The cold wind howls, sweeping through the snowy mountains.

At the foot of the West Mountain, the two little tree spirits, Cao Li Heng and Cao Li Wu, stand on the back of a giant ice wolf, seemingly unaffected by the harsh surroundings.

Opposite them is a series of sleds made into prison carts, pulled by giant ice wolves.

Inside the carts are demons, and if Wang Wu were here, he would find that the Ten Thousand Beasts Alliance has been captured.

In these prison carts, not only are there senior old demons like Gui Buli and Bao Dachun, whose power likely reached the Sixth Grade, but there's also the former young master of the West River Water Race, Hei Youliang, who has clearly returned to peak status.

He has transformed into a large snake, stuffing the giant prison cart fully.

The cold wind sweeps, ice and snow like knives, as he stares hatefully at Cao Li Wu, embodying a rather tragic hero quality.

"The West Mountain Temple has always acted neutrally, Cao Li Wu, you've violated the rules set by Grandpa Tree, you and your race will meet a bad end!"

Inside one of the carts, maintaining human form, Gui Buli curses loudly, his hateful gaze almost devouring Cao Li Wu alive.

However, it's actually useless; Cao Li Wu doesn't even acknowledge it.

"General Xuelang, please discern clearly, my grandfather is King of Xijiang, Black and Red, and I am his heir. Every procedure is legal and compliant. My grandfather, along with our West River Water Race, has always been loyal to the Great Ape King. We are not illegal demons, is there some misunderstanding?"

Hei Youliang finally speaks up, pleading to the sky, but the sky offers nothing but endless snow and cold.

"General Xuelang, my grandfather had ties with you before; even if we are guilty, shouldn't you at least let us understand why we suffer such a fate? Why has the West River Water Race fallen to this situation?"

Hei Youliang cries out grievously; he truly doesn't understand. Just because his grandfather failed to transform into a dragon from a flood dragon, doesn't mean they should face such a calamity. Driven from the West River, he hoped to rely on the West Mountain Grandpa Tree Temple, only to face betrayal. His fate is bitter!

"You are wrong, you won't be killed, you are only sent to the Seek Death Camp, where on the battlefield, there will still be a chance to regain freedom."

A cold voice rings, causing even the surrounding wind and snow to disappear instantly. A stunning woman, dressed in a white cloak, with features like a painting and essentially similar to humans, approaches slowly.

"We meet General Xuelang."

This time, even Cao Li Wu and Cao Li Heng hurriedly bow and salute, extremely respectful.

Just because, this is a Third-Grade Great Demon, with a status more revered than the South Mountain King, North Mountain King, or even the former King of Xijiang, and with greater strength.

"Do not think about crying for justice. Your grandfather has ambition but lacks ability, not understanding his own weight, forcibly attempting to transform, disrupting the Great Ape King's overall plan; this is the greatest wrongdoing."

"Now, with the decisive battle against Yun Ding City's Human Race approaching, all illegal demons and demon soldiers within the five-thousand-mile radius must obey orders. Why should you be an exception?"

"If this battle is won, rewards will naturally follow; if lost, ten thousand miles around the Great Snow Mountain will become the hunting ground for the Human Race."

"Clan Leader Cao Li Wu!"

"I am here, please command, General Xuelang."

"All grass and wood demon soldiers in your West Mountain Temple must be conscripted, including you all, too. No exceptions; do not think you can fool anyone—my discerning eyes are here, not allowing any deception!"

"Understood! Rest assured, General Xuelang, all registered grass and wood demon soldiers in the West Mountain Temple are present, with absolutely no omissions."

Cao Li Wu loudly declares, betting because if he doesn't abandon neutrality and join the Snow Mountain Great Ape King, then Grandpa Xishan Tree's branches are on the verge of dying; they either abandon this place and migrate west, becoming a group of wandering tree spirits, or gamble on this, hoping the Great Ape King rescues Grandpa Tree's branches, achieving great gains.

As for the grievances from grass and wood demon soldiers, what does that matter, with a Third-Grade Great Demon present; who dares act rashly!

Upon hearing Cao Li Wu's words, General Xuelang doesn't say anything further but glances back inside and outside the West Mountain. In those beautiful eyes, a hint of golden light flashes, able to directly see hundreds of meters underground, making concealment impossible.

"Very good, Clan Leader Cao Li Wu, you are quite remarkable. As the saying goes among humans, those who know the times are wise; I see you as half a wise person—doing things with care, the Great Ape King won't treat you poorly."

As words fall, the previously still wind and snow resume their howling, and General Xuelang vanishes silently.

Only then does Cao Li Wu discretely wipes cold sweat, the intimidation from a Third-Grade Great Demon is absolutely terrifying, and he feels fortunate, having made the right choice early on. But this winter, those harboring luck are not so lucky.

Regardless of legal status, anyone not responding to the Great Ape King's summons is treated as an illegal demon.

