After leaving Mount Luwu, Luo Xiu and his companions flew onward. Thousands of rocky ravines and mountain rivers flashed beneath their feet.

「Two days later.」

The group of five arrived at the borders of the Zhangwei Mountain area and landed to proceed on foot.

According to Tuof, one could only fly in the wilderness of the Shanhai Territory where no powerful lords resided. Upon entering the territories of great demons, they were restricted to walking on foot. This was partly to show respect for the territory's lord; more practically, flying could easily trigger protective mountain formations, which would leave them battered and bloodied.

"Master, there are many powerful Demon Beasts on Zhangwei Mountain. We need to be careful from here on out."

As Luo Xiu walked on the mountain's stony path, which was flanked by withered grass, Tuof's voice suddenly echoed in his mind. At the same time, a map materialized in his mind. It was a map created by Tuof's Divine Sense. It was identical to the Sea Oracle Map, but even clearer than the version etched onto the Jade Disk.

To reach the underwater ruins, they had to pass through Zhangwei Mountain and then arrive at the Crimson River. The river had numerous, complex, and tangled branches, making finding the correct path akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. Even Tuof, who had been there once before, couldn't be certain which channel was correct, as they were known to shift over time.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

While Luo Xiu was lost in thought, heavy thuds echoed from up ahead. Looking up, he saw a massive creature emerging from behind a giant rock. The beast was covered in red scales and had wings on its back. It resembled a dragon, yet wasn't one, and its ferocious, copper-bell-like eyes glinted menacingly.

Tuof said, "This is a Blood Armored Qilin Beast, a descendant of the great demon Zhu Jiuyin of the Shanhai Territory. Its strength is on par with a human Cultivator in the Mahayana Realm. Due to its physical advantages, an ordinary Mahayana Realm Cultivator is no match for it!"

Luo Xiu asked, "How does it compare to the Gu Diao from before?"

Tuof replied, "It's no match for the Gu Diao, of course. The Gu Diao is a territorial lord on the verge of becoming a great demon. However, it's clear there's more than just one Blood Armored Qilin Beast here."

As Tuof finished speaking, Luo Xiu noticed enormous shadows flitting between the stone forests and ancient trees. Innumerable fierce gazes shot through the air, locking onto Luo Xiu and his party. In just a moment, all manner of Shanhai Demon Beasts had surrounded them.

"Heh heh, it really is a pure-blooded Nine-Tailed Fox! A true nourishing treasure!" a wolf-headed Demon Beast, standing eight meters tall and covered in golden fur, spoke in a human tongue. Its gaze burned with desire as it stared at Su Shenyun, lewdly sticking out its long tongue to lick the drool from the corners of its mouth.

"The Lord of Zhangwei didn't lie! He invited us for a great feast, and to think the main course would deliver itself right to our doorstep!"

"They say a Nine-Tailed Fox once achieved the rank of Great Emperor and ascended to the Upper Realm. That was the so-called Pink Emperor!"

"This little fox has the same bloodline as the Pink Emperor. She's a true nourishing treasure!"

The Blood Armored Qilin Beast then spoke, "We of Zhangwei Mountain claim at least half of this Nine-Tailed Fox!"

At this moment, these Shanhai Demon Beasts seemed to see nothing but food.

However, in Dou Dou's eyes, these Shanhai Demon Beasts were *also* food. During the month they spent on Mount Luwu, Dou Dou and Chi Sha had slain many Demon Beasts for food. They discovered that the beasts of the Shanhai Territory were not only delicious but also highly nourishing, so much so that Dou Dou had become addicted. The snacks Luo Xiu carried in his Storage Magical Treasure no longer held any interest for her.

"Dou Dou wants to eat that big red doggie! It must be tasty!"

Chi Sha said, "That's a Blood Armored Qilin Beast. This king has captured and eaten one before. It's indeed delicious and helps strengthen one's physique."

Luo Xiu scanned his surroundings and said nonchalantly, "Judging by their behavior, these beasts seem to have been waiting for us specifically, as if they knew we were coming."

Mu Xueyan lowered her gaze and asked, "Is it because of those people from the Holy Boi Religion?"

"Most likely."

Just then, an overwhelmingly terrifying aura descended upon the world. The Shanhai Demon Beasts scattered in a panic, as if they had just encountered a devil.

Luo Xiu looked up to see a dense, dark mass blotting out the sky. A gigantic creature with a serpent's body thousands of meters long and a humanoid, beast-like torso rode the winds, looking like a mountain range floating in the sky! The sheer visual impact alone was enough to instill utter despair!

