men led by Xiang Xiong

Crash!!

Accompanied by a deafening crash, the body of the Cloud Condor smashed heavily into the courtyard, and because the man on its back had given it a push before it hit the ground, its body was smashed out of shape.

Upon close inspection, a bloody hole could be clearly seen on the Cloud Condor's head from which warm blood was still spurting.

Obviously, this was the fatal wound.

Crash!

At the same time, the man who plunged down with the Cloud Condor as it died had slapped its back decisively, reducing the speed of his fall and landing soundly before the four men of the Chu royal family.

The speed of his reaction was too fast for the eye to follow.

To the extent that the four men from the Chu royal family were questioning themselves whether they would have fallen together with the Cloud Condor and died, or at least suffered serious injury if they were in the same situation.

Immediately, the four men subconsciously glanced respectfully at the back of the well-built man.

However, very quickly, when they took a second look at the youth in white lounging at the stone table, they recalled the previous scene and came to their senses as their expressions changed.

Earlier, a sword had shot out as the youth had raised his arm casually and cleanly killed the Petty Consummation Cloud Condor.

It was only sometime after the entire event that the four men from the Chu royal family, and Xiao Jiancheng who had been on the Cloud Condor's back, were able to regain their wits. They were so frightened that they broke into a cold sweat.

"You… what did you do?!"

Although Xiao Jiancheng had landed soundly without a scratch, he looked at the youth who was still casually sipping tea at the stone table with a grave expression.

Before setting off that day, he had already obtained confirmation directly from the Chu king Xiang Xiong that the youth before him was indeed born in a small inferior-level prefecture within the Western Ridge of the Chu King. Moreover, he had grown up in that small inferior-level prefecture. Because of this, he could conclude immediately: This youth had indeed probably had gained some treasure from a magnificent practitioner of the Primal Core stage.

That morning, he had arrived on the Petty Consummation demon Cloud Condor, supposing that he could easily kill those two golden-crowned eagles before capturing the youth and bringing him back to the imperial court of Yunyang.

But he never imagined in his wildest dreams that the youth would strike and kill the Cloud Condor immediately, and the speed of that sword was so great that neither the Cloud Condor nor himself could not react in time.

In any case, faced with Xiao Jiancheng's solemn question, the youth had no intention of responding and sat there silently sipping his tea as though no one else was present as he toyed with the small metal ball in his hand.

Seeing this, Xiao Jiancheng's expression darkened.

He, Xiao Jiancheng, had attained Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering ten years ago, and even in the imperial court of Yunyang, his position was extremely high.

Now, a youth dared to show him disrespect?

If he had not been so fearful of the trick that the youth had just used, and which he knew he could not defend against, he would have struck long ago and captured the youth.

"Zhou Donghuang, do you think that you are invincible since you have some secret weapon?"

A moment later, seeing that the youth continued to ignore him, Xiao Jiancheng could no longer control himself and became thoroughly frustrated as he stared icy daggers at the youth.

Although the trick that the youth had just used had caused a sense of dread in him, he was still the only Great Consummation adept among all the Great Consummation adepts of the imperial court of Yunyang who specialized in defense, and he was known to have the strongest defense in the entire country of Yunyang.

Thinking back on it, if he was prepared and was on guard against the youth's trick, he was confident that he could block it.

Earlier, the youth was able to get the better of him only because he had been unprepared.

After all, he was riding the Cloud Condor as it circled in the air, and had been guarding mainly against the two flying demon golden-crowned eagles. Who would have thought that the youth on the ground could pose a threat to him and the Cloud Condor in the air?

"I, Xiao Jiancheng, have perfected the highest levels of the imperial court of Yunyang's second-grade technique 'Crazy Bull Strength,' and also the third-grade defensive techniques that I have integrated with Crazy Bull Strength into a defensive technique that is almost the quality of a first-grade defensive technique."

Xiao Jiancheng stepped forward, looking humorlessly at the youth as he said, "In the country of Yunyang, the number of people below the Connate stage who can break through my defense can be counted on one hand, and all of them are Great Consummation adepts who are at the threshold of the Connate stage.

"Today, I would like to see whether your underhand methods can break through my defense!"

As soon as he finished, Xiao Jiangcheng advanced suddenly. He seemed to be transformed into a raging bull, charging towards Zhou Donghuang who was still sipping tea, accelerating all the while.

Everything happened without warning, such that even the four men from the Chu royal family did not expect Xiao Jiancheng to make any move.

As he approached Zhou Donghuang, his speed was great enough to distort the air and produce clearly audible sonic booms.

Sonic booms could only be produced by moving through the air with a thousand jin of strength.

This was evidence that Xiao Jiancheng's offensive was all out, and that he was putting everything he had into this attack!

Obviously, although Xiao Jiancheng claimed that he did not fear the youth's secret weapon, he was actually fearful in his heart. Otherwise, he would not have struck without warning immediately after making his empty boast.

"Now, I would like to see how you use your secret weapon!"

As he forced his way forward till he was inches away from the youth, a cold look came into Xiao Jiancheng's eyes. He did not think that this youth before him could still have time to deploy his secret weapon to attack him.

Whoosh!!

Xiao Jiancheng shot out a clawed hand, aiming for the youth's right hand, which was holding the metal ball, intending to restrain the youth's and prevent him from activating that secret weapon which was so incredibly fast.

In Xiao Jiancheng's view, attacking without warning and using the imperial court of Yunyang's national technique Crazy Bull Strength to increase his speed, the youth would definitely not be able to react in time.

"Decent speed, but too bad it's too clumsy."

Faced with Xiao Jiancheng's ferocious attack, Zhou Donghuang remained unfazed, and as he spoke casually, he sprang up and rose into the air as though he was ignoring gravity.

Cloud-scaling ladder, a first-grade technique.

This technique was one that Zhou Donghuang had obtained by coincidence on Earth's Wudang mountain. It was supposedly the ultimate skill of the Wudang sect of the ancient times.

"How is this possible?!"

Seeing Zhou Donghuang seeming to rise up as though he was stepping on thin air, rising above him in a flash and dodging his attack, Xiao Jiancheng's eyes went wide with shock as his expression changed.

"A first-grade swiftness technique! You actually know a first-grade swiftness technique!"

Xiao Jiancheng's shocked and fearful voice rang out and echoed around the courtyard.

