Chapter 205

At this moment, Ling Yue realized she had forgotten something.

With a thought, Ling Yue's system panel automatically appeared.

【Name: Bangladeshi Blackened Cobra】

【Gender: Female】

【Age: One and a half years】

【Personality: Tsundere, gluttonous】

【Skills: Venom, Protect Master】

【Wish: Find an owner, let me quickly escape the Demon King QAQ】

Ling Yue glanced through it quickly; the last sentence was filled with deep resentment, the resentment almost bursting out of the screen. Looking at that cute, crying emoticon, she almost couldn't help laughing out loud.

She glanced at the snake-snake, the restless Bangladeshi cobra; under her gaze, it dared not move at all, behaving as if it had become a different snake.

It finally realized how formidable Ling Yue was, feeling both awe and fear toward her; anyway, it knew that this little snake of theirs could never defeat that terrifying human!

Who can bring me out of this sea of suffering?

Its previous little owner, after being spanked by its parents right in front of it, left it without hope.

"Open your mouth."

The Demon King's voice came from above, pleasant but making it even more frightened; the snake-snake stiffly opened its mouth, its tail trembling, "Don't, don't eat me!"

Ling Yue tossed a few pieces of pet food into its mouth; the frightened snake-snake instantly widened its vertical pupils, so fragrant, so fragrant that the snake-snake became dazed!

Ling Yue was about to speak when the delayed system voice sounded: "【Completion of the Bangladeshi cobra's wish, find an owner, escape the Demon King (Ling Yue), to obtain reward: Disguise Technique.】"

Reject or accept?

This is practically free points delivered to her door; Ling Yue couldn't fathom what reason she had to refuse!

She directly clicked accept; after receiving the reward description, she instantly curved her brows and eyes. To her, the Disguise Technique was exactly the ability she needed most now; calling it a disguise technique wasn't quite fitting, as its scope was broad, even including disguise (makeup).

Change a face, change an aura—from a passerby on a small street to politicians and celebrities on TV, as long as Ling Yue has seen them, she can disguise as them.

Moreover, her fame is now huge, almost spreading throughout the whole country; as soon as she shows her face, wherever she goes, she cannot change the fate of being surrounded by onlookers.

Thus, the sudden Disguise Technique was like a timely rain; consequently, her gaze toward the little snake softened considerably.

"What's your name?" she said while pouring pet food into the snake-snake's bowl; the snake-snake, unable to lift its head from eating, suddenly heard this, its mouth full of food, and after a moment replied, "3, No. 365?"

Ling Yue: "……"

What kind of name is this?

The Bangladeshi cobra didn't understand; it only knew that in the breeding farm, those humans called it that way, with the most formidable snake among them being called Number One by those humans—how impressive!

But it was at the bottom of the snake group.

Thinking of this, the venomous snake's eating speed slowed; suddenly hearing Ling Yue's voice, it snapped back to attention.

Ling Yue thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll temporarily call you 365; as for your name, let your future owner think of it for you."

Hearing this, 365 sprang up—oh, it propped itself up—its darting light-yellow vertical pupils stared in shock at Ling Yue: "You, you what did you say?"

Ling Yue thought the little snake was too engrossed in eating to have understood, so she repeated it.

"Heavens, meat pies are falling from the sky!"

The little snake lifted its head and flicked its tail; otherwise, how would it have heard the Demon King say it would find it an owner? Had heaven heard its inner voice?

Ling (listening to heart voice) Yue puffed out a laugh, "It's me who heard your heart voice."

But she never actually said it, instead she asked 365, "Don't you like it? If you don't, I'll——"

Before she could finish, the eager 365 interrupted: "Want, want, want—I want an owner!"

It envied those little animals with owners; the warm embrace of humans made this poisonous snake 365 incredibly envious—knowing that before, it was just a snake that could only lie on the ground basking in the sun, but with humans, it could coil around a person, snuggle close, like a little sun……

It had also tried to find an owner on its own, but whenever humans saw it, they either screamed in fright or ran away quickly; those who didn't run would throw stones at it!

Its head had been hit before, swelling into a small bump, making it almost cry out in anger.

Now, it too wants an owner!

