Upon hearing this...
Jiang Yuechu's heart remained calm and undisturbed.
However, she still asked patiently, "Why?"
"Because... because a True Dragon is full of treasures!"
Running Ox said with a bitter face, "To those from the Grotto-Heavens, a living True Dragon is a walking treasure vault. Not only can it be fused with one's Primordial Spirit, but there is also hope of glimpsing the Legacy of the Dragon Clan's fallen Dao Lineage..."
"Although Spirit Mountain is a stronghold for the Yao Race, its Dao Lineage and legacies all originate from the Grotto-Heavens."
"If they were to find out that Senior is a True Dragon..."
"They would surely come out in full force to please the Grotto-Heavens, capturing Senior and sending you up!"
At this point...
Running Ox cautiously glanced at Jiang Yuechu's face.
Seeing that the young girl's expression remained unchanged, he felt even more uncertain.
Beside them, Wang Ziyu let out a sigh.
He took two steps forward and said helplessly, "This stupid ox is right."
"While not every Grotto-Heaven covets True Dragons... there are always Dao Lineages with a deep obsession for them. The intricacies are hard to explain in a short time, but in short, if they knew a True Dragon had appeared here, I'm afraid even those old fogies in death-seclusion would crawl out."
Hearing this, Jiang Yuechu nodded slightly.
She hadn't expected it to be about Dao Lineage again... though she didn't know what use the Dragon Clan's Dao Lineage had for other lineages... an innocent man gets into trouble because of his wealth.
She understood this principle.
She looked at Running Ox and said indifferently, "In that case, what difference does it make whether I kill you or not?"
After saying that...
Golden and blue light flowed within her palm.
Killing intent was laid bare.
"Don't, don't, don't!!!"
Running Ox was scared out of his wits, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering as he kowtowed repeatedly.
"You can't kill me! You can't kill me!"
"This little ox is more useful alive than dead!"
"Although my strength is low, I still come from the Ten Thousand Demon Great Marsh."
"The Ten Thousand Demon Great Marsh is different from Spirit Mountain!"
Running Ox straightened up, a flash of resentment appearing in his eyes.
"Spirit Mountain acts like a dog for the Grotto-Heavens for the sake of Dao Lineage. While we in the Ten Thousand Demon Great Marsh have some friendship with them for the sake of being fellow Yao... in our hearts, we have no good feelings for the Yao of Spirit Mountain... especially after what just happened."
"If Senior is willing to grant this little ox a path to live..."
Running Ox said urgently, "I will scramble back to the Ten Thousand Demon Great Marsh immediately and report this to the Lord, asking the Lord to go to Spirit Mountain to demand justice for me."
"As long as Spirit Mountain is too busy with their own problems, they naturally won't have the mind to investigate Senior's origins."
With these words...
He both highlighted his own value and stated his stance.
It had to be said...
This seemingly simple-minded old ox truly possessed some survival wisdom to have lived until now.
The light in Jiang Yuechu's hand slowly faded away.
She remained silent for a moment.
Regarding Spirit Mountain, she had already formed a grudge starting from the Qiankun Demon King.
Now, she had even slain one of their Yao Sovereigns.
New grudges and old hatreds.
She would have to settle things with them sooner or later.
However... it shouldn't be now.
The messy debt with Five Immortals Mountain hadn't been settled yet. If she provoked Spirit Mountain now and was attacked from both sides, even though she had reached the Denglou Realm, she might not be able to protect Great Tang.
What she lacked was time.
If this Ten Thousand Demon Great Marsh could truly cause a stir at Spirit Mountain as this stupid ox claimed...
Even if it was just bickering, it could buy her a bit of breathing room.
But... one can't know what's in another's heart, let alone a Yao's heart?
Did he expect her to trust this great demon, who was also in the Denglou Realm, based on just these few words?
He was treating her, Jiang Yuechu, too much like a three-year-old Child.
As if sensing that the killing intent in the girl's eyes had not faded, Running Ox's heart pounded wildly.
He wasn't just not stupid; on the contrary, he was very shrewd.
This death-star not speaking meant she was weighing the pros and cons.
Since she was still weighing them, it meant there was room for negotiation!
"If Senior doesn't believe me, you don't have to let me return to the marsh!"
He took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "I have a secret technique to separate a wisp of Divine Thought to send a message back to the Marsh."
"As for my Physical Body and Primordial Spirit, I will stay here and serve as a vanguard for Senior!"
"Though I am untalented, I have a cultivation of the second level of Ascending the Tower. I can be of some use... Once my Lord attacks Spirit Mountain and they are preoccupied, Senior can then let me leave. How about it?!"
This was his pledge of loyalty.
It was also his only way to survive.
Staying behind as a hostage meant losing his freedom and even the risk of being slaughtered for meat at any time.
But at least... living a few more days was better than nothing.
Besides, following such a ruthless person who could fight a Denglou Yao Sovereign with her Physical Body—and who was even a True Dragon... if he really made a name for himself in the future, it might even be a great opportunity.
Jiang Yuechu's eyebrows twitched slightly.
This was indeed a way.
Keeping a Denglou Realm demon by her side was a hidden danger, but if used well... didn't those old fogies from Five Immortals Mountain like to play the numbers game?
When the time came, throwing this ox out as a meat shield would be excellent.
Just as Jiang Yuechu was calculating in her heart...
The Old Flood Dragon, who had been shrinking its neck and playing dead to the side, suddenly widened its eyes.
It stared fixedly at that fawning old ox, alarm bells ringing in its heart.
Not good!
This dead ox... is trying to steal my job!
Although Scarlet Sun was also a Yao, he only had a cultivation in the Mountain Gazing Realm.
What had he relied on to survive this far?
Wasn't it his ability to read the room and his flexibility, acting as an obedient dog for this master?
But now... this ox was also a Yao.
And a great demon of the Denglou Realm at that!
If this ox demon took the top spot...
Would there be any path left for this old dog who only knew how to talk?
What if this death-star found it troublesome to bring two dogs one day... and casually disposed of him for amusement?!
A sense of crisis.
An unprecedented sense of crisis instantly enveloped Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable's heart.
No.
Absolutely not.
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable's eyes darted around, and he scrambled to Jiang Yuechu's feet.
"Master!"
"Master, you must never believe this stupid ox's nonsense!"
The Old Flood Dragon wailed with tears and snot, pointing at Running Ox and cursing loudly:
"This fellow clearly has the look of a traitorous backstabber!"
"He is a Denglou great demon! If you bring him back to Chang'an, and he bites back when you're not looking, it would be a catastrophic disaster!"
"When that time comes, what will happen to our Great Tang?! What will happen to our people?!"
"Unlike this old servant..."
Scarlet Sun Demon Venerable looked up with an expression of unwavering loyalty.
"This old servant's life, along with that Dragon Pearl, are both held in Master's hands."
"If Master tells me to go east, I would never dare go west; if Master tells me to eat filth, I would never dare drink urine!"
"This old servant's loyalty to Master can be witnessed by the heavens!"
"Master, for the sake of our Great Tang's state and for the safety of the common people..."
"You should just slaughter this ox!"
"..."
A strange silence fell over the scene.
Running Ox was stunned by the scolding.
He looked blankly at the Old Flood Dragon.
Wait... how did I offend him?!