Xiao Jiancheng had experienced a second-grade swiftness technique, and it was definitely not as fearsome as this, therefore, there was only one possibility… the youth was demonstrating what even the imperial court of Yunyang did not have—a first-grade technique!

A first-grade technique?!

Xiao Jiancheng's cry reached the ears of the four men of the Chu royal family, and their eyes widened.

Even the Valley of the Medicine Masters, which looked with contempt upon the imperial court of Yunyang, only had two first-grade techniques.

And this youth could actually demonstrate a first-grade technique?

Swish!!

As Zhou Donghuang demonstrated Cloud-Scaling Ladder, he flicked out his right hand once more, and the sword sphere once again transformed into a small sword that gleamed coldly and whistled as it flew out straight towards Xiao Jiancheng.

"Ahhhh—!"

Before Zhou Donghuang flicked his arm out, Xiao Jiancheng had already used brute force to check his inertia, bringing himself to a halt and putting all his strength into defense, his muscles swelling and the surface of his skin faintly gleaming with light.

His body was saturated with Qi.

This was the hallmark of an adept at the threshold of the Connate stage.

Of course, Xiao Jiancheng was only at the threshold of the Connate stage because he had concentrated on defensive techniques, although he fell far short in other aspects.

Seeing this, Zhou Donghuang smiled condescendingly. "Parlor tricks!"

As soon as Zhou Donghuang finished speaking, the coldly-gleaming small metal sword that the sword sphere had transformed into had already passed easily through Xiao Jiancheng's chest and went cleanly through his body with a spray of bloody mist.

It was as though Xiao Jiancheng's defense was nonexistent.

Even then, the small sword bore no trace of blood and circled in the air before transforming back into a small metal sphere and returning to Zhou Donghuang's hand.

"Big Brother… this was the small metal sphere you mentioned earlier?"

Previously, Little Gold had already been frightened by how Zhou Donghuang had killed the Cloud Condor, and now, seeing how Zhou Donghuang killed Xiao Jiancheng in a similar manner, his eyes widened and he could not help being overcome by terror.

"Yes."

Big Gold's serious tone carried more than a hint of dread.

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Chapter 124: One Person Against a Country

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"You…"

Xiao Jiancheng pressed his hands to his chest as though in a daze in an effort to staunch the flow of blood. To his despair, it continued to seep out between his fingers as he began to tremble more and more violently with anxiety.

Finally, Xiao Jiancheng spat out a word as he glanced at the figure in white who landed soundly beside him, before collapsing with a look of indignation.

Thud!

As he fell, he still bore a look of indignation in his dulled eyes that were staring ferociously ahead.

After Xiao Jiancheng collapsed, the only sound in the large courtyard was the sound of the two golden-crowned eagles flapping their wings as they circled in the air.

Zhou Donghuang sat at the stone table, raising his tea that had not yet cooled and taking a sip. Then he looked evenly at the four men from the Chu royal family.

When the four men, who had been shocked at how Xiao Jiancheng had been killed in a single attack, became aware of the youth's gaze, their expressions changed completely. Looks of fear and panic simultaneously began to show in their eyes.

Although there were four of them, they might not even have been a match for Xiao Jiancheng.

Earlier, their courage had been destroyed by the shock of Xiao Jiancheng's death, how could they entertain any notion of hostility?

Thud!

The Chu king Xiang Xiong was the first to grit his teeth and kneel down, paying his respects to the youth. "Xiang Xiong was confused and offended Young Master Donghuang, hopefully, hopefully I can make amends to Young Master Donghuang!"

As the king of the Western Ridge of the Chu King, the Chu king Xiang Xiong placed great importance on his dignity, but in these circumstances, and after seeing that even Xiao Jiancheng and the Cloud Condor sent by the imperial court of Yunyang had been killed in one attack by the youth before him, his dignity was no longer relevant and was now the last thing on his mind.

Now, he had only one concern, and that was to survive at any cost.

He had not witnessed the youth's tactic before, although he had heard about it.

His wife Fan Ji's family had been wiped out by the two golden-crowned eagles at the youth's command… someone so ruthless that he would wipe out an entire family might well decide to wipe out the Chu royal family in a fit of anger!

Although the Chu royal family had a Great Consummation adept, he had only been recently promoted several years ago and was no match for Xiao Jiancheng. How could he be a match for this youth who had killed Xiao Jiancheng with one strike?

"Young Master Donghuang, show mercy!"

"Young Master Donghuang, show mercy!"

The Chu king Xiang Xiong had already fallen to his knees, and as his subordinates, Xue Meng and the other two men followed suit without hesitation. If one looked closely, it could be seen that their bodies were trembling slightly.

The fearsomeness of the youth's ability was something they could not have imagined in their wildest dreams.

Even the techniques of a Connate stage adept… could not match up?

The three of them were trembling in their hearts.

Of course, they could be sure of one detail, and it was that the youth was not a Connate stage adept.

When a Connate stage adept was in action, the great amount of Connate stage qi would flow to the surface of the adept's body and be revealed.

Exuding qi was the hallmark of a Connate stage adept.

Moreover, the youth had not exuded any trace of qi when he had struck first, nor when he had demonstrated what they suspected was a first-grade swiftness technique. This proved that he was not a Connate stage adept and was at most a Great Consummation adept.

Zhou Donghuang merely swept a glance over the four men of the Chu royal family as they knelt down, and it was only at the sight of their pale faces and visibly palpitations that he responded.

Zhou Donghuang took out a piece of paper that was crammed with writing, tossing it into the air and sending it floating lightly to land in front of Xiang Xiong. "You have three months to gather all the herbs on it… if you fail, I'll kill the four of you in three months' time."

Xiang Xiong and the others heaved a huge sigh of relief at Zhou Donghuang's words, and thanked him profusely.

"Farewell, Young Master Donghuang."

Xiang Xiong did not even see what herbs were written on the paper that Zhou Donghuang had tossed over before putting it away in his pocket like a treasure. He knew that he had to do everything in his power to gather all these herbs.

Xiang Xiong, the Chu king of the Western Ridge of the Chu King, had arrived with confidence and authority but left with dejectedly with clipped wings.

As for the corpses of Xiao Jiancheng and the Cloud Condor, Xue Meng and the two men self-consciously tidied up the area for the youth before carrying them away, following Xiang Xiong as he departed.

Although the Cloud Condor was a Petty Consummation demon and it had many valuable parts, Zhou Donghuang was unable to make use of it. Therefore, he did not instruct the four men from the Chu royal family to return with the dismembered parts.

