Streaking through the air, Gu Zheng ignored the fourth-tier’s oppressive aura and returned to the passage in a few short flashes.

Standing at the entrance, he looked toward the island’s center.

Within his line of sight, over a dozen massive bolts of lightning erupted from the ground, connecting earth and sky as they stood like pillars on all four sides of the island.

Accompanied by a terrifying coercive aura and a piercing shriek, an Electric Spirit Monster over ten meters long shot into the sky.

The moment it materialized, it seemed to know exactly where to go, appearing just outside the passage.

It faced Gu Zheng from across the entrance, less than three meters away, their gazes locking across the void.

"ROAR~~!"

The fourth-tier Electric Spirit Monster roared, its furious killing intent taking physical form and distorting the space around it, sending out vast ripples.

BANG!!

A ferocious blow smashed into the junction of the passage, causing the air to ripple like the surface of water.

The violent attack quickly dissipated as it was nullified by the spatial boundary between the two realms.

"ROAR~!!"

The fourth-tier Electric Spirit Monster roared in frustration.

"..."

Gu Zheng remained impassive. He turned and walked back down the passage.

’So what if it’s frustrated?’

’A fourth-tier Demon Fiend can’t get through a third-tier passage.’

’No matter how indignant, no matter how furious, it’s all just helpless rage.’

BOOM~!

BOOM~~

The thunderous crashes continued behind him.

Gu Zheng strolled out of the passage and back into Dahuashan.

Just as he emerged, Huang Hongyuan, who had heard the commotion, came hurrying over.

"Lord Gu, what’s going on? Did the Electric Spirit Monsters gather into an army and break through?" Huang Hongyuan asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"No."

Gu Zheng replied calmly, "I killed all the Electric Spirit Monsters on the island at the other end of the passage. As a result, a fourth-tier Electric Spirit Monster that was lurking deep beneath the island sensed it. It came out looking for revenge and is now just venting its anger outside the entrance."

"Don’t worry, Lord Huang. It can’t get through to this side."

Huang Hongyuan was speechless.

The others guarding the passage entrance were also speechless.

’Was that really the issue here?’

’He killed *all* the Electric Spirit Monsters on the island!’

If it hadn’t been Gu Zheng, who already had a record of similar feats, anyone else making such a claim would have been scorned to death.

There was shameless boasting, and then there was *this*.

But since Gu Zheng was the one saying it, it was ninety-nine percent likely to be true!

"Ahem."

Clearing his throat, Huang Hongyuan cupped his fist and smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Lord Gu! I never expected you to actually earn us a reprieve. With the threat of the Electric Spirit Monsters gone, our burden will be cut in half. On behalf of all my brothers at Dahuashan, I thank you, Lord Gu!"

With that, he faced Gu Zheng and gave a deep bow.

Gu Zheng accepted the bow, then gestured with his hand. "I’m also a member of the Demon Slayer Bureau. There’s no need for such ceremony, Lord Huang."

"It is only right."

Huang Hongyuan straightened up and thanked him again before asking with a hint of apprehension, "By any chance, Lord Gu... on the other side of the passage, did you happen to see Lord Commander Jin?"

"Commander Jin?"

Gu Zheng looked puzzled. "Lord Huang, are you referring to the Commander of the Guangzhou Demon Slayer Bureau, Jin Pang... Lord Jin?"

"Yes, that’s him."

Huang Hongyuan nodded hastily. "Lord Commander Jin entered the passage a short while ago. He went to the other side to slay third-tier Demon Fiends and harvest their Demon Pills for his training. Did you run into him, Lord Gu...?"

"No."

Gu Zheng shook his head slightly. "I was on the island of the Electric Spirit Monsters the entire time. There was only one third-tier Electric Spirit Monster on it. Perhaps Commander Jin already knew that and went to a different island instead."

"That’s a relief."

Huang Hongyuan subconsciously let out a breath, then glanced over at Jin Pang’s two personal guards.

They stood there solemnly, showing no intention of interjecting.

In front of others, they would dare to be insolent, bossing people around and cursing without fear.

But in front of Gu Zheng, they wouldn’t even dare to fart. In fact, they were terrified he might find out who they were.

Because Gu Zheng had dared to kill even Luo Cheng!

Although Luo Cheng turned out to be a traitor, he had chased Gu Zheng all the way to the Royal Capital before his treason was exposed.

’If he dared to kill Luo Cheng, what were two mere personal guards to him?’

"Commander Jin probably went to other islands."

Huang Hongyuan continued, "How about you, Lord Gu? Did you have any luck with the Thunder Stones?"

"I did."

Gu Zheng nodded. "There weren’t many second-tier Electric Spirit Monsters, but I managed to get a few. At least the trip wasn’t a total waste."

"Now that I have the Thunder Stones, it’s time for me to go. Lord Huang, until we meet again!"

"Until we meet again!" Huang Hongyuan cupped his fist.

Gu Zheng returned the gesture.

Then, he leaped into the air and streaked away to the west.

Aided by his Flying Source Fruit, his speed surged to its peak, and he vanished from sight.

At the passage entrance.

Huang Hongyuan stared in the direction Gu Zheng disappeared and took a deep breath.

"Lord Huang, is what Gu Zheng said true?"

"Yeah, I can’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something."

Jin Pang’s two personal guards couldn’t help but speak up.

"What are you trying to do?"

Huang Hongyuan turned to face them, his expression impassive. "Whether Lord Gu met Commander Jin or not, what exactly do you two think you can do about it?"

"We just..."

"You? Who do you think you are!?" Huang Hongyuan snapped. "Since when is it your place to pass judgment on how Commander Jin acts or what Lord Gu says? Believe it or not, if Lord Gu killed you right in front of Commander Jin, the commander wouldn’t say a single word in your defense!"

The two guards shuddered and clamped their mouths shut, not daring to speak another word.

"Hmph."

Huang Hongyuan snorted. "In life, the most important thing is to know your place! And Commander Jin isn’t the Grand Director of the Demon Slayer Bureau yet!"

’Even the Grand Director isn’t invincible.’

’Blood feuds between those at the King’s Body realm have been happening since ancient times, and they’re often even more brutal.’

Huang Hongyuan believed ninety percent of what Gu Zheng had said.

’In his opinion, the two had most likely fought, with Gu Zheng getting the worst of it.’

’Jin Pang must have had some reservations about dealing a killing blow, so he let him go.’

’As for Gu Zheng turning the tables and killing Jin Pang...’

’What a joke!’

...

...

「Leaving the Celestial Thunder Mountain Range.」

Gu Zheng headed straight for Fengzhou. Upon arriving, he first went to the State City to meet with Xie Bisheng and exchange communication links. Next, he traveled to the Grand Canyon Mountain passage in the north to find Meng Taiqi and do the same. Finally, he returned to Qingshi County.