Unable to restrain itself, it let out a "hehehe" chuckle; if Ling Yue didn't know it was a little girl, she would have flicked its forehead—what are you thinking, little milk snake!

Although snake lifespans vary, adulthood is generally two to three years old; judging by 365's age, it's still a baby snake, yet it has grown this large—perhaps it's a gifted prodigy.

Ling Yue speculated, and unable to hold back, she said it out loud.

Upon hearing this, 365 exploded: "What! This is my own strength!"

Before coming to Longhu Mountain, it was a thin, small snake; only by constantly eating did it become this glossy, thick, and strong!

As for this, 365 felt quite proud and smug~

"Look at my waist, look at my big tail—aren't they especially impressive?"

Ling Yue nodded; the proud snake-snake rubbed its belly: "I… I'm still itchy."

Having said that, it lowered its head bashfully; snakes are lifelong growers, adult snakes molt once a year, juvenile snakes three times a year, and hibernation season normally sees no molting; Ling Yue suspected it had eaten too well, prompting an early molt.

Moreover, parasites on the snake's body are also shed along with the molt; as for why 365 feels embarrassed, Ling Yue coughed lightly—molting is equivalent to a poisonous snake taking off its clothes.

However, ordinary snakes don't have a sense of shame; only smarter animals possess varied complex emotions, so this little snake's intelligence is not low.

Its self-control is also excellent; without Ling Yue's command, it dare not move at all.

365: "QAQ"

Faced with life and comfort, it still knows how to choose.

Just as it could barely hold back, Ling Yue spoke: "Go ahead and molt; after you finish, I'll have someone guard you."

This is also another worry for 365; after molting, a snake remains weak for several days, during which it has no ability to resist, and if caught by a natural enemy, it's as good as dead.

After receiving Ling Yue's assurance, 365 hummed and hawed for a while before saying, "Th-thank you." Demon King.

Ling Yue was fine, just watching from the side; the little snake, engrossed in transforming, had no spare attention for her, and its slightly gray scales were already showing a thin white film—that was the molt.

Molting usually starts from the snake's head, so the molt comes off inside out; in no time, 365 was almost twisted into a pretzel, looking extraordinarily entwined.

Her soft waist, moreover, lets people experience; Ling Yue pinched her fingers, suddenly feeling the urge to tie a knot—such a long snake, picking it up to tie a knot would be so satisfying.

She shook her head; there was nothing much in the morning, so she watched the little snake shed its skin in the morning light. 365 was healthier than she had imagined, needing none of her help at all. However, not long after, Ling Yue sat upright there, her pair of deep black pupils flashing like obsidian.

She stared fixedly at the shedding snake.

The system notification she had hastily skimmed earlier surfaced again in her mind; Ling Yue pressed her lips, only now realizing how precious 365 was!

It turned out to be an extremely rare melanistic poisonous snake!

Many people may have heard of albinism, not only in humans but even rarer in the animal kingdom, usually caused by genetic mutation; ancient Bai Hu roaming were once reported by officials to the throne, regarded as auspicious.

The chance of albinism appearing is usually one in a million; what the public knows mostly is albinism, unaware that melanism also exists, with a probability of one in ten million—some people may go a lifetime without seeing a single one.

The 365, still struggling as its snake head emerged, had layers of white membrane that mirrored the scale pattern, forming a stark contrast with its pure black, ink‑like head.

Rich ink, heavy color.

Ling Yue could only think of such a description: compared to its earlier pallid gray, it was now a truly, truly, truly black snake, its scales smooth and delicate, black beautifully, black purely.

Jun Jun, who had just come in, was startled: "Could this guy have been sneaking ink? It's so black, black as a lump of coal!"

"Or maybe someone swapped it?"

The 365, straining to shed its skin, suddenly heard this and was so angry it wanted to curse.

Unfortunately, it had no strength, so it turned its grief and anger into power, its speed more than doubling.

Ling Yue: "……This is the same snake as before."

She saw Jun Jun's doubt and laughed along: "We were all tricked; earlier it was in the shedding phase, its color lighter than normal, a bit gray—I had been curious about that—but now I understand: when it shed its skin, its true color showed."

She concluded: "It's actually quite nice‑looking."

What Ling Yue said was no exaggeration; the pure, shining black was indeed very beautiful, making 365 look mysterious, noble, and imposing.

