Chapter 96

"You really do have a grudge with ghosts, right?"

Huanhu Dao

Yunhe lay on the sunbathing platform, propping his head as he gazed into the distance; the hazy darkness almost covered half the sky.

That was the direction of the Abyssal Ravine.

No matter the distance, Yunhe inevitably felt a seeping chill.

Of course, it's more likely just a psychological effect.

Since that day he ventured into the horned viper's nest and inadvertently released those few wood soul essences, things have snowballed.

Fortunately.

This yin energy has now expanded to its limit and will not spread further.

Moreover, aside from the wood soul essences of Second Stage strength emerging from that hole, no other particularly powerful demonic beasts have appeared.

As the "culprit", Yunhe escaped unscathed, but the demonic beasts originally living near the Abyssal Ravine suffered heavily.

In no time, the vicinity of the Abyssal Ravine turned into a ghostly haunt.

Vast swaths of vegetation withered and died, replaced by ugly ghost trees.

Moreover, many demonic beasts that failed to escape in time became fodder for the wood soul essences; under the yin shroud, their souls lingered, and if this persists longer, countless various ghosts are likely to arise.

Those demonic beasts that fled their original habitats and possessed some strength, in order to secure survival territory, had to fiercely contend with those that had enjoyed an easy life.

It's unclear who started it, but perhaps as the demonic beasts' strength broke through to Second Stage and they gained sufficient spiritual intellect, they gradually split into two factions.

One faction consists of the original inhabitants, led by a Second Stage Late black-backed ape.

The other faction consists of those that fled the Abyssal Ravine, led by a Second Stage Late rotten-poison rat.

The two sides are locked in fierce competition, quite lively.

Conversely, Huanhu Dao, where Yunhe resides, thanks to its special geography and Yunhe's occasional displays of power that deterred some demonic beasts, enjoys a rather peaceful life.

Thus, some weak but perceptive and wise demonic beasts hope to seek refuge and join Huanhu Dao.

Unfortunately, Yunhe isn't very interested.

Because if more demonic beasts join, they will inevitably encroach on the resources of the demonic beasts that have already pledged to him as his underlings.

Most importantly, having to protect so many underlings would be a hassle; if he provoked any Second Stage demonic beast, he'd have to step in himself.

Of course, if the visitor brings what Yunhe needs, that's an exception.

Bang!!

Just as Yunhe stared blankly at the black clouds, a snowy white figure suddenly appeared before him.

Looking up, it was indeed a white ape king, strong and powerfully built, with a conspicuous scar on its right shoulder, and a small ginseng demon coiled around its shoulder.

"King!"

As a primate demonic beast and the naturally intelligent leader of an ape troop mutation, the white ape king's spiritual intellect awakens faster than other demonic beasts.

After spending time with Yunhe, it gradually learned human language from his everyday words, actions, and deeds!

It is also the only one among Yunhe's tamed underlings that has learned to use human language.

This made Yunhe quite relieved.

Now possessing First Stage Late strength, it has become the overseer of Yunhe's land-dwelling demonic beast underlings, helping Yunhe manage those on land.

Its visage was solemn, it knelt on one knee, its eyes full of reverence.

"What's up, monkey?"

"Fox, has, thing."

Although the white ape king has learned human language, its usage is still not very fluent.

It can only utter individual words, unable to form sentences.

However, by combining its gestures and actions, Yunhe can somewhat grasp its meaning.

Upon hearing this, Yunhe's eyes twitched slightly.

"Oh?"

He slowly rose to his feet.

"Let's go check."

Saying that, he took a step forward.

Although it appeared to be an extremely slow step, when his foot landed, he was already several meters away.

The white ape king thought nothing of it and immediately trotted after him.

Yunhe's demarcated territory isn't large, about twenty li in radius.

For a Second Stage Early demonic beast, that's definitely a small territory.

Although the territory is small, the value of the spiritual plants cultivated within cannot be matched by other Second Stage demonic beasts.

Not to mention Second Stage Early demonic beasts; even Second Stage Late ones cannot compare in terms of the spiritual plants, spiritual minerals, or spiritual aura density within his territory.

He is truly the "landlord" among demonic beasts!

So soon.

A turtle and an ape arrived at the edge of his territory.

Several ordinary brown-furred apes hanging from trees saw Yunhe approaching slowly, leapt down, and retreated to the side with looks of reverence.

Then appeared before Yunhe.

It was a gray-headed, dusty-faced fox, its fur drooping, with a ferocious wound on its hindquarters.

Its demonic power was roughly at First Stage Late level.

Upon seeing Yunhe appear, the fox instantly showed fear.

But deep in its eyes, it couldn't help but reveal a hint of curiosity.

Although it concealed itself well, it still couldn't escape Yunhe's eyes.

"This little fox is interesting."

The white ape king stepped forward, gesturing with his hands, while shouting "wu wu wa wa" from his mouth.

Upon hearing this, the little fox seemed to understand its meaning; after a slight hesitation, it slightly opened its mouth and spat out a dark‑blue scale.

On it were mixed traces of wood‑spirit aura.

