Chapter 333: with translation of chapter title

The Demon Beast Body still shows no sign of waking up.

Yunhe slowly opened his eyes, feeling the state of the Demon Beast Body.

After obtaining the subsequent cultivation method, especially the condensation method of the Five Elements Spiritual Body, Yunhe eagerly wanted to test whether the essence blood of the Demon Beast Body could help him condense a stronger spiritual body apparition.

But alas, this time the Demon Beast Body's slumber has indeed lasted quite a while.

"First, leave the demonic realm territory."

After sorting out the gains from this exploration, Yunhe prepared to leave this place.

After all, this is the territory of demonic cultivators; although he isn't worried that any demonic cultivator would dare cause him trouble, the environment here still somewhat displeases him.

Besides the gains he had previously tallied, there are actually two things that make him somewhat concerned.

One is three spherical beads; after his examination, he determined they are the extremely rare Gui Water Yin Thunder Pearls, a single-use magical treasure.

Its power is extremely strong.

When released, it can explode into a bolt of strange thunder filled with yin killing qi; if caught off guard, even a Yuan Ying Cultivator faces mortal danger.

There are three Gui Water Yin Thunder Pearls in total; if used at the right moment, they can still produce decent effects.

The second is an antiquated bronze-colored key.

At a glance, one can tell this key possesses an extremely long history.

But what this key actually does, and which place's door it opens, Yunhe knows nothing about.

At first glance it looks like an ordinary key, but upon closer inspection it seems somewhat miraculous.

Having the precedent of the previous Southern Ming Vermilion Bird Token, Yunhe did not look down on this key, but instead carefully placed it in the corner of his storage bag.

Who knows when he might suddenly discover the key's purpose.

After all, it was placed by Elder Floating Cloud in a precious room; one would expect it not to be a mundane item.

He continuously left the demonic realm territory all the way.

Upon reaching Tianling Mountain, Yunhe instinctively swept his divine sense over it; he originally wanted to check the condition of the Heavenly Insect Sect's secret realm ruins, to see whether the entrance he had left behind had been damaged or discovered by others.

Who would have thought.

As soon as his divine sense had just swept over, his expression changed.

"A Fourth Level demon beast?"

In the Tianling Mountain range, there actually is a Fourth Level demon beast?

No wonder the demonic cultivators back then could drive the demon beasts of the Tianling Mountain range to launch a large-scale assault on the Ten Domains territory.

If there were no single demon beast overseeing the whole, given how the third-level demon beasts in the Tianling Mountain range each refuse to yield to the others, it would be impossible for them to be so united.

The existence of this Fourth Level demon beast explains it clearly.

Immediately after, a domineering Demon Sense swept back.

"Human, you have great audacity!"

Accompanied by a deep, muffled shout and a swirl of earthen qi rising like yellow sand filling the sky, a middle-aged man wearing ochre-yellow robes, with a pair of horns on his head, bluish cheeks, and a luxuriant yellow beard on his lips, flew straight up.

His pair of piercing eyes scanned Yunhe up and down, and he said in a gruff voice:

"Human, what brings you to my Tianling Mountain?"

This is clearly a bovine demon beast; although it has taken human form, the pair of horns on its head have not faded.

It is unknown whether the horns were deliberately retained during transformation, or whether they remain due to a defect after undergoing only a single tribulation of human transformation.

In fact, many demon beasts, even after passing the human transformation tribulation and being able to assume human form, still retain some traits of their demon beast nature, especially those they are proud of.

This is an early-stage Fourth Level bovine demon beast that has undergone only a single human transformation tribulation.

Seeing that it did not immediately launch an attack upon approaching, Yunhe slightly relaxed.

Generally, an early-stage Fourth Level demon beast has the advantage over an early-stage Yuan Ying Cultivator.

Although he is not afraid of this early-stage Fourth Level demon beast, he also does not wish to provoke it too much, so he clasped his hands and said:

"I am Yunhe; fellow cultivator, please do not blame me—I merely passed through this place, never expecting it to be your secluded cultivation ground; I have offended you many times, and I hope you will forgive me."

Seeing Yunhe so amenable, the demon beast couldn't help but be startled.

Since ancient times.

Cultivators look down on demon beasts, no matter how high the other's Cultivation Base, no matter if they have passed the human transformation tribulation and can assume human form, they still look down on them.

In the words of those cultivators, even if these demon beasts take human form, they are merely "hairy, horned people, damp-born egg-born offspring."

And demon beasts actually also look down on humans, considering human bodies so frail, relying only on external forces to adorn themselves as noble; ultimately, in the true ancient era, humans were nothing more than food for demon beasts.

It never expected Yunhe's attitude to be so much better than it imagined.

"Hmph!" Nevertheless, the demon beast still gave a cold snort, gesturing respectfully.

"I am King Niu Zhao; I have met Fellow Cultivator Yun. If you have no business, please leave quickly!"

Although Niu Zhao is a Fourth Level demon beast, he also clearly knows that the Tianling Mountain range lies within human territory; even if his strength were greater, he would absolutely be no match for a host of human Yuan Ying Cultivators, so he had no intention of doing anything to Yunhe.