Jun Jun raised his brows; he wouldn't act childishly and vie for favor as before, a glint flashing in his dark eyes as he smoothly changed the subject: "A teammate sent word that traces of the Xuanmen Association were found among the tourists on the mountain peak, and they're still being tailed."

Ling Yue blinked: "What are we waiting for? Let's go support them right away."

She took this matter very seriously, swiped up to stand, paused, then said: "Wait a moment, I'll arrange a few things."

"365, keep shedding; before I return, you're not to leave this spot even a step—I'll have someone look after you."

365: "……"

"I know, I know—it's not stupid; it knows it'll be weak after shedding, so why would it run off? It doesn't want to die young!"

The tsundere little snake pondered, how could it possibly not obey the great demon king's words!

The little snake is quite clever!

Hearing its thoughts, Ling Yue couldn't help but laugh.

She stopped dwelling on it and, together with Jun Jun, hurried to their destination; the summit of Longhu Mountain was quite bustling, with guesthouses, inns, and even an imitation ancient street.

The place Ling Yue had agreed on with her fellow staff was right outside an inn's door, where a large wine flag fluttered, but outside the inn she saw only Shuangshuang.

She was dressed like a tourist, carrying a plump white little bag; the moment she saw Ling Yue, the girl broke into a grin: "Sister, I'm here! I'm here!"

Ling Yue walked over without stopping; Shuangshuang had wanted to hug her, but seeing Jun Jun beside her, she lost all thought.

Taking advantage of the inattention, she quickly told Ling Yue the whole story.

"Actually, we didn't notice them at first either; this lot hides better than mice, but later the captain simply cut the problem off at the source!"

Ling Yue raised her brows; the girl giggled like a sly little fox: "Who knew they'd be so stupid, using such fake IDs? When we checked, two of the five were already dead!"

Ling Yue: "???"

Shuangshuang: "The Xuanmen Association folks were using IDs belonging to the dead! When we found out, someone even jumped, thinking they'd come back to life."

"If you ask me, even a random fake‑goods vendor on a utility pole would be more reliable than this!"

Ling Yue could already picture the scene, and she laughed as they entered the inn; glancing casually, she saw five people seated at the window spot to the front‑right.

Quite relaxed and casual, four men and one woman with utterly ordinary looks that blended right into the crowd, making them hard to spot at once.

But the aura about them, in her eyes, a faint, restless black qi coiling around their bodies, Ling Yue recognized it at a glance.

They hadn't prepared for action; they were playing the mantis stalks the cicada, with the oriole behind—those so‑called evil cultists on Longhu Mountain have always been a major hidden threat, and one must go through these people to locate them.

Just then, the inn rang with a loud voice: "What, you have no money?"

"Huh, you have to pay for a meal?" a soft, childish voice piped up; everyone looked over to see an aggressive male server questioning a five‑ or six‑year‑old child, this pitiful sight instantly sparking discussion among the crowd.

"What's going on? No matter what, a server shouldn't treat a little kid like that."

"The poor little thing looks so pitiful—where are his parents?"

"The server is totally unprofessional—where's the hotel manager?"

Hearing this, the server was about to roll his eyes in anger—he's pitiful, he's pitiful indeed!

He immediately glared at the surrounding people: "This kid's eating a dine‑and‑dash; tell me, should I demand payment from him?"

"Where are his parents?"

Server: "He'd like to know that too!"

At first, seeing the child in brand‑name clothes ordering food so grandly, he'd assumed the parents were nearby—little did he know the kid had eaten from start to finish all by himself!

Now, when it came time to pay, he claimed he had no money—what else could this be but a dine‑and‑dash?!

After he explained, those who had spoken up for him earlier were stunned, their gazes toward the child shifting; the latter pouted, wronged: "Someone will come help me pay the bill!"

The server gave a hard eye‑roll, refusing to believe it!

This unfriendly attitude dissatisfied many—people said they'd pay, so what's there to fear he'd run off?

And—

"How much could a little kid eat? I'll pay his bill."

The server's face lit up with delight: "All right, that comes to 108,500—card or scan?"

Whoa!

The surroundings erupted in gasps; even the person who had just offered to help pay stared: "Over 108,500? Is your food made of gold?"

