The sky was azure, the bamboo forest lush green, and the river water clear and calm; even the wind blowing from afar was gentle.

However, the wind carried a strong stench, the scent of the Demon Race.

Ripples and Ice Soul had dealt with the Demon Race many times; the demons in the Primordial Celestial Realm were stronger and more savage, often lacking in intelligence.

Simply put, in terms of temperament, the Demon Race was much like wild beasts. Most low-tier demons hunted and fought based on instinct.

Only great demons who had passed the Celestial Tribulation had wisdom comparable to ordinary humans.

Ripples and Ice Soul encountered many monsters in the Cloud Forest Sea, but truly intelligent ones were few and far between.

However, with such dense demon qi, the newcomer was definitely not a common demon.

Ripples and Ice Soul were naturally unafraid, as they had heard that the Cloud Forest Sea had a master. Even though those demons with some intelligence couldn’t explain clearly, they only said the master was a terrifying demon king.

Other specific details, no demon could clarify.

This time, a few great demons had arrived; perhaps they could extract some information.

Ripples, worried that Gao Xuan wasn’t clear on the situation, clung to his arm and chirped away about the events of the past decades.

Gao Xuan nodded; both Ripples and Ice Soul were top-tier Human Immortals, and their cultivation had greatly advanced after adapting to the Primordial Celestial Realm’s Primordial Qi Law.

Just these few demons were definitely not their opponents.

Gao Xuan came out to see what their origins might be. Normally, such great demons traveling together had to be organized.

As Gao Xuan, Ripples, and Ice Soul stepped out of the small courtyard, they saw four gigantic demons descending from the sky.

Each of the four demons stood a hundred feet tall, covered in black hair, resembling long-armed gorillas. They looked a lot like the protagonist from the old movie "King Kong," just bigger and more ferocious.

As they fell from the sky, their bodies shrank to over ten feet tall.

Though still much taller than Gao Xuan and the others, they could now engage face-to-face.

Gao Xuan was a bit surprised; these demons seemed rather polite?

In Gao Xuan’s eyes, although the demons looked similar in form, there were distinct differences. The leading gorilla was the largest, clearly the strongest. Another, slightly leaner, was more agile. There was one with a tuft of white fur on its chest, having the strongest Divine Sense.

The last gorilla held an iron rod, its eyes flashing with golden light, the most vigorous.

As Gao Xuan scrutinized the demons, they too examined him and his companions.

Their gaze first fell on Gao Xuan. These great demons had never left the Cloud Forest Sea in their lives and disliked the frail and tiny Human Race.

Though Ripples and Ice Soul were attractive, to them, they seemed just more delicate with no other impression.

Gao Xuan was different. Although small in stature, his aura was deep and vast. He was dressed as a Daoist.

The Daoist Sect in the Earth Immortal Realm was quite powerful, and most cultivators liked to wear Daoist attire.

Though these great demons had never seen a highly cultivated Daoist, they had seen some illustrations and water mirror images, so they had quite an impression of Daoists.

Generally, with limited intelligence, demons relied on instinct to judge an enemy’s strength. This instinct honed their combat perception.

The great demons were veterans of countless battles, quite wise, and had sharp combat intuition. Mighty as Demon Emperor Shi Wanqiu was, in his presence, they felt like ants.

This was their first time encountering an enemy they couldn’t perceive at all. The great demons hesitated, unsure of the enemy’s power level, which usually meant they wouldn’t act.

However, they were commanded by the Golden Ape King, so they couldn’t just retreat.

All the great demons looked at Yuan Bai Xin, the wisest among them. He had named himself because of a white tuft of fur on his chest.

The others found this troublesome; their names were simply Yuan Da, Yuan Er, Yuan San.

Boss, Second, and Third often fought to rearrange these rankings. Though combative, they trusted Yuan Bai Xin’s wisdom.

At critical moments, they listened to Yuan Bai Xin.

Unsure of their opponents’ true nature and unable to leave, Yuan Bai Xin stepped forward and awkwardly cupped his hands in greeting.

Demon Emperor Shi Wanqiu preferred Human Race etiquette, requiring his subordinates to use it. Yuan Bai Xin’s action was decent enough, but his fierce, ugly face, tall, hairy body, and long arms made it look odd.

The gesture seemed peculiar no matter how one looked at it.

Ripples smiled, finding the demons’ pretense amusing.

Yet, the demons of the Primordial Celestial Realm were indeed crude and barbaric. Even the great demons who had passed the Celestial Tribulation didn’t wear armor or clothing.

This was rare in the Cyan Celestial Realm. Even a little demon capable of human transformation there would cover themselves with clothing.

Yuan Bai Xin was slightly annoyed by Ripples’ laughter, thinking this tiny cultivator was quite rude.

Yuan Da, Yuan Er, and Yuan San didn’t mind; they were too crude to notice subtle expressions on a small cultivator’s face.

Suppressing his anger, Yuan Bai Xin asked, "I am called Yuan Bai Xin. May I know where you are from and how to address you?"

Prompted by Gao Xuan, Ripples stepped forward and said, "Our great master comes from afar. As for his name, there’s no harm in telling you; our master is named Gao Xuan."

"Master Gao?"

Yuan Bai Xin found the title odd but cupped his hands and called out once.

Gao Xuan smiled, the demons of the Primordial Celestial Realm were indeed somewhat simple. He asked, "You all came from afar, is there something you need?"

"We, we heard that a cultivator has arrived, so we came to take a look."

Yuan Bai Xin paused and proudly said, "Master Gao might not know, the Cloud Forest Sea is the territory of our great king."

