Chapter 224: The Pride of the Demon Clan

"He has arrived!"

Uncle Pang suddenly spoke.

Zheng Fa and Shijie Zhang both activated their Void-Piercing Spirit Eyes, gazing out toward the valley.

That square-faced youth was leading several brothers, watching the valley warily from a distance.

"So many people..."

One of those beside him said.

"They are all cultivators from immortal sects... This Di Liu Jiang was meant to be the supreme treasure of our Demon Clan!" another said with hatred: "If one day our Demon Clan prospers..."

Flames flickered in the eyes of the others, burning with unwillingness and hatred.

Clearly, the unspoken words were their shared wish.

"Big Brother... this Di Liu Jiang cannot be snatched away by them!"

Hearing them speak thus, the square-faced youth shook his head and sighed: "Not only are we merely at the Jin Dan realm... but the appearance of this Di Liu Jiang is truly rather strange."

"Big Brother, you are too cautious!"

"Our Demon Clan has been oppressed by the immortal sects for so many years; if we still cannot learn caution..." the square-faced youth sneered: "we should have died long ago."

"..."

His words caused the others to nod silently.

It was clear that this person's ability to be the backbone among these few was not solely due to his powerful bloodline.

"Then let us be careful." Seeing the others fall silent, the square-faced youth instructed again: "If the Di Liu Jiang truly exists, then naturally we cannot let it slip away... but if it is a trap, we must also preserve ourselves."

The others nodded, as if they had taken his words to heart.

"Look!"

Deep within the forest at the valley's end, a burst of golden-red light suddenly shone forth; this golden-red light illuminated the entire valley, making the mountain walls before them seem to shimmer as if under the sunset.

What made the crowd more frantic was that the silhouette of a long-legged woman was flying swiftly toward that forest.

"Xiao Yuying!"

"The Di Liu Jiang has appeared!"

"Quick!"

The crowd outside the valley shouted, rushing toward that location.

"Big Brother?"

"Let us follow behind!" The square-faced youth still did not rush into action; instead, he instructed the crowd: "That Xiao Yuying is no ordinary person; this group is a mix of fish and dragons, with not a single Nascent Soul cultivator. How could they snatch a treasure from her? Let us wait and see!"

Indeed, before the crowd could charge into the valley, the golden-red light in the forest was already flickering, as if about to be subdued by Xiao Yuying.

The crowd's escape lights became even more urgent; the man beside them also urged:

"Big Brother!"

"No rush!"

Yet the square-faced youth continued to watch and wait.

Just then, a sharp shout from Xiao Yuying suddenly came from the forest: "Who!"

The crowd was stunned.

Then came a loud boom, as if a magical duel was taking place within the woods.

Massive boulders fell from the mountain walls, and treasure lights crisscrossed the forest.

The cultivators who had been charging forward immediately flew backward.

The square-faced youth and his few companions, who were already at the rear, now dodged even faster.

The two figures in the forest seemed to have clashed for only a moment before all sound ceased.

Only the collapsed half of the mountain wall and the vanished dark forest revealed the ferocity of the recent battle.

Xiao Yuying's figure appeared once more; she looked around, seemingly searching for the person who had secretly attacked her just now.

Several corpses still lay on the ground.

It seemed that some cultivators had rushed too eagerly just now and suffered collateral damage.

Those who had followed Xiao Yuying were already a ragtag mob; how could they dare to approach now?

They all scattered and fled.

"Big Brother, you are indeed wise!" A man beside the square-faced youth said with relief: "I never expected this place to truly be a trap! It looks like someone is dealing with this Xiao Yuying?"

The square-faced youth nodded faintly, a hint of self-satisfied smile inevitably appearing on his lips.

Xiao Yuying looked at her own confused appearance within the illusionary realm, twitched the corner of her mouth, and said: "What was the point of this?"

Before Zheng Fa could speak, Shijie Yuan beside him answered excitedly:

"I know, I know! Because the Demon with the Qiong Qi bloodline is a clever and suspicious demon!"

"Clever and suspicious?"

Shijie Yuan shook her head, as if imitating Shijie Zhang: "He trusts only himself, likes to suspect, and it is not easy to trick him."

Xiao Yuying nodded, looking at Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa, however, looked at the Jin Wu beside him.

The Jin Wu flapped its wings once and flew out of the cave.

The square-faced youth watched as the cultivators around him slowly departed, yet deep thought remained in his eyes.

"Big Brother? Since there is no Di Liu Jiang here, shall we go?"

The square-faced youth shook his head and said: "That Xiao Yuying is no ordinary person... did you see her leave?"

The crowd looked into the valley; indeed, Xiao Yuying had not left but was still searching everywhere.

Before, she seemed to be looking for someone; now, she seemed to be looking for something.

"Big Brother, are you saying..."

"I don't know..."

The square-faced youth shook his head, not entirely certain either.

More and more people were leaving.

The others exchanged glances, wondering what this square-faced youth was waiting for by staying here.

At this moment, the square-faced youth suddenly spotted a black shadow hidden in the night, invisible to the naked eye.

Yet even if one could see this shadow, most cultivators would assume it was just an ordinary crow and pay it no mind.

But the square-faced youth happened to recognize this crow!

"Jin Wu!" he whispered softly, "Look at this Jin Wu; isn't it as if it sensed something?"

The group turned their gaze toward the Jin Wu.