Could it be a black shop?

The waiter's face fell: "Our inn never deceives young or old; do you know what he ate?"

"Look!" he said, pointing at the table, a stack of plates piled several centimeters high—this is after he moved many away: "He's had the Celestial Master Banquet fifty‑eight times, plus ten plates of braised pork knuckle, five plates of stir‑fried seasonal vegetables, ten plates of Longjing shrimp…"

Reciting that long string of numbers left everyone numb.

Many stared fixedly at the little boy's belly, wondering if his stomach connected to a bottomless pit—even the world's biggest eater couldn't match him!

At that moment, the little boy jumped off his stool; the waiter hurried after him anxiously, only to see him pattering over to the window seat: "Help me pay the bill."

Ling Yue's expression tightened; the person she was speaking to was none other than those from the Profound Gate Association.

Elder Li was discussing with his subordinates how to act that afternoon when a bean sprout suddenly popped out, startling him; still in that commanding tone, he snorted coldly: "Little rabbit—"

His voice vanished instantly; the little boy put his hands on his hips, his big round eyes staring at him, his chubby baby face puffing out: "Settle the bill, Li Qingchun!"

His fierce yet tsundere little demeanor made many laugh.

Only Elder Li himself knew that was his real name; only high‑ranking folks could shout it out. In a moment, cold sweat broke out on his forehead: "Fine, I'll pay!"

Seeing the amount of over a hundred thousand, he wanted to curse on the spot: "Over a hundred thousand—why don't you just go rob someone?!"

If it were before, he might have pulled it out without blinking; now his bank card is frozen, the Profound Gate Association has collapsed like a tree falling and monkeys scattering, he only has a pitiful 150,000 left, and he still plans to fly out after this—this damn thing just took a third of his savings!

What's most aggravating is that after paying, he still had to carry the guy out, explaining: "This is my nephew; I just wasn't paying attention—he's naturally a big eater."

Having said that, he couldn't wait to walk out, the chubby little kid on his back holding five strings of candied hawthorn; as he opened his mouth, the bright red hawthorn sugar balls instantly vanished into his bottomless stomach: "Delicious!"

He patted Elder Li's back, speaking in a voice only the two could hear: "Li Qingchun, you've done well; the Lord will reward you later."

Hearing that, Elder Li shuddered violently: "The— the Lord?"

The little boy tilted his head: "Besides that one, who else?"

The information you received was provided by our Lord.

He hehe‑laughed, revealing neat little white teeth; to others it looked less like a smile and more like a beast's grin.

"Do we count this as a successful rendezvous? Our Lord sent just me over—what are you planning to do?"

Hearing that, Elder Li's eyes flickered, a ruthless glint rising in his depths—was this guy confident or arrogant? The five of us are top talents among our peers; what strength could this milk‑baby have?

Even if he'd cultivated since the womb, he'd still be no match for them.

Thinking of his lost money and face, he wanted to kill the guy on the spot, but he wasn't in a rush—after all, this was their first cooperation, and they still had time.

But he never imagined how quickly his thoughts would undergo a complete transformation.

……

In the inn, Ling Yue and the others exchanged glances; no one chased after him, instead staying put in thought—who did this suddenly appearing little boy belong to?

Ling Yue's eyes flickered slightly as she spoke first: "It must be that overseas force."

That remark gave Jiang Ye a wake‑up call—it was indeed very possible, yet it also made him more worried: overseas, can we really beat them?

His gaze unconsciously fell on Ling Yue, who gave him a faint smile that needed no explanation.

Everyone present was affected—except probably Jun Jun, who sniffed the lingering unpleasant odor in the air and told the waiter to serve the dishes.

"I've heard the Celestial Master Banquet on Longhu Mountain is delicious—let's eat up, everyone."

The atmosphere grew harmonious again; their table looked no different from any other tourists'.

Afternoon, the Hall of the Matchmaker's guards sent a message—

【Hall of the Matchmaker, the person has arrived.】

Jiang Ye's spirit jolted instantly; he immediately ordered the others to act, and among the tourists praying for love, he soon spotted several people—the child on Elder Li's back was still eating, as if every time he saw him, he was eating.

It seemed he could never be filled.

In contrast, these people's faces were ashen as dead ashes; their money had been completely spent by him, leaving them penniless!