Though Yuan Bai Xin tried hard to appear graceful, his voice was like thunder, and his mouth spewed saliva everywhere.

Ripples had no choice but to use primordial qi to protect herself, blocking the saliva and the foul breath. She wrinkled her nose, not wanting to talk to this smelly fellow anymore.

Gao Xuan took over the conversation: "Who is your great king?"

"Our great king is the Golden Ape King, one of the top ten demon kings of the Cloud Forest Sea."

Speaking of the Golden Ape King, Yuan Bai Xin was also beaming with pride.

Under Shi Wanqiu’s command, there are more than a hundred demon kings, and the Golden Ape King ranks among the top.

Unfortunately, the small human race cultivator on the opposite side looked calm, seemingly unaware of the famous name of the Golden Ape King.

"Golden Ape King."

Gao Xuan said, "Did the Golden Ape King send you to take a look at us?"

Yuan Bai Xin shook his head and said, "The great king wants us to invite you back as guests."

Yuan Bai Xin couldn’t see through Gao Xuan’s reality and didn’t want to resort to force. After all, the Golden Ape King just wanted them to bring the person back. Whether inviting or capturing, it didn’t matter.

"Invite us as guests?"

Gao Xuan chuckled, this group of demons came with such imposing momentum, yet without a trace of hospitality.

For cultivators, demons are treasures all over their bodies; internal organs and flesh can be used in alchemy, bones and demon cores in artifact refining, and divine souls have various uses.

Conversely, human race cultivators are also valuable to the demon race, at least for eating. Essence blood is thick, and the divine soul is strong.

Demons eating human race cultivators is akin to directly taking spiritual elixirs, highly beneficial.

The Cloud Forest Sea is vast and endless, Gao Xuan roughly sensed the surroundings, and this forest sea alone is almost as large as the Eastern Province.

Yet, the demons here are so crude and primitive, indicating no human race settlements or cultural heritage. Nor do they admire human race culture.

It is conceivable that the so-called invitation holds no goodwill.

Gao Xuan wished to meet the demons of this realm, having secluded himself for decades. Although he hadn’t achieved Earth Immortal, he had refined an Earth Artifact level divine artifact: Eternal Celestial Dragon Claw.

Even if encountering an Earth Immortal, he could escape with the Eternal Celestial Dragon Claw.

On the other hand, Gao Xuan also comprehended the Path of the Earth Immortal over these decades.

To achieve Earth Immortal, one must first occupy a territory to accumulate endless primordial qi and forge Earth Immortal Law.

The reason the Eternal Celestial Dragon Claw could be refined into an Earth Artifact was that it absorbed the essence blood and divine souls of the top cultivators in the Cyan Celestial Realm, including many powerful members of the dragon race.

Such immense power had seventy percent converted into the Eternal Celestial Dragon Claw, allowing it to gather stronger law and be refined into an Earth Artifact.

Although the Celestial Dragon Eye also absorbed numerous dragon race essence blood and divine souls, along with part of the power of thunder, it was only a line away from becoming an Earth Artifact. But to bridge that line, it’s uncertain how many more dragons must be killed.

For Gao Xuan to achieve Earth Immortal is even more difficult. Due to his strong foundation, the Earth Immortal Law he wants to refine requires even greater power.

Therefore, Gao Xuan’s urgent task is to occupy a territory for himself, nourishing himself with this realm, to break through to the Earth Immortal level.

This time the demon king proactively sought him out; perhaps it was an opportunity.

Gao Xuan readily agreed, "With the Golden Ape King’s invitation, how could I refuse? Let’s go."

Yuan Bai Xin was somewhat surprised that Gao Xuan agreed readily. Yuan Da and the others didn’t think much, hearing Gao Xuan agree, they all grinned, this saves trouble.

"Let’s go."

Yuan Da immediately waved his hand, a gust of black wind lifted everyone skyward.

Yuan Da and others had powerful divine techniques and special flying technique, yet it took more than ten days to arrive at Golden Ape Mountain.

Golden Ape Mountain was overflowing with spiritual qi, covered in extraordinary trees and fruits, spiritual springs and waterfalls, viewed from afar seven-colored clouds shimmered, creating quite a scene.

The Golden Ape King was waiting in his cave, the entire cave was filled with golden crystals, although without much decoration, it appeared glittering and somewhat imposing.

Deep inside the cave, the Golden Ape King sat on a stone bed atop the high platform, his body was only about a meter high, covered in golden fur. Though his appearance was ugly, his crimson eyes glistened with divine light, different from the great demons like Yuan Bai Xin.

Gao Xuan entered the cave with Yuan Bai Xin and others and saw the Golden Ape King from afar.

Indeed, he was a human immortal level demon king. But compared to the demon kings of the Cyan Celestial Realm, this Golden Ape King had more wildness, and his power was evidently much stronger.

The Golden Ape King was also slightly stunned upon seeing Gao Xuan, he asked Yuan Bai Xin: "I told you to capture women, why did you bring back a man too? Do you not distinguish between male and female?"

The Golden Ape King’s thunderous voice made Yuan Bai Xin feel somewhat embarrassed. He forced a laugh and saluted, saying: "Great king, this Master Gao is quite extraordinary, so I brought him back for you to see."

"What’s so extraordinary? Let me see what flavor this thing has."

The Golden Ape King couldn’t see through Gao Xuan’s façade, but he was indifferent, only Earth Immortals could surpass him. In Demon Emperor Shi Wanqiu’s territory, no other Earth Immortal dared to cause trouble.

As he spoke, he suddenly leapt up, reaching out his furry paw aiming to grab Gao Xuan’s neck directly.