One hundred li from the black market, in an inconspicuous, small mountain hollow, clusters of bamboo grew. They stood no more than ten zhang tall and were about as thick as a thumb. Pale green stems streaked with deep purple, faintly gleaming with a metallic luster. They were anything but ordinary.

Within the bamboo forest, various exotic flowers and rare herbs dotted the landscape. They swayed gently in the wind, their fragrance continuously drifting. Amid the flowing, misty spirit qi, a thatched hut was faintly visible. It was Elder Mu’s residence.

Major incidents were rare in the black market, so he didn’t bother keeping constant watch. Therefore, he had specifically chosen such a fresh and elegant dwelling.

Suddenly, within this paradise-like forest, an incongruous, overwhelming demonic qi erupted and spread in all directions. Countless bamboo stalks were knocked askew, with more than half of them snapping. The exotic flowers and rare herbs were devastated beyond recognition.

Even the usually aloof Elder Mu couldn’t help but get angry. His face darkened at the man shrouded in dense demonic qi before him. “This is too much! Do you have any idea what you have done?! This Purple Spirit Bamboo is a rare species. It’s an excellent material for artifact forging. I spent considerable effort to cultivate it—”

The demonic qi grew even more violent.

Just then, a tall man carrying a large black pot beside the man hurriedly stopped him. “Fellow Daoist Gu, don’t be impulsive, let me talk to him.”

They were Zuo Yang and Gu Tian. By sheer coincidence, they crossed paths in a brutal clash within the Wild Forest. A chain of misunderstandings led them to uncover each other’s identities, after which they joined forces. In fact, they had just returned today.

Back at the Fengwu Court, they learned about Gu Han’s trip to the secret realm and the bounty the two families had placed on him. Since they didn’t know the secret realm’s details, they thought Gu Han simply hadn’t come out yet.

Afterward, they went straight to Elder Mu, demanding he remove the bounty. However, the latter’s adamant refusal ignited Gu Tian’s demonic nature, nearly destroying the place.

Zuo Yang was worn out, stained with large patches of blood, yet his tone was extremely sincere. “Elder Mu, this is just a trivial matter for you. Shouldn’t we discuss it further?”

He reached for the sharp knife at his waist, rubbing it incessantly. Gu Tian also glowered at Elder Mu, ready to attack at the slightest sign of refusal.

Elder Mu’s eyelids twitched. Discuss? Why are you touching your knife! Is that the attitude for a proper discussion?!

Although Gu Tian’s cultivation was inferior to Zuo Yang’s, Elder Mu instinctively felt that he was more troublesome. He was a Half-Step Transcendent yet the coercion still made him apprehensive.

Elder Mu wanted to curse, but swallowed it back down. “Haa... I cannot agree to this matter.”

Gu Tian’s demonic qi surged even higher.

Zuo Yang frowned deeply. “Why? Give me a reason!”

Elder Mu looked straight at him. “It’s the rules! No bounty on the black market’s board has ever been removed! Neither I nor those above me can make this decision. I only explain this much to you to give her face. If it were anyone else, I’d have driven them out long ago! Zuo Yang, when did you become so unreasonable?”

Zuo Yang slowly drew his sharp knife. “I think that my knife is more useful for reasoning!”

Elder Mu trembled with anger. “Zuo Yang, don’t think I’m really afraid of you. What does this bounty have to do with me? Why don’t you go find whoever issued the bounty?! Make those families withdraw the bounty themselves, and we’re all good!”

Zuo Yang paused and glanced at Gu Tian, scratching his head. “Fellow Daoist Gu, we seem to have found the wrong person.”

Elder Mu nearly spat blood from anger. You’re only realizing it now? What were you doing earlier!

Gu Tian seemed to be suppressing his demonic nature with great effort. “Bounty on my son... I want... him dead!”

Elder Mu secretly felt a chill. He thought that Gu Tian was even more terrifying than ever. As the black market’s person in charge, he didn’t only have extensive knowledge, but also a vast network. Despite understanding demonic cultivators quite well, he had never seen one like Gu Tian.

Suddenly, he seemed to recall something and took out a purple jade talisman. His expression changed drastically. “Hmm? This is impossible!”

Zuo Yang was somewhat curious. “What’s wrong?”

Elder Mu frowned deeply, full of shock and doubt. “The secret realm suddenly collapsed!”

“Which secret realm?”

“The one they just entered!”

Zuo Yang was also deeply shocked. “That’s bad! Junior Brother is in there!”

He no longer bothered with Elder Mu. One step, and he instantly left the valley. Another step, and he vanished without a trace. Immediately after, a wave of overwhelming demonic qi swept out.

By the time Elder Mu regained his senses, the already devastated small valley was almost completely ruined, and the culprit was already gone.

“It’s ruined! My Purple Spirit Bamboo!”

His heart ached as if bleeding, even temporarily forgetting about the secret realm incident.

***

At the Ruyi Tower, Wei Fang’s face was ashen, devoid of his usual composure and calm. His two golden pupils were filled with rage and a trace of fear.

He gnashed his teeth. “Jiang Xuan, you bastard!”

Not long before, he had also received news of the secret realm’s collapse. Under normal circumstances he would have immediately investigated such a major event. Now, he didn’t dare to. There was no need to guess the fate of those who entered. They were all doomed. The various families would surely investigate this matter with full force. If they discovered the slightest clue, it could very likely implicate him.

Thinking of this, his fury intensified. “Bastard, if I had known, I should have killed you myself!”

Just then, a piece of ancient profound jade at his waist glowed brilliantly with spirit light.

His face changed at once. “This is bad! Why now of all times?!”