This General Xuelang, said to have refined bloodline reconnaissance divine techniques to a high level, personally captures them all across the mountains, taking tens of thousands of illegal demons over just half a month.

Alas, a change is coming.

——

In the underground Tree Heart area, warmth prevails.

Wang Wu and the three little demons are quite leisurely.

Old Niu is responsible for logistics, needing only to consume dozens of pieces of Tree Heart Wood Shavings daily. The benefits not only nourish the Companion Spirit Vine but also allow the growth of three Ninth-Grade Spirit Fruits.

Wang Wu initially felt quite awkward but found it truly delightful, because if he follows Old Niu's advice not to train the Ice Spirit Root outside but refine Profound Iron, then satiety must keep up.

The process of refining profound iron is essentially consuming qi and blood, which is derived from satiety.

What surprised him was that this type of spirit fruit was also particularly delicious. Hmm, truly delicious.

Therefore, the way this spirit fruit grows is not something to fuss over. Back on Earth, in rural areas, manure pits are used to fertilize vegetable gardens, with sheep manure, pig manure, cow manure, and horse manure aplenty.

As long as it adapts, it's fine.

"Third Brother, be careful. If you encounter those grass and wood zombies and can't beat them, just run. No need to force a confrontation!"

Old Niu, after passing on the key to refining profound iron to Wang Wu, specifically advised him a couple of times.

"Got it!"

Wang Wu nodded and headed straight for the tree root tunnel. He went alone since Old Niu needed to use his Niu Dajiao to dig out the tree heart, while the Little Wild Boar needed to practice its Vibrating Iron Beak. The three little demons each had their own paths of cultivation.

Speaking of which, the Little Wild Boar might seem like a dimwit wasting time, but in reality, as long as it's well-fed, its intelligence seems to rise proportionally. It's not lazy at all and is exceptionally diligent in its cultivation.

In any case, Wang Wu was quite satisfied with his two simple-minded demon brothers.

"Scrambling!"

After walking quite a distance, he reached the steep tree root tunnel, where the height difference exceeded a hundred meters.

Wang Wu placed all four of his bear claws on the surroundings, resembling a giant spider, and climbed up without pause.

Not to mention, the advantage of 60 points of power at this moment was truly impressive.

His past training in body coordination also proved its worth.

Weighing over 800 kilograms, he moved as if weightless, like scaling walls.

The key was that his physical strength wasn't significantly consumed, and he estimated that with his 900 points of stamina, he could ascend to a height of three thousand meters in one go.

Yes, when power increases, stamina consumption decreases.

It was as if he'd discovered a blind spot.

Naturally, Wang Wu didn't overlook potential dangers, so after climbing that steep tunnel, he immediately slowed down and quickly entered a passive concealment state, advancing silently and invisibly.

Though he slowed down, he still maintained a pace of ten kilometers per hour. Level 15 passive concealment is undeniably powerful.

His breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and even scent could be naturally adjusted and contracted through the inner breathing technique, as if he had transformed into a Dark Night Envoy.

A moment later, Wang Wu smoothly reached the place with the broken profound iron jar. Here, he faintly sensed a chill, but as Old Niu had mentioned, the upward passage was blocked by a thick profound iron plate.

To get around, he'd either have to break through the profound iron plate or dig through the sturdy bark, both of which were laborious and thankless tasks.

Wang Wu didn't waver. Since he promised Old Niu and the Little Wild Boar not to go out, he absolutely wouldn't. In certain aspects, he had to trust the intelligence sources of Old Niu, the second-generation demon.

Now, he leaned in to listen for a moment, and only when his Level 13 danger perception didn't raise an alert did he extend a bear claw and place it on the profound iron jar.

At the same time, after recalling the essentials Old Niu taught him, he decisively abandoned them.

Because he had a better inner breathing technique.

Speaking of which, what Old Niu provided was also a decent inner breathing technique passed down through their lineage.

Unfortunately, it couldn't compare to the innate inner breathing technique of Wang Wu's bloodline.

What he lacked was just experience and a way to get started.

In other aspects, he wasn't inferior in any way.

At this moment, as his inner breathing technique rapidly activated, the blood throughout his body seemed to transform into burning flames, circulating wildly. Each circulation strengthened it further.

And it would carry a trace of vitality among it.

Following Old Niu's guidance, Wang Wu directed this vital qi blood heat flow to his bear claw. At this moment, it was clearly visible that a blood fire-like glow enveloped the bear claw, making it stronger, sharper, and harder.

In gaming terms, this would be a powerful strike; without charging, it's just a light strike.

This could not only be used for refining profound iron but, with proficiency, for combat as well.

At this moment, feeling the approach was just right, Wang Wu aimed at the profound iron jar with a booming powerful strike. In the next instant, a flash of blood, and the profound iron jar was marked with terrifying claw marks, five centimeters deep and over thirty centimeters long!

Wow,

Even Wang Wu was stunned.

Had he become so formidable?

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