Those parts were extremely valuable, but was he short of money at the moment?

Today, he had shown mercy by sparing the lives of these four men, and if he needed money, he only had to ask. Could the Chu royal family refuse him? Would they dare to?

"Young Master, you let them off just like that?" Little Gold could not help asking as he watched the four men from the Chu royal family depart, and Zhou Donghuang having no intention to strike.

He continued without waiting for Zhou Donghuang's reply, "Today, they will not let Young Master off lightly since you have shown the ability to kill that Petty Consummation flying demon and that Great Consummation adept."

"I know," Zhou Donghuang replied casually. "However, if I kill them, what do I gain? Sparing them would be more useful."

Many of the herbs on the paper that Zhou Donguang had given Xiang Xiong earlier were not herbs that could be purchased even if money was not an issue, and they were so valuable that they were not sold openly.

In the Western Ridge of the Chu King, possibly only the Chu royal family was capable of gathering all these herbs in a short period of time.

Zhou Donghuang needed these herbs for the elixirs and potions that he was preparing to formulate next, for which these were the main ingredients. He could get Fu to purchase the accompanying ingredients from the big medicine shops in the Chu royal city.

In three months, I must attain Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering… then I will make preparations to rush into the Connate stage!

Reaching the Connate stage purely by practicing would require an extremely long time.

However, there were shortcuts that required the aid of some rare and valuable herbs, which would help him attain the Connate stage even faster!

Among the herbs that Zhou Donghuang had ordered the Chu king Xiang Xiong to gather were some valuable herbs that he needed for formulating these mixtures. Moreover, they were the main ingredients and were all essential in the formula.

These herbs… should be available in the Western Ridge of the Chu King.

Zhou Donghuang squinted as he thought about it.

Fu, Freezing Wind, Zhou Han and Zhou Feng were also staying in the second guest apartment.

Earlier, although they had not stepped out of their room, they had witnessed everything through the gaps between the unlocked windows.

The Great Consummation adept sent by the imperial court of Yunyang had been killed by their Young Master.

Xiang Xiong, the Chu king who ruled the Western Ridge of the Chu King and someone whom they held in high esteem, had knelt before their young master and begged for mercy.

This had all left them in a daze and feeling as though they were in a dream.

Only when they realized that they were not actually dreaming did they turn around and resume practicing even more fervently.

The youth's power put a great deal of pressure on them.

Now, to be even more of a burden beside the youth was something they could not accept.

"Your Majesty, why do I feel… that the youth had specially prepared the paper that he gave you?" the second elder of the Chu royal family Xiang Donghua asked the Chu king Xiang Xiong with a bitter smile after they left Chuxiu Inn.

"Isn't that obvious?"

Xiang Xiong shook his head. Although he was the head of the Chu royal family and supreme in the Western Ridge of the Chu King, his position was not even noteworthy among great exponents of the martial way.

And that youth was obviously someone of that sort whom he could not afford to provoke.

"He has obviously weighed the benefits of not killing us and feels that keeping us alive will benefit him," Xiang Xiong continued.

Just as Xiang Xiong and Xiang Donghua had thought, Zhou Donghuang had long ago guessed that they would show up along with someone from the imperial court of Yunyang… killing the person from the imperial court was Zhou Donghuang's way of giving a warning by making an example of him.

When the four men left Chuxiu Inn, they did not bring the bodies of Xiao Jiancheng and the Cloud Condor with them, but instead left the bodies behind at Chuxiu Inn for safekeeping. Taking the bodies away in broad daylight would attract unwanted attention.

Even so, those observers in the air on their flying demons had already spotted some clues.

"The Chu king and the others are already leaving?"

"What about that Commander Xiao from the imperial court? And that Cloud Condor? Why does it seem that we never saw them again after they swooped down?"

"That Commander Xiao cannot be inside their drinking tea with that youth, can he?"

The observers on the backs of their flying demons in the air surrounding Chuxiu Inn were all perplexed and could not figure out what had happened.

But the three people on the two flying demons in the air just outside Chuxiu Inn had expressions of such shock that it was difficult to describe.

"That Commander Xiao and the Cloud Condor… were defeated by that youth?"

"My god! What kind of person is that youth?"

"Although he looks to be seventeen or eighteen years old at most, he already has such power?"

Lu Yuanshan of the Lu family, Ouyang Ye and Ouyang Qiuping of the Ouyang family were all shocked by the scene they had just witnessed, and it took them a long while to regain their wits.

Earlier, they had witnessed with their very own eyes: On March 31, 1229 of the Ziyun Era, the youth called Zhou Donghuang killed the fourth elder of the imperial court of Yunyang, the commander of the imperial guard, a Great Consummation adept of the Qi-Gathering, Xiao Jiancheng, and also killed the Petty Consummation flying demon Cloud Condor that was raised by the imperial court.

When this news spread from the tycoon Ouyang and Lu families to the Chu royal city, it created an uproar.

"That youth… is really that fearsome?"

"Even that Xiao Jiancheng has been killed by him… can the imperial court of Yunyang do anything about him?"

"What kind of god is he? He has the power to stand against an entire country at such a young age!"

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Chapter 125: Two Options

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Originally, most people in the Chu royal city assumed that the youth named Zhou Donghuang might not be stronger than the two Petty Consummation demon golden-crowned eagles in terms of ability, but had subdued them using some other methods.

Now that Xiao Jiancheng from the imperial court of Yunyang had been defeated in the Chu royal city, one thing was clear to the people of the Chu royal city: That youth's ability was actually greater than that of the two golden-crowned eagles!

The two golden-crowned eagles would not have been able to kill Xiao Jiancheng from the imperial court of Yunyang even if they joined forces.

The youth had proven his ability in this battle.

Of course, even though it was well-known in the Chu royal city that the youth had killed Xiao Jiancheng, very few knew that he had been killed in one attack by the youth…

Killing an opponent in one attack and managing to kill an opponent only after using every ounce of effort were two completely different things.

How could it be? That little swine, how could he have such incredible ability?

When Patriarch Yang Yunji of the grand Yang family heard that Zhou Donghuang had killed Xiao Jiancheng, his mood seemed to fall from heaven straight down to hell, and he was so exasperated that he almost vomited blood.

