Boom!
A streak of red light descended from the sky.
"Who dares to trespass into Tushan? Do you have a death wish?"
Honghong's commanding voice rang out as she appeared in front of Dongfang Bu, unleashing the full might of her Demon Emperor aura.
"Sister Honghong! Leave the big-bearded guy to you! I'll take care of these three!"
Honghong didn't respond. Red demonic energy surged around her pair of Immortal-Binding Claws as she immediately clashed with Dongfang Bu.
Facing those jade-like hands, which could counter magical treasures throughout the world and were even immune to Pure Yang Flame, Dongfang Bu understood after just one exchange that he was no match for her.
If Honghong had been vulnerable to Pure Yang Flame, he could have overwhelmed her with ease.
But now that she was immune to his strongest ability, how was he supposed to fight her?
After watching Honghong and Dongfang Bu disappear into the distance, Zhang Shan lowered his gaze toward the three men sitting on the ground.
His nose twitched slightly. That scent had appeared again.
His eyes swept over the group before settling on one of them.
"Did you deliberately release that scent so I would find you?" Zhang Shan asked.
The other party hadn't attacked him. In fact, Zhang Shan had even taken the initiative to question him. Dongfang Dianliang's eyes immediately lit up. He stood and said, "Exactly, my lord! I'm the one who understands Tushan's rules best! But our family head insisted on bringing us here by force. I couldn't stop him, and I didn't want to violate your rules either. I had no other choice but to resort to this!"
Zhang Shan nodded.
"You came at just the right time. I happen to be short of a few people."
Hearing this, Dongfang Dianliang assumed Zhang Shan was an ambitious schemer like himself. He smiled and asked, "My lord, do you mean you need someone to lure Tushan Honghong away?"
Looking at the man's sly grin, Zhang Shan knew he had misunderstood something.
But he had no interest in correcting him. Why waste words on someone who was about to die?
He raised his hand, and a white glow appeared in his palm.
"Wind, rise!"
As Zhang Shan spoke, the white light in his palm suddenly expanded. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a colossal tornado stretching from the earth to the heavens, engulfing Dongfang Dianliang and the other two men.
In an instant, all three vanished without a trace, leaving nothing behind in this world.
After confirming that they were dead, Zhang Shan contentedly withdrew his divine ability and muttered to himself, "My first real battle using a Demon Emperor's divine ability, and a complete victory!"
Just then, Honghong returned, dragging Dongfang Bu by the collar. His face had been beaten until it resembled a pig's head.
Seeing that the surrounding hundred meters had been reduced to wasteland, Honghong punched Dongfang Bu twice more in the face.
"You're paying for all this damage, too!"
"Mm! Mm!"
Dongfang Bu felt deeply wronged. I wasn't the one who did all this!
But when he glanced at Honghong's fists, he swallowed his objections.
She's too strong! How can anyone be this strong?
The two brought Dongfang Bu to Qin Lan's home.
At that moment, Dongfang Yuechu was sitting cross-legged beneath a tree, covered in talismans. From the looks of it, he was cultivating.
Zhang Shan tossed Dongfang Bu onto the ground and shouted, "Qin Lan! The head of the Dongfang family has come looking for you!"
Qin Lan had been using magic to plow the fields. Hearing him, she immediately flew over and greeted Honghong and Zhang Shan before turning to look at Dongfang Bu's battered face.
"Wait… is this really the head of the Dongfang family?"
Seeing that Qin Lan didn't believe him, Dongfang Bu immediately summoned Pure Yang Flame to prove his identity.
Standing beneath the sun, Dongfang Qin Lan asked, "All right, tell me. What does the Dongfang family want with me?"
"I'm here to bring your family back to the Dongfang Secret Realm, so you won't be bullied out here."
As he spoke, Dongfang Bu cautiously glanced at the two people beside him. Only after seeing that neither reacted did he relax.
Return to the Dongfang Secret Realm?
Qin Lan thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"Forget it. I've already made a home for myself here. I don't want to go back."
Qin Lan had only heard a little about the Dongfang Secret Realm from her father when she was very young. She had no clear idea what it was actually like inside.
More importantly, she had already settled down here and couldn't be bothered to move again.
Dongfang Bu had anticipated her answer, so he wasn't surprised.
"Then, according to the rules of the Dongfang family, we'll settle this with a fire duel! If you win, you can do whatever you want!"
"Fine!"
Zhang Shan and Honghong stepped aside, leaving the space to the two of them.
Once they were standing in position, Honghong leaned closer and whispered, "What's a fire duel?"
"As far as I know, it's basically like a cricket fight. Both sides use their Pure Yang Flame to battle until one person's flames are extinguished by the other's."
Honghong nodded slightly. Whether she'd actually understood was another matter.
Flames ignited in Dongfang Bu's hand. But in the very next moment, the fire stretched into a thin stream and was sucked straight into Dongfang Qin Lan's abdomen.