Yunhe narrowed his eyes without changing expression, revealed a smile, and spoke gently:

"I will leave now. However, since I have disturbed Fellow Cultivator Niu, I feel quite uneasy; this item shall serve as my apology."

As he spoke, he swept his hand across his waist and threw out a jade bottle.

Niu Zhao originally did not want to accept it, but seeing the object already fly before him, he could not well refuse Yunhe's face.

Moreover, demon beasts are inherently inept at alchemy; even after taking human form, artifact crafting and talisman making aside, the paths of formations and Elixirs are truly not easy to enter and learn.

With a bit of curiosity, he gently opened the jade bottle.

A rich medicinal fragrance rushed into his nostrils, causing Niu Zhao's eyes to brighten instantly.

He could feel that this was not an ordinary Elixir, but one specially made for demon beasts; he could even sense the surge of demonic power within his body.

"What is this?"

Niu Zhao couldn't help but ask.

Yunhe smiled mysteriously.

That elixir was undoubtedly the 'Foster Pellet'.

Although it was only a third-level Foster Pellet, its allure to demon beasts far surpassed that of a third-level demon beast's inner core, let alone for Niu Zhao, who had never seen such an elixir.

This pellet I happened to obtain; I hope fellow cultivator will not disdain it.

Disdain?

Niu Zhao carefully put the jade bottle into his bosom, stared deeply at Yunhe, then said:

You're not bad.

Is this being given a good‑person card?

Yunhe snorted inwardly, but kept a calm exterior: "Fellow Daoist Niu, you overpraise me; I merely think it's better to have one more friend than one more enemy."

You humans always have many principles. However, this statement is actually reasonable.

Niu Zhao said, then began searching his person; after a while he carefully produced a cyan‑green lotus from his bosom.

I recall you humans have a custom of reciprocity? This is my return gift; you, this 'friend', I accept.

Fourth Level inferior spiritual herb, the Wood‑Grained Azure Lotus, has the effect of calming the mind and stabilizing the qi to enhance cultivation base.

Yunhe was not polite either.

When dealing with demon beasts, there's no need to beat around the bush; being straightforward suits their taste better.

He, who possessed a Demon Beast Body, was well aware of this.

Then many thanks, fellow cultivator.

After putting away the Wood‑Grained Azure Lotus, Yunhe clasped his hands again and said, "Since that's the case, I'll not disturb you further, fellow cultivator."

Niu Zhao nodded.

You cultivator, you suit my taste! If you have time later, come sit at my Heaven Ridge Mountain.

To this, Yunhe replied with a hint of deep meaning:

Certainly!

Having said that, he transformed into a long rainbow and vanished from Niu Zhao's sight.

Keeping this Fourth Level early‑stage demon beast, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks for Yunhe.

Its presence keeps ordinary cultivators at bay; even a Yuan Ying Cultivator must think twice—this is tantamount to guarding the mountain gate for the ruins of the Heaven Insect Sect, which Yunhe is happy to do.

He wasn't without a chance to eliminate this demon beast; he merely needed to make full preparations beforehand, for while defeating it is easy, killing it could prove troublesome.

But doing so would be somewhat not worth the loss.

He's still not bad.

Yunhe softly repeated it, his smile mixed with a hint of strangeness; after a few loud laughs, he quickly flew out of Heaven Ridge Mountain and the Ten Domains territory.

Gobi Beach.

Yunhe's divine sense swept out while hovering amidst the rolling yellow sands.

It should be here—I found it!

He flashed to the barren Gobi, and as earth‑attribute energy surged around him, he vanished into the ground as if submerged in water.

Soon he reached deep underground, a place filled with cool flowing water.

And at the deepest part of the water lay an extremely ancient great array, silently placed for who knows how many years.

Ultra‑long‑distance teleportation array!

This was the teleportation array Yunhe once used to go to the Upper Cloud Realm.

The seal hasn't been disturbed; presumably no one has come here.

After a simple check, Yunhe felt relieved.

This ultra‑long‑distance teleportation array is vital to his retreat.

If in the future the humans of this realm truly fall behind when facing the Sea Tribe, Abyss Tribe, and many other foreign races, even suffering defeat, he can use this to flee to the Upper Cloud Realm for safety.

Although this possibility is slim, having an extra retreat route is always good.

Compared to the racial wars of the Eastern Realm cultivation world, the internal strife of the Upper Cloud Palace in the Upper Cloud Realm seems rather trivial.

He removed the seal he had previously left, then spent considerable time re‑setting it.

Thus, even if an early‑stage Yuan Ying Cultivator's divine sense swept over, it would hardly detect this place; a mid‑stage Yuan Ying Cultivator's divine sense would also have some evasive effect.

Moreover, even if it were discovered, the arrays and seals he left behind would not be easy to break.

After doing these, Yunhe, following a brief contemplation, still swung his ice sword and cut off a corner of this teleportation array.

Even if someone were to discover this ultra‑long‑distance teleportation array, without this corner it could not be used.

Otherwise, if someone really discovered it and severed a corner of the array while Yunhe had no means to counter, that would truly be troublesome.

By doing so, he at least always retains a certain degree of initiative.

———

PS: Sigh, sorry for the late update; my child at home has a fever again—recently influenza A and B are really rampant, hard to guard against, everyone please stay warm.

(End of chapter)