When the patriarch of the tycoon Tang family received the news, he heaved a sigh of relief with even as shock was written all over his face. Seems that I was worried for nothing… I never imagined that Young Master Donghuang had such ability.

That's why he was not bothered when I got the young mistress of the Ren family to warn him… he never was afraid of the imperial court of Yunyang in the first place!

This time, by killing the Petty Consummation flying demon Cloud Condor of the imperial court, he has nothing else to worry about in the imperial court of Yunyang.

Unless… the Connate stage adept that the imperial court of Yunyang could possibly have is proficient in the use of bows.

After all, even if the imperial court of Yunyang has a Connate stage adept, he will only be an ordinary Connate stage adept at most. At that level, he will not be able to do anything to Young Master Donghuang unless he is proficient in the use of bows.

Therefore, even if the imperial court of Yunyang has a Connate stage adept, he might not be able to strike against Young Master Donghuang easily… after all, Young Master Donghuang could order the two golden-crowned eagles to go to the imperial palace and slaughter everyone there when the Connate stage adept is trying to deal with him!

This thought put Tang Liunian completely at ease.

That youth was the benefactor who saved his life and also the benefactor who saved the Tang family, and he naturally hoped that no harm would befall him.

He was happy with the status quo.

Now, the only thing to be worried about was… the imperial court of Yunyang could very well feel that they cannot tolerate Young Master Donghuang and offer some benefits in return for the Connate stage adepts of the Valley of the Medicine Masters to take action.

At this thought, Tang Liunian could not help but be slightly worried. In the Valley of the Medicine Masters, there were numerous Connate stage adepts… and there were definitely Connate stage adepts who were proficient with the bow.

Moreover, in the Valley of the Medicine Masters, there were even Connate stage adepts so powerful that they could kill those two golden-crowned eagles even though they were not proficient with the bow!

Besides that, in the Valley of the Medicine Masters, there was supposedly a Connate stage flying demon!

The more Tang Liunian thought, the more worried he became.

Now, I just hope… that the imperial court of Yunyang will be so concerned about its reputation that it will not be willing to seek help from the Valley of the Medicine Masters just to deal with a youth.

Tang Liunian prayed in his heart.

The Chu royal family.

After returning from Chuxiu Inn, the Chu king Xiang Xiong gave orders, mobilizing every ounce of the Chu royal family's resources to secure all the valuable herbs that the youth needed.

After all, that youth had only given him three months.

"Your Majesty… is there really no other way to deal with him?"

The royal consort, Fan Ji, had an expression of indignation on her face ever since Xiang Xiong had returned from Chuxiu Inn.

She had expected that the person sent by the imperial court of Yunyang would be able to help her avenge the ocean of blood from when her Fan family was wiped out.

She did not expect that he would be killed by the youth.

"My dear," Xiang Xiong sighed. "That youth is not someone the Chu royal family can deal with… and moreover since the imperial court has already sent someone over, the Chu royal family can no longer pursue this issue."

Now, Xiang Xiong was truly afraid.

Although that youth was not a Connate stage adept, he gave the impression that he was even more fearsome than an average Connate stage adept.

At least, the small metal sphere that could transform into a sword that the youth possessed was not something that he could comprehend. If I'm not wrong… that small metal sphere is a treasure that a magnificent practitioner of the Primal Core stage left behind!

With a treasure left behind by a magnificent practitioner, an average Connate stage adept would not be able to oppose that youth even though he had not yet attained the Connate stage.

However, although Xiang Xiong obviously did not dare to mess with the youth again, he had already sent a messenger to the imperial city at top speed to report the news of Xiao Jiancheng and the Cloud Condor's death to the imperial court of Yunyang.

The news had already begun to spread, and if the Chu royal family had not reported it by the time it reached the ears of the imperial court, the imperial court would show no mercy to the Chu royal family.

On June 6, 1229 of the Ziyun Era, the messenger sent to the imperial city by the Chu royal family finally arrived at the imperial city and went immediately to the imperial palace to report every detail about the deaths of Xiao Jiancheng and the Cloud Condor.

Immediately, the senior leadership of the Jiang family of the imperial court of Yunyang, led by the emperor of Yunyang, the patriarch of the Jiang family Jiang Tianchen, convened once more in the golden palace.

"I have just received news from the Chu royal family… Commander Xiao and the Cloud Condor have been killed by that youth called Zhou Donghuang."

Jiang Tianchen sat on the dragon throne wearing his golden dragon robe, surveying the senior leadership with a stormy expression as he spoke.

Large as the imperial court was, prior to this moment, only Jiang Tiancheng knew of this.

Therefore, this was a shock to the senior leadership of the imperial court when he revealed it.

"How is this possible? Although Commander Xiao's ability is not the strongest among the Great Consummation adepts in the imperial court… but his specialization in defense is so strong that only a few Great Consummation adepts have the ability to kill him."

Some shook their heads, unwilling to believe this reality.

"How could the Cloud Condor have been killed? It is a flying demon, and together with Commander Xiao, it would have been child's play to kill those two golden-crowned eagles from the Western Ridge of the Chu King!"

Some were suspicious of this.

Unless that youth is a Connate stage adept and one who is proficient in the use of the bow… Otherwise, how could he have killed Commander Xiao and the Cloud Condor?"

"A youth and already a Connate stage adept? Impossible! Even if he has somehow obtained a treasure from a Primal Core stage adept, he could not have attained the Connate stage at this age!"

"Your Majesty, I would like to know the details of what happened."

As the golden palace descended into an uproar, Jiang Tianchen questioned the messenger from the Chu royal family in a low voice which carried to all the members of the senior leadership present.

"Someone on the ground killed the Cloud Condor a hundred meters in the air with one attack?"

"A metal sphere transformed into a sword, shot into the air and killed the Cloud Condor before it could react?"

"That sword was so fast that even Commander Xiao was caught unprepared and could not react in time?"

"Demonstrating a suspected first-grade swiftness technique to easily counter Commander Xiao's sneak attack? Moreover, killing Commander Xiao with a single sword attack, completely bypassing Commander Xiao's specialized defenses?"

The senior leadership of the imperial court was stunned speechless at what Jiang Tiancheng said.

Although this was shocking to hear, they knew full well that the messenger from the Chu royal family would not dare lie to mislead the imperial court.

"This youth… perhaps we can kill him only if the retired emperor personally takes action."