"That's… the Reverse Fire Curse?!" Dongfang Bu exclaimed in shock. "I never thought Guyue had actually created this spell!"
After witnessing the Reverse Fire Curse, Dongfang Bu knew he had absolutely no chance of defeating Qin Lan. He cupped his hands and said, "In that case, I won't bother you again."
Qin Lan smiled. "You've been most gracious."
Flames burst around Dongfang Bu. With a boom, he shot into the air, intending to leave Tushan.
Honghong immediately rushed forward and punched him back down.
"Trying to leave? Pay all the money you owe first!"
Zhang Shan ran over and stood above Dongfang Bu, grinning.
"Old man, I didn't take you for someone who'd try to skip out on a bill. What, want to experience my Divine Wind?"
Dongfang Bu hadn't fought Zhang Shan himself, so he wasn't particularly concerned about him. But with Honghong standing in front of him, he hurriedly put on a flattering smile.
"Well, Demon Emperor, I was only planning to go home and fetch the money. I can't exactly carry a huge fortune around with me whenever I travel, can I?"
Honghong's gaze fell on Dongfang Bu's storage pouch. Her meaning was unmistakable.
Before long, Rongrong flew over with a small notebook in hand.
"After making a few simple calculations, the damage you've caused comes to…"
When Dongfang Bu heard the amount, his expression changed dramatically.
"Impossible! How can it be that much? I didn't even release any flames! At most, I owe you the cost of a piece of land. Why should I pay so much? With that kind of money, I could buy an entire mountain!"
A group of fox demons watched him with cheerful smiles. He could argue all he wanted, as long as he paid up. If he couldn't, he'd have to stay in Tushan and work as a laborer.
And as for going home to fetch the money? Sorry, Tushan didn't offer that kind of generous service.
Honghong raised her fists, wondering whether he wanted another fight.
Dongfang Bu's eyelid twitched when he saw her.
He had no unusual tastes that would make him want to be beaten by Honghong again.
In the end, after handing over a portion of his worldly possessions, Dongfang Bu left Tushan with tears of gratitude streaming down his face.
Watching him go, Rongrong suddenly sighed.
"We really underestimated these human clans. If I'd known he was this wealthy, I would've multiplied the compensation several times over."
Zhang Shan laughed.
"The Dongfang family isn't an ordinary clan. They've existed for as long as the Dragon Clan. As the current head of the family, Dongfang Bu must possess wealth far beyond anything we can imagine."
"As old as the Dragon Clan?" Honghong looked at Zhang Shan in confusion. "Does the Dongfang family have some connection to the Dragon Clan?"
"A connection?" Zhang Shan thought about it.
The Dongfang family were humans transformed by the Third Master of Aolai Kingdom, while the Dragon Clan was a race created by the Third Master from nothing.
If those two had anything in common, it was probably the Third Master of Aolai Kingdom himself.
"Well, if being created by the same person counts as a connection, then yes, they're related in a way."
Everyone immediately pricked up their ears, sensing that some juicy gossip was coming.
"The same person created both of them. Actually, I should say the same monkey!"
"Ohhh!"
Zhang Shan told them what he knew about the origins of their world. It wasn't anything that would significantly affect the story, so there was no harm in sharing it.
Time always seemed to fly when people were gossiping.
Before they knew it, afternoon had arrived.
After getting their fill of gossip, everyone returned home to digest what they'd learned.
They were especially struck by Zhang Shan's claim that the Third Master was far stronger than even a Demon Emperor. Only then did they finally understand why Zhang Shan had described a Demon Emperor as little more than a minor demon.
They also became acutely aware of how insignificant they were and resolved to return to their cultivation with renewed determination.
Of course, Dongfang Yuechu wasn't among them.
After hearing that the Third Master could actually create entire races, the young man had come up with a bold idea.
If the Dongfang family is already the result of someone transforming humans, could I keep modifying myself until I become like a demon, with an immortal lifespan?
Once the thought took hold, he couldn't let it go.
But to accomplish this grand ambition, he faced one major obstacle: he didn't have enough experimental subjects!
Combining demons and humans would require test subjects.
Yet whether he experimented on demons or humans, Dongfang Yuechu felt uneasy about harming either side.
Sigh. I'll take things one step at a time. For now, the most important thing is to win the heart of the beautiful Fox Immortal!
A boy of thirteen or fourteen had energy to spare!
After spending several days relaxing, Zhang Shan noticed that Yaya still showed no intention of emerging from seclusion. He began to feel bored.
"Time to cultivate. I'd better master my divine abilities as soon as possible. That way, I won't get pushed around when I leave home."
Zhang Shan made his way to the Tree of Bitter Love.
His next stage of cultivation involved the soul. In Tushan, the Tree of Bitter Love was the only place where he could directly come into contact with souls.