Seeing the scale, Yunhe's eyes lit up slightly.

A wood‑attribute demon beast?

Moreover, just this single scale already let him sense a hint of wood‑spirit aura, showing that this demon beast is no ordinary animal cultivator; it possesses some ability.

Without waiting for a question, he lifted his head and looked toward behind the little fox.

There, in the dense woods, a speckled lizard about a zhang thick flicked its tongue and crept out slowly.

A pair of vertical pupils stared fixedly at the little fox.

Obviously this little fox is its prey, and the wound on its retreat was also left by this mid‑Second Stage speckled lizard.

At the moment Yunhe saw it, the speckled lizard also noticed Yunhe.

"Wu!!"

Sensing the speckled lizard's aura, the little fox shuddered violently.

Its back arched, fur standing on end.

Its not‑very‑fluffy tail curled around its body, covering its eyes, as if that would make the speckled lizard unable to see it.

Seeing this, Yunhe couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Hiss——"

And when the speckled lizard saw Yunhe, a hint of wariness flashed in its eyes.

Among the nearby Second Stage demon beasts, there are rumors about the great turtle of Huanhu Dao.

It is said that near Huanhu Dao there is an early‑Second Stage turtle whose strength is formidable and which possesses many strange but powerful items; even some mid‑Second Stage demon beasts generally avoid provoking it.

Normally, letting such prey go would be fine.

But the speckled lizard's demon‑beast instinct tells it that eating this little fox would grant it considerable benefit.

Especially after it bites the little fox and tastes its blood.

"Turtle, fox, mine, food, give it to me!"

The Demon Sense emanating from the speckled lizard conveyed its meaning.

Yunhe smiled upon hearing it, but did not respond.

He simply raised his paw and pressed it firmly onto the fox's helpless head.

Under its bewildered gaze, he pulled it to his side.

Only then did the Demon Sense transmit the information.

"Set foot on Huanhu Dao, and all grudges are settled!"

This is a rule Yunhe had long established, but because demon beasts have limited ability to transmit information, few know of it.

The speckled lizard showed an angry expression.

As a demon beast, taking the initiative to communicate is already giving face; if it weren't for this turtle's modest reputation, it wouldn't bother talking and would just attack outright.

But at this moment, its demonic power surged within, its body emitted a sound like frying beans, and its form visibly swelled outward.

Furthermore, its abdomen suddenly bulged, as if it were concocting something.

Seeing this, Yunhe shook his head.

They say all grudges are settled; since you won't settle them, I'll have to settle them for you.

"Fox, mine!!"

Speaking, the bulge in its abdomen surged toward its mouth.

But just as it was about to spit out deadly poison, its vision blurred and the huge turtle vanished from sight.

The next moment.

The speckled lizard suddenly felt a weight on its back.

Its head seemed to be pressed by something extremely hard, so even the poison it had been brewing to its mouth had not yet been spat out.

Immediately, amid the speckled lizard's startled shock, a tremendous force transmitted from its head.

"Move the Mountain!"

"Boom!!!"

The ground cracked layer upon layer, spider‑web‑like fissures spreading densely.

The speckled lizard, eyes wide with astonishment, clearly saw its own head go from the surface down underground.

The immense force also violently shoved the poison it had stored in its mouth back inside.

Intense pain followed, accompanied by a crisp cracking sound from its head.

Fear spread through the speckled lizard's heart.

Yet it instinctively pushed up its limbs to rise, but Yunhe standing on its back would not allow it.

He clenched his claws into a fist.

Faint lightning flickered.

"Move the Mountain!"

"Boom!!!"

Another loud boom.

The little fox beside it widened its lively eyes.

In his eyes was reflected the giant Turtle that kept swinging its fists down, producing repeated booming sounds.

Are grudges settled just like that?

It would be strange if this rule could be transmitted like that.

Moments later.

The incessant booming came to an abrupt stop.

Yunhe dragged the spotted lizard's tail out of the pit, throwing the already lifeless big guy to the White Ape King beside him.

"Skin, claws, poison sacs—leave those for me; I'll have them as an extra meal tonight!"

"Yes, King!"

The White Ape King, already accustomed to this, immediately replied.

He summoned the monkeys to come forward and move the corpse.

The advantage of having a clever and dexterous little follower is that these trifles no longer require Yunhe to do them himself.

"Gulp—"

As the blood-scented Yunhe approached, the gray-furred little fox instinctively gulped, looking at him with fear, only to meet his meaningful smile.

The little fox shuddered, feeling as if its inside and out had been seen through.

Yunhe raised his paw and lightly patted its head.

"Come on, little fox, let's have a good talk."

Watching Yunhe head for Huanhu Dao, the little fox hesitated.

But the meaning conveyed by Yunhe's Demon Sense startled it, and it had no choice but to hurry after him.

"If you don't want me to pluck out your demon core and eat it."

Faithfully trailing behind Yunhe, it gazed at his rugged carapace and densely packed scales; the gray-furred little fox's eyes shone as it pondered.

What kind of turtle is this?

Moreover, it couldn't figure out how its disguise had been seen through.

(End of chapter)