When their eyes met, killing intent overflowed from their depths.

"Crack—crack——"

"These chips are crisp and fragrant—I'll eat a ton after we go down the mountain!"

Elder Li nodded: "Right, right, right, uh‑uh‑uh."

He snorted coldly in his heart, "Eat your big‑headed ghost—this is your last meal!" His wicked thoughts swelled rapidly; why must we cooperate with them, why not just take what's theirs by force?

Imagining that satisfying release, he couldn't help laughing out loud; those around him were his own men, and a single glance from him made them understand his intent.

"Kill!"

The food‑obsessed little boy seemed oblivious, as if the only thing he could rely on was his title as subordinate to that Lord, and his enormous, black‑hole‑like stomach.

That's why people look down on him.

Ling Yue didn't think so; before coming, she had already notified Daoist Priest Zhi Yi that the Hall of the Matchmaker might see unrest, asking him to hold the fort.

He kept nodding and even volunteered, saying he could also take action.

Ling Yue agreed, clutching a red marriage talisman in her hand as if sizing up the Hall of the Matchmaker—just then, turmoil erupted!

The Profound Gate Association's people launched a wide‑range attack; the hall swayed on the brink of collapse, tourists' screams blended into chaos, and by the time the guards and Daoists rushed to restore order, several people had already slipped into the back mountains amid the turmoil.

Seeing the clueless crowd, someone from the Profound Gate Association laughed: "These people are really stupid!"

Obviously, Elder Li wholeheartedly agreed, nodding: "Indeed very stupid; I'd guess even now the Special Safety Bureau's good‑for‑nothings haven't noticed our movements. Once we unleash that demon, under heaven no one will be our match!"

"I've said it before—our Profound Gate Association will definitely return!"

Suddenly, a slap sounded.

The little boy's hand slapped his head: "What's all the noise? You wouldn't buy me chips, and I'm about to starve—yet you're laughing!"

"Hurry up and find a place, finish the mission, and take me to eat!"

In the deathly silence, only the child's tender voice rang out; the others were so shocked their eyes nearly popped out, and after reacting, they all turned around.

Elder Li's face… tsk tsk, truly black with red showing through, red with green showing through.

Elder Li's visage twisted; he'd never suffered such insult in his life, his murderous glare locked on the boy, who said: "What are you staring at? Want to kill me? Even if I can't do anything, I'm that Lord's subordinate—you'd better treat me with utmost respect."

"Old geezer, turn your face away, it's ugly as hell!"

"..."

"This off-limits area was overgrown with weeds; Ling Yue didn't even know how to describe it—basically it was a deserted wasteland. Luckily, she had prepared; as soon as the chaos broke out, she had already stuck a tracking talisman on the other person, so she wouldn't lose track."

"Let's go!"

"She remained calm and composed, leading the group in a run‑then‑stop pattern to avoid detection, and soon they arrived at the destination."

"A huge sinkhole—upon seeing it, Zhi Yi Daoist Priest's face turned pale, his eyes showing undisguised shock: 'When I came here yesterday, this place was still flat ground.'"

"Ling Yue smiled faintly: 'That's right; I suspect the secret passage they just found leads down to this sinkhole, where the great sealing formation should be.'"

'"It's so cold!" Shuangshuang said, somewhat startled, because since she started cultivating she had hardly ever suffered the extremes of cold and heat, let alone such a stark contrast.'

"Ling Yue narrowed her eyes, gazing at the sinkhole; to her it looked like a great pot constantly belching black smoke, its depths unseen, but she could feel it was no good place."

"Let's get ready and set out."

"Zhi Yi Daoist Priest was still doubting life when he saw these people opening their backpacks or pulling out talismans from their robes; he gasped for a moment, and the next instant Captain Jiang Ye handed him a talisman: 'This is a Wind-Riding Talisman—we'll jump down right away; you should be able to activate it, right?'"

"Zhi Yi Daoist Priest: '……'"

"He's from a family of talisman experts—how could he not know how to use one!"

"Moreover——"

"Zhi Yi Daoist Priest stared at Ling Yue with blazing eyes; she flinched, and he said, 'It's you, definitely you.' The Dao is bound to thrive!"