"If I can't make progress in my study of souls here, I'll have to seek out the legendary Huangquan Clan."
Honghong wasn't beneath the tree today. Perhaps the shock she'd experienced earlier had pushed her to work even harder on her cultivation.
Zhang Shan sat cross-legged and placed one hand against the tree.
In the next instant, his consciousness was swept up in the same overwhelming sensation of rising and falling that he'd experienced before.
But now he had reached the Demon Emperor realm. Even under such a tremendous impact, he forcibly steadied his soul.
His consciousness appeared inside a dazzling river of stars.
Looking closer, he realized that every point of starlight was a soul.
These weren't just the souls of humans and demons. Every living being in the world that could die had a soul represented here.
"If I didn't know this was inside the Tree of Bitter Love, I'd think I'd entered the cycle of reincarnation."
Before long, excitement spread across Zhang Shan's face.
These are all going to help me cultivate my divine abilities!
His heart raced, and his hands trembled with anticipation.
Zhang Shan began to touch souls, understand them, and bring them under his control!
While Zhang Shan immersed himself in cultivation over the following years, Wangquan Fugui was making a name for himself within the One Qi Alliance. He earned the title of the strongest weapon-man and was hailed as the most talented individual the Wangquan family had ever produced.
Many people felt sorry for Wangquan Fugui. Such an extraordinary genius had been raised as a weapon of the Daoist sects, nothing more than a killing machine without emotions.
But that was the Wangquan family's own decision. Outsiders had little say in the matter.
Tushan.
"My son! The responsibility of saving your older cousin falls on your shoulders!" Qin Lan said solemnly, patting Dongfang Yuechu on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, Mother! I'll save Cousin from his miserable existence!" Yuechu replied, his eyes shining with determination.
Yuechu's father held a money pouch in his hands and solemnly passed it to Dongfang Yuechu.
"Father!"
"Go! Make a name for yourself and carve out your own path!"
"Yes!"
Carrying his parents' hopes with him, Dongfang Yuechu left Tushan and headed for the human world.
That day, beneath the Tree of Bitter Love, Yaya emerged from seclusion and eagerly went looking for Zhang Shan.
When she learned from Qin Lan that he'd been sitting beneath the tree for five or six years, she panicked. Her expression changed, and she rushed toward him.
Bang!
"Ow!"
In her haste, Yaya failed to watch where she was going and crashed straight into a little fox girl, knocking her to the ground.
But Yaya was preoccupied with other matters. After quickly apologizing, she continued rushing ahead.
When she reached the Tree of Bitter Love and saw Zhang Shan sitting there alone, the weight lifted from her heart.
Then, realizing what she'd just done, she hurriedly patted her chubby cheeks with both hands before bouncing toward him.
Only when she got closer did she notice a barrier surrounding Zhang Shan. Judging by the technique, it seemed Rongrong had set it up.
"Why did she even put a barrier around him?"
Yaya was curious, but Zhang Shan appeared to be cultivating, so she decided not to disturb him.
Instead, she turned around and ran off on her short legs, pattering all the way to Rongrong.
"Yaya, you're out of seclusion?" Rongrong asked in surprise. She remembered Yaya saying she wouldn't come out until she'd reached the Demon Emperor realm.
"Yaya, you…"
Rongrong hesitated, unsure how to bring up her doubts.
Yaya didn't notice her sister's confusion. She had come here in a hurry and immediately asked, "Rongrong, what is that stinky tiger doing beneath the Tree of Bitter Love? And why did you put a barrier around him?"
A knowing glint flashed through Rongrong's sharp little eyes.
"Oh, him…"
She deliberately drew out the words, watching as Yaya grew increasingly impatient. Only then did she explain, "He's cultivating his divine abilities. He's been sitting there for years. He was buried under heavy snow once, so Sister asked me to put up a barrier to protect him."
After hearing the explanation, Yaya rubbed her chin.
"Divine abilities? Aren't those supposed to come naturally? Why does he need to cultivate them?"
She genuinely couldn't understand it. Still, she finally realized why Zhang Shan hadn't bothered her for years, allowing her to concentrate on her own cultivation.
All this time, Yaya had devoted herself entirely to mastering her cold energy. The lower its temperature became, the stronger she grew.
Combined with the pressure she'd faced during her battle with Jin Renfeng, her efforts had finally allowed her to break through to the Demon Emperor realm after ten years.
"Wait! If that stinky tiger is still cultivating his divine abilities, that means he hasn't reached the Demon Emperor realm yet! So I'm still the second strongest in Tushan, right after Sister?!"
Yaya's eyes lit up brilliantly.
She waved goodbye to Rongrong, and in the next instant, she was gone.
Watching her sister disappear at high speed, Rongrong couldn't help laughing.
"Yaya is still as impulsive as ever. She hasn't changed one bit!"