An old man with a goatee like a mountain goat said with an expression of dread, "Moreover, there is only a chance. After all, that metal sphere he has is too strange, it is obviously a treasure left behind by a magnificent practitioner of the Primal Core stage."

"Even if the retired emperor manages to kill that youth, what about the two golden-crowned eagles with him? It has been less than ten years since the retired emperor has attained the Connate Stage, and without being proficient in the arts of using the bow. Without the Cloud Condor, it will be extremely difficult to kill those two golden-crowned eagles. If there comes a time when those two golden-crowned eagles should decide to exact vengeance on the imperial court, how will the juniors of the imperial court be able to resist them?"

Another old man voiced out his concerns.

"Second Elder, you are being overly concerned… if the retired emperor is able to kill that youth and acquire that metal sphere, wouldn't it be simple to kill those two golden-crowned eagles?" a middle-aged man said.

"That's indeed the case."

Someone else agreed.

"I am thinking of two options."

Jiang Tianchen waved his hand, and once the senior leadership of the imperial court had quietened down, he continued in a solemn voice, "The first option is for the retired emperor to intervene personally and kill that youth. But, as Head Elder has said, even so, he might not be able to kill that youth.

"If that youth can bypass Commander Xiao's defense with that metal sphere that transforms into a sword and kill him, it implies that that attack is not weaker than that of an ordinary Connate stage adept.

"If the retired emperor takes action, there is a degree of risk."

Jiang Tianchen stopped here and hesitated before continuing after a pause, "The second option is to report this to the Valley of the Medicine Masters… the Valley of the Medicine Masters will definitely be interested in what the treasure that the youth got from his fortunate encounter with the magnificent practitioner of the Primal Core stage."

"From the metal sphere that the youth possesses, we can further confirm… he definitely had a fortunate encounter with a magnificent practitioner of the Primal Core stage. Otherwise, he could not possibly have come to possess such a treasure!"

"However, once we report this to the Valley of the Medicine Masters, it will imply that whatever the youth gained from the magnificent practitioner of the Primal Core stage will not be shared by the imperial court of Yunyang!"

"The first option is risky, but if it succeeds, we can obtain the benefits from the treasure left behind by the magnificent practitioner of the Primal Core stage, and even if we cannot, we will be able to gain possession of that metal sphere if nothing goes wrong.

"On the other hand, the second option is very safe, but the imperial court of Yunyang must give up any claim to the traces left behind by the magnificent practitioner of the Primal Core stage as well as that metal sphere."

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Chapter 126: Great Consummation of the Qi-gathering

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Chu royal city, Chuxiu Inn.

In the largest master bedroom of the second courtyard, a young man in white sat cross-legged on the mattress, practicing in silence. Waves of spirit energy seemed to be absorbed into his body from the surrounding air at a rapid speed and seemed to go in cycles within his body ceaselessly.

"This 'Lord of the Four Supremes' really allows you to practice at rapid speeds when you are focused and undistracted… otherwise, there is nothing too special about it. But even the premier techniques within the universe like the 'Thousand-Star Sword Technique' or 'Fiery Thunder Training Regimen' or the 'Manual of Unruffled Sage' are all similar… even the best techniques are all roughly the same. 'Lord of the Four Supremes' is special in that it allows you to increase your rate of practice… at least this makes it superior to the other techniques."

Now, Zhou Donghuang was already at the last frontier of Petty Consummation of the Qi-Gathering, as long as he managed to break through this last frontier, he would be able to achieve Great Consummation, becoming an adept with the strength of nine bulls and two tigers.

To him, it was hardly difficult to break this frontier, only a matter of time. He could easily achieve it within the shortest time possible. His millennia of experience allowed him to be extremely proficient in his practice. Furthermore, with his knowledge of the huge variety of drugs, his rate of practice was absurdly fast, almost achieving the same speeds as the sons from the star clans or supreme sects. Nonetheless, those sons were faster because they had professional potion masters to concoct medications and potions to aid their practice. These potions were far more effective than the pills used by Zhou Donghuang. Although he could concoct those potions as well, he still had not achieved the Primal Core stage and lacked the power to create them. He also could not find any of the necessary rare ingredients.

"Although I can't compare to their rate of practice… they still won at the starting line. Once I leave Ziyun planet and reach the prosperous galaxies, with my millennia of experience and knowledge of the secret treasures of the universe, I will easily be able to surpass them!" In his previous life, he had always heard of who had discovered what secret treasures. Although he had not laid his hands on any of these treasures in his previous life, this time, he would be able to go in advance to steal the treasures since he had time-traveled. To him, his memory was his greatest resource, allowing him to always be a step ahead of the rest!

"Within two hours, I will achieve Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering before nightfall!" Zhou Donghuang settled himself down and continued breaking the final frontier of Petty Consummation. The spirit in the air entered his body and was converted into qi, aiding his attempt.

Two hours later, he finally broke through.

"Done." As he achieved Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering, Zhou Donghuang opened his eyes as he punched the air in front of him, seemingly gentle but full of power.

In that instant, a loud boom was heard. This was the sound wave from a ton of power going through the air.

"Before today, I needed to use all my extreme strength and my inner qi to break the sound barrier… but now, with Great Consummation, with just my qi, I can do the same!"

Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering meant that his power had gained substantially as well. "Now, I can come up with my own potions and drugs."

Zhou Donghuang did not continue his practice as he stepped off the mattress. He walked towards the pile of herbs that lay in the corner of the room. Beside the herbs was the equipment that was needed to produce the potions and drugs.

Ten days ago, the Chu royal household had already prepared all the items he required and sent them to him half a month before the deadline that he had requested. He had then asked Fu to buy the other herbs that could be found in the city. Hence these herbs had all been prepared ten days ago, awaiting his Great Consummation before he could utilize them.

"First, the qi-stabilizing elixir!" This pill could allow him to stabilize his inner qi, to prepare to achieve the Connate stage.

"Then, the qi-concentration potion!" This potion would allow him to concentrate his inner qi, purifying it to increase his efficiency in reaching the Connate stage.

"With the qi-stabilizing elixir and the qi-concentration potion, I can reach the Connate stage within a year!"

After concocting the elixir and the potion, Zhou Donghuang's eyes seemed to shine like stars in the night sky. He was in no hurry to continue practicing, as he cracked the room door open and stepped outside for some fresh air.

Practicing was not meant to be done through the night. Work with rest was the ideal way. That was his experience from over a thousand years.