Is this... a Zhu Jiuyin?

In the sky, the light radiating from the Zhu Jiuyin suddenly grew intense. In just a moment, it had transformed into a five-meter-tall giant. A graceful figure stood quietly on the giant's shoulder.

Luo Xiu focused his gaze and realized it was Xia Chan!

After a moment, the giant slowly landed. The nearby Demon Beasts came forward to pay their respects.

"Greetings, Lord of Zhangwei!"

The Lord of Zhangwei waved a massive hand, and a fierce gust of wind knocked the Shanhai Demon Beasts back. He then turned to look at Xia Chan on his shoulder and asked respectfully, "Great King, are these the people you spoke of?"

Xia Chan's gaze fell upon Luo Xiu's face, and she nodded slightly.

A day earlier, she had arrived at Zhangwei Mountain. With the clan mark between her eyebrows, she had effortlessly subdued all the Demon Beasts on the mountain, which naturally included the Lord of Zhangwei himself—Zhu Hui. Although Zhu Hui's true form was that of a Zhu Jiuyin, his blood was not pure. He was no match for Xia Chan, who had inherited the complete bloodline.

"Activate the Zhangwei Great Array!" Zhu Hui commanded, waving his hand grandly. "Leave the Nine-Tailed Fox alive! Kill all the others, no questions asked!"

At his command, the nearby Demon Beasts went into a frenzy, pouncing on Luo Xiu's group. The very earth seemed to tremble.

"Run!" Chi Sha shouted, making a snap decision and turning to flee.

They were within the domain of Zhangwei Mountain, and the enemy had activated the Zhangwei Great Array. Fighting to the death here would be suicide.

"Trying to escape? Not a chance!" the Blood Armored Qilin Beast howled. "Minions, surround them from both sides! Don't let them get away!"

It led a pack of Demon Beasts to flank them.

...

Pursued by countless Demon Beasts, Luo Xiu's party fled into the desolate wilderness Outside Zhangwei Mountain. Only after completely leaving the territory of Zhangwei Mountain, free from the influence of the Zhangwei Great Array, did Luo Xiu's group begin to counterattack.

"Big red doggie, Dou Dou has had enough of you!"

Dou Dou suddenly spun around, raising her Big Black Umbrella, and impatiently charged at the Blood Armored Qilin Beast.

Chi Sha and Mu Xueyan flanked Luo Xiu and Su Shenyun, guarding them and striking down any Demon Beasts that lunged forward. The air immediately filled with the stench of blood and gore!

Suddenly, Yang Zhilu and Xue Xiao appeared from among the horde of Demon Beasts. Yang Zhilu went straight for Luo Xiu, while Xue Xiao targeted Su Shenyun!

Mu Xueyan and Chi Sha reacted instantly, hastily falling back to narrowly intercept Yang Zhilu and Xue Xiao.

Yang Zhilu said, "Junior Sister, surrender obediently, and I can still grant you a dignified death."

Mu Xueyan's face was like frost. "Further words are useless. Come at me if you dare!"

With Mu Xueyan and Chi Sha occupied, Luo Xiu and Su Shenyun were left to fend for themselves. They stood back-to-back, warily watching the surrounding Demon Beasts, who were eager to pounce. Because of the Aura of the Dead emanating from Luo Xiu, the Demon Beasts hesitated to approach.

Just as the situation reached a stalemate, Zhu Hui descended from the sky with Xia Chan, landing with a boom in front of the pair.

Xia Chan jumped down from Zhu Hui's shoulder. Her gaze landed on Su Shenyun's face as she said coldly, "You vixen, today is the day you die!"

Xia Chan had, of course, already learned from Yingxiao about Su Shenyun's awakening of her Nine-Tailed Fox Bloodline. In the memories passed down from her grandfather, the Nine-Tailed Fox clan was the mortal enemy of the Zhu Jiuyin clan!

The Nine-Tailed Fox clan was originally the most powerful race in the Shanhai Territory. They only declined after their Clan Leader, the Pink Emperor, ascended to the Upper Realm, leaving them without a powerful figure to protect them. Therefore, whether for the sake of the Zhu Jiuyin clan or the Holy Boi Religion, Xia Chan could not allow Su Shenyun to continue growing stronger.

Otherwise, Su Shenyun would become the next Pink Emperor!

Zhu Hui looked at Luo Xiu and chuckled. "Great King, I'll leave this Nine-Tailed Fox to you. I'll take care of this kid for you!"

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