"His gaze at Ling Yue was devout, fervent, and focused; she stepped back two steps, unaware that he had already regarded her as the hope for the Daoist sect's resurgence."

"I'll go down first."

"She didn't reveal Jun Jun's identity, instead using the Wind-Riding Talisman; the moment she jumped down, her vision plunged into darkness."

"I'm here."

"Jun Jun grasped her hand, and as they spoke, white flashes burst forth below; the inhuman wails traveled through this huge speaking tube into everyone's ears."

"Ling Yue furrowed her brows."

"Ten minutes earlier."

"Members of the Profound Gate Association eagerly opened the secret passage; upon seeing the sinkhole appear, they jumped down without hesitation, the whistling wind sounding in their ears, and after an unknown span of time they finally set foot on solid ground."

"We've reached the bottom."

"Let me see what this place is."

"Light illuminated the surrounding stone walls, revealing clear signs of smoke and fire, and there were also deep, long gouges, as if they had endured a prolonged battle."

"It was utterly gruesome; the remnants strewn about were enough to make one's heart race at a single look."

"Just before seeing the formation, Elder Li suddenly halted."

"The child on his back, apparently puzzled, patted him and exclaimed, 'Wow, old geezer, why'd you stop? Go in and break the formation!'"

"'And then?' a grim voice countered him."

"'Then what?'"

"'Then you use me to carry off the demons—since you're that big shot's lackey, I have to be cautious of you and follow your commands?'"

"He finally couldn't take it anymore, grabbed the child in one hand, and, amid the child's stunned gaze, laughed wildly: 'I've put up with you long enough—you know what "black eating black" means? I'll kill you first, then subdue the demons!'"

"The others piled on, surrounding him like turtles in a jar—their target seemed unable to escape even if it had wings."

"Wow, you guys are ruthless."

"He showed none of the expected panic or helplessness, not even fear; the child looked at them and said: 'Good thing I think the same way as you guys.'"

"He clapped his hands, smiled, and on his immature little face the smile was undeniably evil."

"His handsome features began to stretch; in a moment, amid the wavering light, there was no trace of a child—clearly it was the Glutton previously sealed away on Everwhite Mountain."

"Elder Li, well‑versed and knowledgeable, froze for an instant then reacted: 'It's a ferocious beast! Kill it quick, or we're all dead!'"

"He said this while trying every means; fleeing was impossible, he couldn't escape, so he fought desperately, giving himself a chance to survive."

"He regretted it, felt afraid, and flung his magical artifacts and treasures away without regard for his life; the others did the same."

"As the magical implements and talismans drew near, the Glutton shook its head—bang, bang, bang, bang!"

"A series of explosions rang out; the five fell to their knees, vomiting mouthfuls of blood mixed with lung fragments—their natal magic artifacts, bound to their lives, were shattered."

"Sparks flashed, light radiated in all directions."

"That's why Ling Yue saw the fireworks display."

"At that moment, pat‑pat footsteps echoed in the pit's bottom, and the Glutton stretched its limbs: 'I think I'm hungry again.'"

"That simple remark made several people break out in a cold sweat; Elder Li was the first to snap back, thudding to his knees: 'My lord, spare my life! My lord, spare my life! It's all my bewitched heart—please spare this lowly one's life!'"

"The others stared at this old bastard, panic‑stricken—it was all his fault! He'd proposed the black‑eating‑black scheme, not wanting his gang to flip in a ditch; who'd have guessed that an insignificant kid was actually a demon beast in human form!"

"Damn, even an old monster appeared!"

"In an instant, the cave echoed with pleas for mercy, and the Glutton gave a cold snort: 'I said I'm hungry, but you few useless lot still have some use.'"

"As it raised its claw, Elder Li whooshed forward and crashed into the formation; before everyone's eyes his body melted like ice in sunlight, his anguished wail leaving the rest limp as mud."

"They couldn't even utter a plea."

"The Glutton shook its head: 'What's going on? How is it still this strong?!'"

"It tossed them aside one by one; these wicked, blood‑stained evildoers ultimately met a miserable end beneath the righteous formation—body and Dao destroyed, souls scattered."

"On the other side, the moment Ling Yue set foot in the pit the piercing screams vanished; she instantly sensed trouble, rushed straight ahead, and shortly thereafter the others also came down."