"The imperial court… still nothing from them?" Sitting at the stone table and sipping the tea that the servant had just brewed, Zhou Donghuang was surprised. Then again, this also made him put the emperor of the country in higher regard. From what it seemed, the emperor was not a rash person. Otherwise, the imperial court would have sent someone to cause trouble for him by now.

"Brother!" Not long after he had emerged, Yun Lu came running from outside the courtyard. Clearly, she knew that Zhou Donghuang had left his room. Yun Lu rushed into his arms and said, "Brother, you were so busy practicing that I have not seen you in so long… today, you must chat with me."

Ever since Zhou Donghuang had helped Yun Lu to seek revenge, she had reverted to her old childish self. But this innocence was exactly what Zhou Donghuang loved to see. The troubled and mature Yun Lu was too heartbreaking to bear.

"Xiao Lu." Seeing her, he was reminded that unless she managed to achieve the Primordial Soul and rob someone's body, she would only remain in her body of a child for the rest of her life. His heart broke. "Brother will definitely help you find a way to let your body grow up."

Yun Lu looked exactly the same as when they had first met, as if the little girl was frozen in time. This was the result of her being given the Nerve-Easing, Marrow-Cleansing Needle.

"Hehe… Stupid brother, this is fine," said Yun Lu with a laugh. "This way, I can always run into your arms anytime and get a hug… otherwise, once I grow up, your wife will get jealous if you hug me."

"Naughty girl," said Zhou Donghuang as he looked at the little girl in his arms.

"Brother, have you really fallen in love?" Yun Lu asked curiously.

"Why do you ask?" Zhou Donghuang was speechless.

"I just wanted to confirm… otherwise, if you said you had someone in mind just to lie to Mother, I really think Sister Zixi is not bad. Of course, Sister Jiapei is great too, but I think she does not want to compete with Sister Zixi." Yun Lu shook her head. "I really don't understand what she is thinking… if I were her, I would confess straight away without thinking so much."

"Xiao Lu, looks like your mother and I don't have to worry about marrying you off… after all, you are so bold, there should be no issue." Zhou Donghuang laughed as he shook his head.

"Hehe… for me to confess, the man has to be at least half the man you are. But I feel, in this world, there is definitely no man like that. So I think I'll be clinging on to you and Mother." joked Yun Lu.

Just then, Zhou Donghuang's smile disappeared as his eyes landed on an old man in a grey robe standing outside the courtyard.

The old man had a strong build, his long white hair tied behind his back. His brows were defined, framing deep-set eyes that seemed like a deep abyss. He had a goatee that made him look kind, but there was an unmistakable presence about him.

"Connate." With just a look, Zhou Donghuang was almost certain that this man was a Connate adept. Otherwise, with his current level, he would have detected the man's presence earlier.

"From the imperial court?" After confirming that the man was indeed a Connate adept, Zhou Donghuang guessed that he was likely the Connate adept that was said to be in the imperial court.

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Chapter 127: Death of a Connate Adept

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"Astute observation." Realizing that the young man in white had noticed him within moments of his appearance, the old man put his hands together respectfully as he greeted the young man, "I wonder… is it convenient for me to have a cup of tea with you?"

"Not at all." Zhou Donghuang stared at the old man as he rejected him immediately.

"Young man, don't you think… it's impolite to reject someone at the door?" The old man did not expect to be rejected. He was first shocked, then could not help but frown.

"So what if I am impolite? I, Zhou Donghuang, have always done whatever I want… what does your opinion have got to do with me?" Zhou Donghuang said flippantly.

"I am from the Yunyang imperial court!" reminded the old man seriously as he frowned.

"So?" Zhou Donghuang's tone did not change as he replied impatiently, "Say your piece, then you may leave."

"Sir, in the whole country, you are the first one who dares to speak to me like this," said the old man. His expression darkened as the kindness left his face. His eyes glinted murderously as he stared at Zhou Donghuang, his cloak whipping in the wind.

A faint green hue seemed to radiate from his skin. Without making any move, but the inner qi also radiating from the body uncontrollably… that was the hallmark of a Connate adept.

Clearly, the old man was aware of this and was trying to intimidate the young man in the courtyard.

"Why? You want to spar with me?" The young man grabbed the little girl with his left hand. In his right hand, a small metal ball rolled out from his sleeve into his palm. He toyed with it as he stared at the old man, a playful smile on his lips.

Seeing the metal ball in the young man's hands and getting a sense of his immense confidence, a spark of fear seemed to flicker in the old man's eyes. Soon, he withdrew the qi that was radiating from his body.

"Sir, I am the previous emperor of Yunyang country, Jiang Yunding." After he had calmed the qi that was stirring within his body, the old man looked at the young man. When he spoke, he not only reported his background, but his tone had turned softer. "I have come today on behalf of the imperial court to make a deal with you."

Just as he spoke, Zhou Donghuang responded without hesitation, "Not interested!"

"Sir, I suggest you listen to me before you make a decision," said Jiang Yunding as he breathed in deeply, trying his best to control the anger that was stirring within him. Before Zhou Donghuang could reply, he continued, "If we guessed correctly, you must have obtained a treasure from a Primal Core adept, which allowed you to achieve so much in such a short time. You even have this metal ball that can transform into a spear and is equivalent to a blow from a Connate adept."

As he spoke, Jiang Yunding's gaze landed on the ball in Zhou Donghuang's right hand. Of course, he did not know that this was a sword sphere.

"And?" Zhou Donghuang seemed extremely calm as he replied emotionlessly.

"Sir, maybe you do not fear the imperial court… but, what about the Valley of Medicine Masters?" asked Jiang Yunding.

"The Valley of Medicine Masters?" Zhou Donghuang's expression slipped as he seemed to go into deep thought. In fact, he had been reminded of Chen Dandan, the lady whom he had grown up with but who had eventually betrayed his mother.

Initially, he had not taken revenge against her, partly because his mother had persuaded him not to, but more importantly because he wanted to take action only when the Valley of Medicine Masters had forgiven Chen Dandan and when she stood at her highest point. That way, she would be punished most severely for doing what she had done.

But to Jiang Yunding, it looked as if the young man was afraid of the Valley of Medicine Masters.

"Sir, you just have to hand me the first-grade martial art that you exhibited when avoided the sneak attack from Xiao Jiancheng… then, the imperial court will promise not to inform the Valley of Medicine Masters about how you received a treasure from a Primal Core adept," proclaimed Jiang Yunding as he looked deeply at Zhou Donghuang.