The jade had been inactive for ten years. No one knew the nature of today’s anomaly better than he did.

As he gritted his teeth, he flickered and vanished in an instant.

***

A thousand li outside Yue Mountain City, an incredibly luxurious carriage hovered. Countless runes were carved along both sides, enhancing its mysterious aura.

Before the carriage, a white, one-horned spirit beast hung its head low, showing complete submission. Occasionally, its eyes would open, showing a flash of human-like emotion.

Ultimately, spirit beasts also belonged to the category of demonic beasts. However, as it was captured and tamed from a young age, the ferocity in their bloodline was long gone, making them extremely docile and most suitable as mounts.

Within the carriage, a middle-aged man in robe sat with his eyes slightly closed, a shadow of displeasure in his countenance.

Just then, he caught sight of Wei Fang approaching. “Wei Fang!”

Wei Fang’s heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly bowed. “Greetings, Holy Emissary!”

The man responded indifferently, “Hmm. You’re a bit late.”

“I—”

A flash of disdain appeared in the man’s eyes, cutting Wei Fang’s words short. He had never thought highly of Wei Fang’s mixed demon blood.

Finally, he went straight to the point. “Forget it. The hundred-year period has arrived. The Holy Master decrees that the selection for the new Holy Son is about to begin. Do you have any suitable candidates here?”

Wei Fang answered with difficulty, “There are two, in fact.”

“How is their aptitude?”

“In my view, these two can be called Heavenly Prides. They are even more outstanding than Jiang Xuan from a hundred years ago.”

The man was somewhat astonished. “Heavenly Prides?”

Having witnessed Jiang Xuan’s aptitude firsthand, he truly hadn’t expected this.

“In that case, the few youngsters in the Holy Land will have pressure. If they aren’t careful, the Holy Son position might just fall into outsiders’ hands.” He shook his head. Glancing at Wei Fang, he said calmly, “Notify them. One month from now, it will be—”

Wei Fang swallowed. “Holy Emissary, I’m afraid that it’s already too late.”

“What do you mean?”

“Those two entered a secret realm for cultivation a few days ago. And that secret realm just collapsed not long ago.”

A cold light flashed in the man’s eyes. “What?!”

In an instant, a wisp of vast aura instantly descended, pressing down on Wei Fang so hard he couldn’t lift his head. He’s actually at the Transcendent realm!

The man narrowed his eyes. “I know a little about that secret realm. It’s connected to the God-Slaying Formation, a matter of no small importance. Why would it suddenly collapse?”

Even if beaten to death, Wei Fang wouldn’t dare tell the truth. “I don’t know either...”

“Forget it, take me to see it!”

Wei Fang’s heart was uneasy, but he didn’t dare disobey in the slightest. He could only brace himself and lead the way. “Yes.”

Behind him, that horned spirit beast flashed with a white light. It pulled the carriage and followed.

***

Outside the secret realm, Yang Xiong was stunned upon seeing Gu Han’s actions. “You dare to threaten me?”

Gu Han sighed. “It seems like you didn’t understand my words at all.”

As his words fell, another strand of sword qi pierced through Yang Lin. This time, the scream was weaker than before. He was already severely injured. Not even his strong self-healing abilities could withstand Gu Han’s repeated sword strikes.

Overwhelmed with anger, Yang Xiong instantly directed his hostility toward Yang Ying. “You bastard! It’s all your fault, you caused all this! You ungrateful dog, daring to help an outsider harm your own elder brother—”

Yang Ying shook his head. “Father, at this point, such words are meaningless. I have no way back. You made me do this. If you cooperate a bit, Yang Lin might still have a chance to live.”

Murong Yan, who had somehow shouldered her large hammer again, looked excited. “Yang guy, you finally got some backbone!”

In the distance, Yuan Gang quietly said, “Junior Brother, this is a good opportunity.”

Chu Kuang nodded. “Indeed.”

Yang Tong was practically half-crippled, and the Yang family had now lost its greatest reliance. Naturally, it was the best time to subdue them. This coincided perfectly with his plan.

On the other hand, Yang Xiong didn’t expect that Yang Ying would say such treasonous words. Yang Ying seemed so unfamiliar that he almost didn’t recognize him.

He almost squeezed the words through gritted teeth. “Speak! What do you want!”

After half a moment of silence, Yang Ying said again, “Release my mother from the Yang family!”

Yang Xiong instinctively said, “Impossible! That lowly woman—”

Mid-sentence, he abruptly stopped. Just as Gu Han said, this transaction was compulsory. He had no room for choice, only agreement.

Yang Ying took a deep breath. “Remember. Don’t entertain any crooked ideas. If my mother loses a single strand of hair, Yang Lin will pay with his life.”

Gu Han pointed his sword only half a cun inch from Yang Lin’s brow. “That’s right! Cooperate well, and this transaction is a guaranteed profit for you!”

Though burning with humiliation and reluctance, Yang Xiong had no choice but to endure. “Fine! I—”

Just then, Chu Kuang interjected. “Wait! Family Head Yang, how about I talk to him instead?”

Murong Yuan frowned deeply. “Chu Kuang, what are you doing?!”

“He likes negotiating with people. That’s perfect. I’ll negotiate with him too.” Chu Kuang pointed at Gu Han, staring at him with a serious expression. “How about letting him go? I can guarantee you’ll leave here alive today—”

A soft sound echoed and the sword had already pierced half a chi into Yang Lin’s brow. Accompanied by his cry of pain, a trickle of blood instantly flowed down.

Gu Han looked at Chu Kuang with a puzzled expression. “Let what go? I didn’t hear you clearly. Can you say it again?”