"The sinkhole floor was utterly simple—just a tunnel, or rather the trace left when a powerful being blasts through; the soot‑blackened walls looked as if they'd been melted by fire."

"It led straight to the heart of the formation."

"Blazing, dazzling flames filled the formation; at its center lay a snow‑white egg the size of an adult's palm, pure and flawless, like a jade carving."

"Underneath it sat a short, squat little platform, modest yet exquisitely crafted."

"Upon seeing it, the Glutton licked its lips in anticipation, then realized: '…Where's my brother? What's this egg? Does my brother hatch from eggs?'"

It spoke these words in a soft, sticky baby voice, which had a weirdly cute contrast.

After hearing this, the eggshell at the center of the great formation didn't move at all.

Boring, so boring.

This ugly monster is really noisy!

Suddenly, it sprang up, the white eggshell turning as if it had heard another sound; moments later, Ling Yue and Jun Jun appeared before the white egg.

Great beauty!

The white egg shot out like a small cannonball, then with a Duang it struck the great formation, rolling around on the ground for several turns.

Ling Yue and Jun Jun: ""

Gluttonous Beast: ""

It refused to admit, this is the brother it wants to save!

Immediately, it looked at the other party, the familiar scent making it stare fixedly at Jun Jun, who wore a solemn expression and said anxiously, "Protecting a wife? Protecting a master? Out of concern for people?" "It is the ferocious beast Gluttonous Beast."

I'll fight it!

Jun Jun instantly changed form, his scent also becoming increasingly familiar; this must be the guy the lord mentioned.

Come on!

Jun Jun: "So it's just a little kid."

Ling Yue's ears twitched slightly; the voice sounded very familiar, yet she couldn't recall it at all.

The indignant Gluttonous Beast and the double-winged big tiger went into battle, one moment above, the next below, the ground cratered with numerous pits; the Gluttonous Beast charged forward with fierce momentum, while the tiger suddenly opened its mouth and spewed a ball of raging fire straight at its face.

Gluttonous Beast: "No honor at all! This isn't a bare-handed close combat, you're using cheats!"

Jun Jun: "Who said that? I didn't."

Now it's basically a trail of sparks and lightning; the few people who followed couldn't even get close, and the spectators were probably left with only Ling Yue.

She felt no fear of such earth-shaking battle; seeing too much of it only made her bored, like elementary school kids fighting.

Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!

The semi-transparent great formation barrier rippled with waves; in an instant, the swaying sparks scattered like flowing sand, and Ling Yue's gaze fell upon the source of it all—the white great egg beyond the barrier.

Sensing her gaze, it shook itself awkwardly and actively released goodwill: "You~ hello~"

You're really beautiful; can I keep you?

In the battle's pause, hearing this, the Gluttonous Beast: "……#%@！"

At this moment it had a belly full of swear words to curse, but upon looking at Ling Yue it suddenly felt a chill down its back—what's the point of fighting? The fickle idiot actually defected to the enemy!

No hope left; just wait to die!

The Gluttonous Beast kicked the great formation hard, then, with the speed of thunder before one can cover their ears, it rushed toward the exit: I'm outta here!

Even Ling Yue didn't expect it; the affair ended so dramatically, like punching cotton—an indescribable feeling of frustration.

The only good news was probably that the Mysterious Gate Association's plan had failed; Jiang Ye, judging from the remaining traces, concluded those people were dead.

Souls scattered, spirits dispersed, never to be reborn.

After he said that, the room filled with the white egg's enthusiastic cries: "Pretty sister~ pretty sister~"

Everyone looked over; the devoted white egg faced only Ling Yue.

At that moment, Daoist Zhi Yi suddenly spoke: "The great formation is going to break!"

The bright, splendid great formation barrier, as if echoing his words, began to flicker unstably; in an instant, the light dimmed, and spiderweb-like cracks spread from the point where the white egg struck, accompanied by crisp crackling sounds.

The great formation that had operated for ten thousand years finally exhausted its last sliver of energy today; its crumbling fragments turned into specks of fluorescence, and everyone's gaze turned to the sole living creature within the formation——

The great white egg let out a cheer and shot out of its prison at high speed!

"It's going to run away!",,.