Indeed, the Jin Wu's wings fluttered with incredible speed, as if attracted by some supreme treasure, its eyes filled with excitement and fervor.

"Could there truly be Emperor's Flowing Essence?"

"Deceiving Xiao Yuying was already difficult; this Jin Wu has a noble bloodline and likely possesses a special sensitivity to treasures!" the square-faced youth analyzed, nodding to the group, "Let's go; let's follow it!"

Upon hearing this, the others all found it reasonable.

More importantly, they already trusted this person's judgment very deeply.

The square-faced youth led them, sneaking past the crowd, following the Jin Wu toward the other side of the valley.

At this moment, Xiao Yuying also seemed to have discovered something; her figure flashed, and she vanished from the spot.

"... Is that all?"

"I know, I know!" Senior Sister Yuan spoke again, "Just now, it was only to make him lower his guard, to make him think the trap wasn't targeting him..."

"Now, it is to make this person believe he has discovered a clue to a secret treasure; he will not only not suspect but will firmly believe it."

Hearing this, Xiao Yuying shook her head and sighed, "Your scheme... only targets smart people."

"Big Brother's mind is still the sharpest!" Following behind the Jin Wu, a group murmured praises, "If there truly is Emperor's Flowing Essence, Big Brother using it might allow you to achieve Nascent Soul; with Big Brother's peerless wisdom, you will surely become a hegemon of our Demon Race in the future!"

"Exactly right!" another person nodded, "Even Xiao Yuying was deceived; only our Big Brother saw through the deception! This so-called human genius..."

The square-faced youth smiled, merely waving his hand at the crowd, "Once we obtain the treasure, of course, we shall share it with the brothers!"

The few beside him looked at each other, their faces somewhat excited.

The Jin Wu flew sneakily ahead, seemingly afraid someone was following it.

But it was merely at the Foundation Establishment cultivation level and could not detect the square-faced youth and others at the Golden Core Stage.

As they walked, the square-faced youth suddenly found fewer and fewer of his brothers beside him.

His heart chilled; he knew this place was indeed a secret realm, and without realizing it, he and the others had become separated.

Fortunately, the Jin Wu had not been lost; he gritted his teeth, gave up on searching for the others, and continued following the Jin Wu forward.

He did not know how long they had walked.

A cave glowing with light suddenly appeared before him.

The Jin Wu ahead seemed extremely excited; with a "Ga!" it charged inside.

The square-faced youth's heart leaped with joy; fearing the treasure inside the cave would be taken by the Jin Wu, he simply stopped hiding his form. Two black flesh wings suddenly sprouted from his back, and he shot into the cave like lightning...

Then, he saw the warm smiles of the people inside the cave.

He wanted to run.

But the Nascent Soul aura from Senior Sister Zhang, Senior Uncle Pang, and Xiao Yuying made his whole body go limp; sweat soaked the flesh wings on his back.

At this moment, how could he not know he had been deceived!

"You... you actually acted that convincingly?"

He looked at the Jin Wu, unable to believe the fervor in the Jin Wu's eyes just now had all been an act!

Hearing him say this, the Jin Wu seemed somewhat embarrassed; it rubbed its head with its wing, then rubbed its head against Zheng Fa's palm before speaking, "That was a genuine expression of emotion..."

"..."

Outside the cave.

The few from the Demon Race who saw their Big Brother disappear gathered together, feeling somewhat worried.

"Where is Big Brother? Why hasn't he come out yet?"

"Went to search for treasure?"

"Should we go and report to the Great King?"

Just then, Xiao Yuying's voice suddenly rang out again, "I didn't expect such talent among the Demon Race!"

The crowd looked up and saw a figure with spread wings flying up from the valley, holding a jade bottle in hand, flying desperately toward the outside of the mountain.

Xiao Yuying did not seem to pursue, and her tone even held some praise.

"Big Brother... snatched the treasure from Xiao Yuying's hands?"

"A Golden Core rivaling a Nascent Soul!" another person said excitedly, "Big Brother will surely become a Great Sage in the future!"

"Let's leave quickly too!"

Seemingly afraid Xiao Yuying would cause trouble, the few did not dare to linger here any longer and sneaked out.

"You see, although you were deceived, you have now achieved fame!" Zheng Fa looked at the square-faced youth's dejected face and offered warm comfort, "In the future, everyone will know you are the demon who snatched a treasure from the hands of Xiao Xiao Xianzi!"

"You will become the pride of your Demon Race!"

The square-faced youth opened his mouth.

His expression grew even more strange, clearly not comforted.

Xiao Yuying, standing nearby, shook her head and said, "So this is the reason you asked me to lend my reputation earlier?"

"..." Zheng Fa looked at Xiao Yuying with a hint of apology.

"This matter..." Xiao Yuying pondered for a moment, then suddenly as if she had learned something: "It's actually quite fun!"

"..."

To be honest, seeing the square-faced youth's despair, Zheng Fa felt no emotion, but seeing Xiao Yuying's excited face...

... he truly felt a bit of guilt for corrupting an honest person.

Half a month later.

At the new base of the Demon Race and the Great Zizaimo Sect.

"Why hasn't Big Brother returned yet?"

"Of course he's cultivating after obtaining the treasure!" another person said.

"Wouldn't it be better to return and cultivate?"

"With so many demon sects and demon women here, how can one cultivate properly! Besides, the demon sects and we are not of one heart!"

"True, Big Brother is a cautious person!"