!!?

The shouting from outside the valley startled Nangong Luo, who was cultivating in the Cyan Stone Pool. Her expression shifted quickly from initial alarm to delight.

"That's Second Brother's voice! Big Brother and the others have finally returned!"

Nangong Luo was overcome with excitement. She quickly stood up and rushed toward the valley entrance.

"Big Brother, Second Brother…"

Looking at Jiang Che and Fang Yuan standing before her, Nangong Luo's smile bloomed radiantly.

"Hehe, Third Sister, it's been so long! For these ten years, you've held Tiger King Ridge alone—thank you for your hard work!"

Jiang Che's face showed a warm smile as he spoke gently.

Leaving Nangong Luo alone at Tiger King Ridge for ten years, he still felt quite guilty about it.

"Big Brother, you're being too polite. In these ten years, nothing serious happened at Tiger King Ridge—I was just cultivating in Peach Grove Valley all this while!"

Nangong Luo shook her head, answering without a care.

"Nothing major happened? Looks like those humans and demon clans out there are all useless—ten years and not one could shake Tiger King Ridge's standing!"

Fang Yuan shook his head with disdain.

"Bullshit! You were actually hoping something would happen at Tiger King Ridge? Third Sister held down the fort alone—do you want things to go wrong? Think before you speak!"

At that, Jiang Che's face darkened and he gave Fang Yuan a good scolding.

"Hehe, my fault, my fault..."

Fang Yuan shrank his head with a sheepish grin. His big brother was simply too fierce—couldn't beat him, so he could only admit fault and take a scolding.

"Pfft..."

Seeing this, Nangong Luo couldn't help recalling the scenes of Second Brother always being suppressed by Big Brother in the past, and burst out laughing.

Then, as if recalling something else, Nangong Luo looked at Jiang Che, anxiously inquiring, "By the way, Big Brother, how were you and Second Brother in the Ancestral Demon Realm these ten years? Did you encounter any danger? And were there any formidable Imperial Realm cultivators there?"

"Your Second Brother and I are both in the Imperial Realm. Entering the Ancestral Demon Realm, of course, was not dangerous for us.

In ten years, the two of us have wiped out all the rulers of the Ancestral Demon Realm—that is, the seven supreme demon clans. The Demon Emperors among those seven clans have also been destroyed one after another.

Now, Tiger Demon Mountain, which we founded, has replaced Ancestral Demon Hall and become the overlord of the Ancestral Demon Realm.

And, your Second Brother has decided to stay on in the Ancestral Demon Realm and become its master."

With that, Jiang Che calmly recounted the tale to Nangong Luo.

"What? Tiger Demon Mountain... Rulers of the Ancestral Demon Realm, and Demon Emperors at that!"

Hearing Big Brother's account, Nangong Luo was utterly shocked—she hadn't expected that the two of them would defeat the demon clans and take over the Ancestral Demon Realm in only ten years!

And from Big Brother's words, each of those top demon clans had Demon Emperors, and every one of them was killed by Big and Second Brothers.

Good thing this time it was Big and Second Brother invading the Ancestral Demon Realm—had it been the other way around, their own Tiger King Ridge would have been utterly destroyed by those Demon Emperors.

"Enough about that for now, Third Sister! After ten years apart, Big Brother and I have both prepared gifts for you!

Think of it as a reward for guarding Tiger King Ridge these ten years!"

At this, Fang Yuan suddenly said with a cheerful laugh.

"Gifts?"

At those words, Nangong Luo's interest was instantly piqued.

With both Big Brother and Second Brother being Tier Nine Imperial Realm experts, and having campaigned in the Ancestral Demon Realm for years, any gifts they'd prepared must surely be extraordinary.

Nangong Luo turned her gaze to Jiang Che again. He nodded with a smile, keeping up the suspense without revealing his gift.

This only aroused Nangong Luo's curiosity all the more—the anticipation was killing her.

Fortunately, Fang Yuan produced his gift at this moment.