"You want the first-grade martial art?" Hearing this, Zhou Donghuang laughed. "What if… I don't give it to you?"

"If you don't, then the imperial court will have no choice but to raise this matter to the Valley of Medicine Masters," replied Jiang Yunding, his voice stone cold. "I think, once the Valley of Medicine Masters managed to take what they can from you, they will reward the imperial court with the first-grade martial art to thank us for our efforts."

"Are you threatening me?" Zhou Donghuang's eyes were shut, but a murderous glint flashed across his eyes. He broke into a radiant smile.

"You may put it that way," smiled Jiang Yunding.

"You should know…" Zhou Donghuang's eyes suddenly opened as the smile seemed frozen on his face. "The thing that I hate most is… being threatened!"

With that, the small metal ball in his right hand transformed into a spear.

At the same time, Jiang Yunding's eyes never left the metal ball in Zhou Donghuang's eyes. Seeing the small metal ball transform into a shiny small metal sphere, his eyes sharpened as he brought his hand to his waist in a lightning-fast motion.

Whoosh!!

Jiang Yunding pulled out a soft spear from his waistband. As his qi flowed into the spear, it hardened and straightened. The qi that was radiating from Jiang Yunding pulsated with a green hue.

Now, both him and the spear were radiating the green hue.

Just as Jiang Yunding pulled out the spear, staring focused at the small spear floating in Zhou Donghuang's palm, his face fraught with caution, Zhou Donghuang quipped condescendingly, "Early Connate stage?"

At the same time, with a swift motion of his right hand, as if he was throwing garbage, Zhou Donghuang threw the spear.

Whoo!! As the small spear left his hands, the rare sound of a whistling spear could be heard.

"Hmph!" Jiang Yunding grunted as he waved the spear in his hands, to ward off the little spear that was flying towards him. But as he flung his spear, he realized that the speed of the little spear was simply too fast for him to defend against. His spear missed it entirely.

"No—!" As his spear missed the little spear, Jiang Yunding's eyes narrowed as he cried.

Before he could close his mouth, that shimmering little spear had already run through his chest, and returned to the young man's hand as a spear sphere, dripping with fresh blood.

Thud!

As the spear sphere returned to Zhou Donghuang's hand, Jiang Yunding's lifeless body fell to the ground, his mouth agape and his eyes widened in shock. Jiang Yunding, the previous emperor of Yunyang country and the only Connate adept in the whole country, had just died in the courtyard outside the second guest house of Chuxiu Inn in the Chu royal city.

"Brother, why does this old man radiate a glow?" After witnessing Zhou Donghuang murder Jiang Yunding, Yun Lu, who was sitting on his lap and in his arms, was not only not shocked, but was even curiously asking Zhou Donghuang questions.

"That is the release of qi from a Connate adept," replied Zhou Donghuang as he stroked Yun Lu's head gently as he kept the spear sphere.

"Connate adept?" Yun Lu's eyes widened. "That was a Connate adept? Aren't Connate adepts very powerful? How did he die so easily at your hands?"

"That's because… Brother is more powerful than him," answered Zhou Donghuang with a smile.

"The retired emperor… is dead?"

When the news traveled to the Chu royal household, the Chu king, Xiang Xiong, was stunned. His eyes were filled with fear. "Thankfully, I did not follow along this time… the retired emperor is a Connate adept, but even he was murdered by the young man. That young man has the power to go against a whole country alone indeed!"

This time, the retired emperor Jiang Yunding of the imperial court had come to the Western ridge of the Chu king and the Chu royal city. His first visit on his arrival was to the Chu royal household, to clarify matters with Xiang Xiong, the Chu king.

Then, he had left straight for Chuxiu Inn.

Although Xiang Xiong had not followed him, he had sent someone to follow him; so he was informed of the news right away when Jiang Yunding had died.

"Inform the imperial court," sighed Xiang Xiong as he ordered someone to send the news of Jiang Yunding's death to the imperial court. "The death of the retired emperor will surely anger the imperial court… and that young man is still holding on to a treasure. This time, the imperial court will surely stop caring about his treasure. But even if they no longer dare to seek the treasure, they will definitely inform the Valley of Medicine Masters of the news. There are so many Connate adepts in the Valley of Medicine Masters, some of whom are in the middle Connate stage… in fact, the leader of the sect has even been said to have achieved the late Connate stage! If the Valley of Medicine Masters takes action, will the young man be able to stop them?" Xiang Xiong's eyes shone curiously. But at the same time, he was still adamant that the Chu royal household could definitely not afford to offend this young man… even someone from the Valley of Medicine Masters may not be able to contain him!

The last time, he was afraid. He had a strong hunch: if he continued to incite action from others against the young man, he would definitely not let him off!

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Chapter 128: Treasured Land of the Connate Demon

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Chuxiu Inn, the courtyard of the second guest house.

"Young Master, was that old man really a Connate adept?" Little Gold's eyes were incredulous as he circled above the courtyard, looking at the young man chatting happily with the little girl at the stone table.

"If you ask again, I'll break your wings, and you won't be able to fly for two months… do you believe me?" Zhou Donghuang glanced at Little Gold and answered impatiently.

Just now, after he had murdered Jiang Yunding, the retired emperor of Yunyang country and an early Connate stage adept, Little Gold had flown over right away after noticing something amiss. He witnessed the servants from Chuxiu Inn taking the body away. However, after finding out that that was a Connate adept, Little Gold was in disbelief and could not help but question.

Faced with the threat from Zhou Donghuang, Little Gold shut its mouth immediately.

"Instead of doubting me, why don't you spend the energy practicing… with the qi-gathering elixir and the techniques that I taught you, you are really worthless to not have broken the frontier by now!" Seeing Little Gold continue circling above the courtyard without any sign of leaving, Zhou Donghuang could not help but glare at him angrily. "Your elder brother has already achieved Great Consummation a month ago… I'm worried that when he reaches the Connate stage and becomes a Connate demon, you won't even have achieved Great Consummation," added Zhou Donghuang.

"Young Master, Brother was naturally more gifted than me, with your qi-gathering elixir and techniques, it is only expected that he breaks the frontier earlier than me," responded Little Gold indignantly. "I have improved so much in this short time. I am already reaching the bottleneck of Petty Consummation and will be able to overcome it in no time. Young Master, I'll call my brother over… if you can kill a Connate adept, that means a Connate demon should be no problem for you either."

