’See? Here comes trouble.’
Lu Ping glanced at Liu Feng, then turned his head back and said with a smile, "Guardian Jin, if something is on your mind, please speak freely."
Liu Feng looked at Jin Fang with curiosity.
He had made some inquiries before they arrived. Jin Fang was a descendant of one of the sect’s Elders, his cultivation had reached the Vein Condensation Second Level, and he had refined the soul of a rare Golden Toad beast. He was said to be incredibly powerful.
But the man before him looked more like a worldly Civilian Official—chubby and with a very kind-looking face.
Jin Fang seemed to sense his gaze and offered him a small smile.
Then, he turned to Lu Ping and said awkwardly, "This may be a bit forward of me, but I was wondering... has something happened to Steward Wu?"
He was genuinely curious. They had worked together for many years, so with a Steward being replaced so abruptly, it was hard not to wonder if something had befallen him.
Lu Ping didn’t show the slightest displeasure. He simply smiled. "It seems you two were on good terms."
An unnatural look flashed in Jin Fang’s eyes, and he gave a dry laugh.
Lu Ping gave him a long, meaningful look before smiling. "Don’t worry, he’s fine. It was simply time for his rotation, so he’s been reassigned."
Jin Fang looked stunned for a moment, then understanding dawned on him.
’No wonder Steward Wu didn’t even send a message. He was transferred. He won’t be coming to the Ten Thousand Spirits Space anymore.’
’That means our arrangement is naturally over.’
Jin Fang’s eyes shifted slightly as he asked cautiously, "And your relationship with Steward Wu is...?"
Lu Ping’s mouth moved slightly, but no sound came out.
Jin Fang’s eyes brightened, and he replied using the same soundless method.
Although Liu Feng, standing to the side, was curious about their conversation, he was wise enough not to say a word.
After a brief exchange, Jin Fang’s expression suddenly became enthusiastic. "Steward Lu, you’ve come a long way. How about we head to the Marketplace for a short rest?"
Lu Ping considered it for a moment, then smiled. "Alright. We’ll be in your care, Guardian Jin."
Jin Fang’s smile grew even warmer. "No trouble at all, no trouble at all," he said quickly.
Then, under Jin Fang’s guidance, the two of them headed toward the central Marketplace of the Ten Thousand Spirits Space.
From high above, one could see the landscape.
The Ten Thousand Spirits Space was vast, yet also small.
The rolling mountains and rivers seemed endless, but most of the scenery was illusory. Only a hundred or so small mountains and a single plain were real.
After the three of them left, the forest and grassland where they had stood dissolved like a phantom bubble, suddenly turning into a cloud of gray mist.
As Jin Fang was making arrangements for his two guests...
Deep in the mountain forest, Tan Hu had tracked the Blood Wolf to the summit of a great mountain.
Most of the vegetation on the summit was lush and vibrant, but a smaller portion, while also green, looked strangely rigid and lifeless.
The Blood Wolf lay sprawled beneath a tall tree. The Spirit Vein Fruit on its body had already turned a deep, purplish-black and was still changing.
The Blood Wolf itself, however, was languishing. Its glossy red fur had grown dull and coarse, and its narrow, crystalline eyes were now dim and lifeless.
Tan Hu stood with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed feverishly on the Spirit Vein Fruit.
As time trickled by, the Spirit Vein Fruit’s color deepened to an inky black, and it began to emit an intoxicating aroma.
The Blood Wolf’s condition, however, deteriorated further. Most of its fur had fallen out, revealing its emaciated, skin-and-bones frame.
’Almost there, almost there.’
The "king" character on Tan Hu’s forehead pulsed with light, and fur began to sprout on his face. He was so agitated he could barely contain the demonic transformation of his bloodline.
The fruit’s aroma also attracted several uninvited guests.
A palm-sized toad covered in lightning-like patterns leaped with ghostly speed.
A leopard, pure white as snow, left a trail of frost on the ground with every step.
Though both beasts had powerful auras, neither had reached the Demon Realm. They were clearly just Spirit Beasts that had awakened their innate Magic.
The toad and the leopard stopped about a hundred meters from the Blood Wolf. After a quick glance at Tan Hu, their eyes locked onto the Blood Wolf—or more precisely, the Spirit Vein Fruit on its head.