"Third Sister, here is the Jade Bone Blood Lotus Hairpin, refined by this Demon Monarch after ten years of battle, gathered from the blood and bones of countless demon clans. With a wave, it can make an enemy's blood boil and flow backward, their bones twist and shatter. Those with weak bodies will explode on the spot—a true priceless treasure.

And, because I suppressed the influence of demonic qi, this Jade Bone Blood Lotus Hairpin is no Demon Artifact; you may use it with confidence."

With that, Fang Yuan handed Nangong Luo a beautifully crafted hairpin, the tip blooming with a blood-red lotus, radiating endless crimson brilliance.

"Thank you, Second Brother!"

Gazing at the exquisite hairpin before her, Nangong Luo's eyes lit up. She quickly reached out to accept it, gratefully thanking Fang Yuan.

Storing away the Jade Bone Blood Lotus Hairpin, Nangong Luo's gaze shifted to her Big Brother.

Since Second Brother had given her such a powerful and splendid treasure, she figured Big Brother's gift could not possibly be inferior.

Catching Nangong Luo's eager gaze, Jiang Che stopped teasing her and extended his hand, presenting a fist-sized orb glowing faintly red toward Nangong Luo.

Staring at the glowing, pale red orb, Nangong Luo was momentarily stunned—this orb didn't emanate any aura; she really couldn't make sense of it.

"Big Brother, this is…?"

Nangong Luo asked apologetically.

"Hehe, it's Imperial Realm Origin! When I slew those Demon Emperors from the Ancestral Demon Realm, I gathered all the Imperial Realm Origins that didn't dissipate.

I've already cleansed it of demonic qi and any laws or information tied to the Ancestral Demon Realm—what's left is the purest Imperial Realm Origin.

You're currently at late Tier Eight peak. Once you refine this Origin, you should be able to break through to Tier Nine Imperial Realm!"

Jiang Che explained to her.

"What! Imperial Realm Origin!"

Hearing Big Brother's words, Nangong Luo nearly jumped for joy. This was Imperial Realm Origin! Back then, Big Brother had quickly broken through to Tier Nine because he got this very thing.

If she could refine this Imperial Realm Origin, the Tier Nine she'd yearned for would be within her grasp at last.

"Thank you, Big Brother! This is truly too precious!"

Of course, Nangong Luo didn't refuse. She immediately put the Imperial Realm Origin away—were it not for the setting, she'd have rushed off to refine it right this instant.

"Alright, let's head back to the valley," Jiang Che said, shaking his head at his little sister's uncontainable joy.

"Okay, okay, okay..."

The three of them then made their way back to Peach Grove Valley.

Time flowed by—five days passed in a flash.

Above the once-clear skies of Tiger King Ridge, the winds suddenly rose and clouds boiled up. A storm surge of blackness shrouded the heavens—thunder flashed from cloud to cloud, accompanied by deafening peals that shook the air.

Rumble—

Celestial thunder fell swiftly from above.

In midair, Nangong Luo rode the Purple Mist Mirror and the Jade Bone Blood Lotus Hairpin, violet and crimson lights intertwined as she strove against the thunder tribulation.

Below, in Peach Grove Valley, Jiang Che stood side by side with the Willow God.

"Fellow Daoist Golden Tiger is indeed a genius. At last, she's about to ascend to Tier Nine Imperial Realm!"

The Willow God sighed with admiration.

"Compared to you, Willow God, she still falls a bit short," Jiang Che replied modestly.

"Hehe, by that token, compared to you, Thunder Tiger, I fall far short indeed!"

The Willow God chuckled lightly, then his gaze sharpened as he looked at Jiang Che, curiously asking, "Thunder Tiger, it's been ten years since we last met. I wonder, what level has your cultivation reached now?"

"Me?"

At this, Jiang Che's gaze turned profound, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"Above the Imperial Realm lies the Supreme—one who commands the origin of an entire world!"