With that, Little Gold turned and returned to the courtyard of the second guest house.

Soon, it returned, together with another golden-crowned eagle that was much bigger than it. This eagle was not only taller than Little Gold at standing height, but had a much longer wingspan too. Its golden crown blazed like golden fire. This was none other than Big Gold, who had achieved Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering just a month ago.

"Young Master, Little Gold said… you just killed a Connate adept?" Big Gold had been focused on practicing earlier and had not noticed the commotion. It had only found out when Little Gold had returned to inform him of it.

"Mm," answered Zhou Donghuang with a nod.

"Young Master, Little Gold and I were not originally from the Lost Forest," said Big Gold, its eyes shimmering. "We were born in the mountain ranges outside of the Northern border of Yunyang country. That region lies outside of the Yunyang border."

"I remember, one day, Little Gold and I had stumbled upon a steep cliff out of curiosity. We discovered that the cliff was enveloped by a faint golden glow… out of curiosity, we landed onto that cliff. Right then, when we were enveloped by the golden hue all around us, Little Gold and I achieved intelligence. After that, we felt a terrifying scent radiating from a hole in the cliff… that was the scent of a flying demon that was far stronger than us. We left quickly."

"After leaving the cliff, we turned back and saw a brown eagle with a wingspan more than ten meters glaring at us from a distance. In demon tongue, it told us to scram! Eagles like us can only reach such a size by achieving the Connate stage."

Big Gold paused before continuing, "After that, Little Gold and I were afraid that the brown eagle would cause trouble for us, so we left the area and went to the Lost Forest. By stealing qi-gathering elixirs from the humans, we then slowly became the kings of the forest. After leaving that area, we did some investigation… that brown eagle was a red goshawk that typically had little natural talent. Under normal circumstances red goshawks can only reach level-five of the Qi-Gathering in their lives.

"But this red goshawk had achieved the Connate stage, becoming a Connate demon! Hence, we both suspect… it had found that treasured land, and by utilizing the golden glow from the land, it managed to grow to such a stage. We clearly remember… when we were enveloped by the golden glow, we could easily achieve intelligence and raise our level of practice in a short time."

Big Gold turned to look at Zhou Donghuang, its eyes shimmering. "Young Master, Little Gold and I were planning to defeat that red goshawk together once we became Connate demons and steal that treasured land. But to achieve the Connate stage, even with Young Master's qi-gathering elixirs and techniques, will require quite some time. By then, who knows how strong that red goshawk will have become by using the power of the land.

"Today, Little Gold said… you managed to kill the Connate adept from a distance, even before he walked through the door. Clearly, with the power of that spear sphere, Young Master is stronger than a typical Connate adept. So, we want to bring you to that treasured land to see if we can defeat that red goshawk… if we fail, we'll just return again when we are stronger. But if we defeat him, we'll take the land for ourselves!" Big Gold's eyes shone brightly as if it could not wait to head over to kill that Connate demon and take the land with the golden glow.

"That red goshawk is of low status among us eagles, its talent is hardly a tenth of us golden-crowned eagles… but with that treasured land, it somehow became a Connate demon." Little Gold's eyes were flashing too as he added, "If we can take that land for ourselves, we can definitely gain much more than it!"

Hearing their words, Zhou Donghuang hugged Yun Lu as he went into deep thought.

Although Yun Lu did not know that her brother was talking to the two eagles, nor understand their conversation, but she could see that her brother was thinking seriously and quietened down.

After a while, Zhou Donghuang's eyes opened slightly. Cliff? Golden glow?

"That place which was enveloped in the golden glow… did you hear any Sanskrit?" Zhou Donghuang asked as he looked at the two golden-crowned eagles.

"Sanskrit?" The two eagles turned to each other, clearly filled with confusion. They had no idea what 'Sanskrit' was.

"Just tell me… did you hear anything when you were there?" Seeing their confusion, Zhou Donghuang asked further.

"Sounds?" The eagles quietened down as they tried to recall.

Soon, Big Gold looked at Zhou Donghuang excitedly as it said, "Young Master, now that you mention it, I remember… when I achieved intelligence, I did hear some sounds. Although I could not understand what the words meant, they seemed to give me a thorough cleansing in the depths of my soul."

"Indeed, it was so," agreed Little Gold. He recalled it as well.

"Looks like I guessed correctly," said Zhou Donghuang. His voice was calm, but his eyes were shimmering excitedly.

"Young Master, you know the secret of that treasured land?" Hearing this, both the eagles' eyes lit up.

"If I am correct, that is the place where a Primal Core monk had attained nirvana. After he had attained nirvana, he left behind some Buddhist essence… the golden glow that you speak of is the glow emanating from this Buddhist essence. The glow of a Buddhist essence left behind by a monk from above the Primal Core stage can indeed allow you to gain intelligence before you reach the Connate stage and help you to increase your level of practice."

In his previous life, Zhou Donghuang had traversed the galaxies and had gathered vast knowledge. Hearing their story, he had guessed that the treasured land they spoke of was none other than the site where a monk had attained nirvana.

"Monk?" Big Gold and Little Gold had never heard of monks before. "Young Master, I know that there are martial artists among humans… but what are monks?"

"Young Master, what is the difference between a martial artist and a monk?"

The two eagles were filled with questions.

"A monk is actually also a martial artist, but because they are trained in a different path from the traditional one, one that is more related to Buddhism, so they are known as monks. Martial artists train their Primal Core after achieving the Connate stage; monks train their Buddhist essence after the Connate stage. As for demons, after the Connate stage, you train your inner core."

With that, Zhou Donghuang carried Yun Lu as he stood up. Putting her down, he smiled and said, "Xiao Lu, Brother needs to take a trip out with Big Gold and Little Gold here… if Mother or Sister Zixi ask about me, help me tell them. I will be back soon."

After petting her on the head, Zhou Donghuang called to Big Gold as he leaped onto its back as they disappeared into the skies.

Whoosh! Little Gold followed closely.

Right then, both Big Gold and Little Gold were all filled with emotion. After all, they had been pining for that treasured land for so long but had not managed to snatch it.

"Horrible brother, you don't even bring Xiao Lu when you go out to play." The little girl tilted her head to her sky. As she watched Little Gold disappear in the clouds, her face was filled with unhappiness.

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