’Their spiritual awareness is quite high. I’ll deal with you two after I get the Spirit Vein Fruit.’
Tan Hu shot them a dismissive glance before turning his attention back to the Blood Wolf.
Afterward, several other impressive-looking Spirit Beasts arrived, but the toad and leopard drove them all away.
At one point, the two beasts considered attacking Tan Hu, but they sensed a terrifying pressure emanating from him and scrambled to retreat.
But, seemingly unable to give up on the Spirit Vein Fruit, they didn’t flee entirely. Instead, they watched from a distance, hidden behind the trees.
A long time passed.
HUMMM...
The Blood Wolf’s body shuddered, and its head slammed onto the ground.
An otherworldly fragrance instantly billowed out.
"You dare!"
Just then, the joyous expression on Tan Hu’s face vanished. With a furious roar and a heavy stomp of his foot, he instantly appeared beside the Blood Wolf. His right fist, wrapped in a shockwave, blasted toward the large tree next to the Demon Wolf.
A pale green light erupted from the tree as several emerald vines shot down from its canopy, whipping toward Tan Hu.
ROAR!
Tan Hu let out a furious roar as his body swelled in an instant, transforming into an upright Mountain Monarch. His speed increased by a third.
His tiger claws, wreathed in a vortex of pale-green wind, tore viciously into the tree.
SHRRIP!
A huge chunk of bark was ripped from the tree, and crimson sap gushed out.
SCREECH!
A piercing shriek rang out. Tan Hu’s body froze, as if an immense weight was pressing down on him, rendering him immobile.
At that same moment, the vines struck.
BAM!
Tan Hu was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground. The immense pressure on his body vanished.
’An Early-Demon Realm Tree Demon!’
Tan Hu shook his head to clear it. Watching the vine reach for the Spirit Vein Fruit, his pale yellow, vertical pupils turned bloodshot.
Every muscle in his body tensed. His limbs, now shrouded in a pale-green whirlwind, vanished once more.
BOOM...
The Mountain Monarch that Tan Hu had become moved like a phantom, his savage claws gouging deep and shallow marks all over the great tree.
The tree shrieked endlessly, but it clearly could no longer restrain Tan Hu. It could only manipulate its vines to mount a desperate defense.
It looked as if Tan Hu would soon tear it to pieces.
As man and demon fought their fierce battle, neither noticed the eyelid of the lifeless Blood Wolf on the ground twitch.
Tan Hu stared at the Tree Demon’s tight defense, a shadow of frustration crossing his eyes.
His attacks were relentless, and the Tree Demon looked battered and scarred, but its aura never diminished. It clearly hadn’t sustained any fatal damage.
For the moment, they were locked in a stalemate.
Tan Hu cursed inwardly, ’Fuck! How did this Tree Demon reach this level!’
His eyes flickered to the Spirit Vein Fruit. He suddenly shot backward, landing beside the Blood Wolf.
’Huh... it’s not dead?’
Sensing the faint, barely-there flicker of life within the Blood Wolf, Tan Hu was surprised, but he paid it no mind.
’All of its essence has been drained by the Spirit Vein Fruit. Even if it survives, it’ll just be an ordinary beast.’
Tan Hu’s Spiritual Power surged. He snatched the Spirit Vein Fruit and instantly leaped out of the Tree Demon’s attack range.
He gave the Tree Demon one last, deep look, then bounded away, vanishing into the woods in an instant.
All that remained was the shrieking Tree Demon and the ravaged earth, torn to shreds by its thrashing vines.
The opportunistic Thunder Toad and Snow Leopard, seeing their chance was lost, quietly vanished back into the forest.
The Tree Demon vented its rage for a moment before falling still. Then, a single vine snaked toward the Blood Wolf.
But just then, the unexpected happened.
The Blood Wolf’s eyes snapped open. Its body erupted with a burst of Demonic Power as it leaped up and plunged straight into the patch of lifeless jungle.
The jungle instantly dissolved into churning gray mist. A faint wolf’s howl echoed from within, and then, just as quickly, the lifeless jungle reappeared.
SCREECH!
The Tree Demon went into another frenzy, but it seemed to hold the gray mist in great fear, refusing to extend its vines into it.
.