Chapter 590: Chapter 590

The Red Flame Giant Tiger and the White Feathered Demon Bird were both Tier Five Middle-Grade Demon Beasts. Even at their full strength, Zhouyang could handle them one-on-one without much difficulty.

But now, after a night of slaughter, both beasts had only about seventy percent of their peak strength left. Even if they joined forces, their combined power would only be akin to a single Tier Five High-Grade Demon Beast.

In fact, with their minds set solely on devouring the "Demon Blood Ancient Lotus," neither beast had the intention of engaging in a life-and-death struggle with Zhouyang.

Just as Zhouyang slashed and wounded the Red Flame Giant Tiger, the White Feathered Demon Bird seized the opportunity to sweep down with flapping wings towards the "Demon Blood Ancient Lotus," without any intention of aiding the Red Flame Giant Tiger.

Yet, just halfway through, Zhouyang, guarding above the Blood Pool, swung his fists, instantaneously unleashing two cyan-gold dragon shadows that slammed into the bird, forcibly blasting it away.

After being repelled and wounded several times by Zhouyang, the two demon beasts slightly restrained their thoughts of monopolizing the benefits and escaping. After exchanging a few words, they officially joined forces in a fierce assault on Zhouyang.

Seeing this, Zhouyang wasn’t afraid at all. Instead, he regarded the two beasts as whetstones to sharpen himself, delivering heavy punches, wielding magical artifacts, or performing divine techniques, using various divine means against the two beasts relentlessly.

In the heat of battle, he would even compete with the Red Flame Giant Tiger in physical strength, pitting his iron fists against its claws, indifferent to injuries sustained.

While Zhouyang waged his intense battle against the two Tier Five demon beasts, the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle and the Five-Colored Peacock, obeying his orders, began hunting the surrounding Tier Four Demon Beasts and Barbaric Beasts that hadn’t yet dispersed from the battlefield.

They were extraordinary divine breeds with exceptional talents, having followed their masters and gained many benefits unattainable by ordinary wild demon beasts, their combat power exceeding those of beasts of the same tier.

Once, at the Endless Snowfield, the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle stood alone against a pack of wolves. In the aftermath, not only did it remain untouched, but also killed over a dozen Tier Three Frost Giant Wolves and a Tier Four Demon Wolf.

Today’s performance was no less impressive than that day.

In less than a quarter of an hour, it first slaughtered a Tier Four Middle-Grade Ox Demon, retrieved its demon pill following Zhouyang’s instructions, and then tossed the ox demon’s body into the Blood Pool.

After doing all this, it let out an eagle screech towards the Five-Colored Peacock, seemingly taunting the other for being too weak.

Before the enraged Five-Colored Peacock, with feathers bristling atop its head, could respond, the eagle had already spread its wings, pursued another Tier Four High-Grade Bear Demon. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel_fіre.net

Witnessing this, the Five-Colored Peacock could only let out an angry cry, venting its fury on its chosen Tier Four High-Grade Lizard Demon.

A quarter of an hour later, it finally killed the lizard demon, dug out its demon pill, and similarly tossed the lizard demon’s body into the Blood Pool.

Yet, at this point, the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle was almost done killing the bear demon.

Seeing this, the Five-Colored Peacock could only furiously charge at a Tier Four Middle-Grade Wolf Demon that was about to flee.

Zhouyang naturally witnessed the hunting contest game between the two spirit birds.

He welcomed it, finding it most desirable.

He hadn’t decided who to give the "Demon Blood Ancient Lotus" to yet, and if the two spirit birds could determine a winner in this hunting contest, he’d have a perfect reason to grant the spiritual object to the victor.

As the corpses of several Tier Four demon beasts were thrown in, along with the nourishing blood from the two Tier Five demon beasts wounded by Zhouyang, the lotus seeds on the blood-red lotus began growing visibly larger.

Even as Zhouyang inhaled, he detected a unique fragrance emanating from the lotus seeds.

The scent was so distinctive that, upon smelling it, Zhouyang felt his blood boil, as if a fire were igniting.

Upon inhaling this anomaly, the Red Flame Giant Tiger and White Feathered Demon Bird seemed as if they’d consumed a great supplement, their spirits suddenly invigorating, rendering their attacks much fiercer.

This change shocked Zhouyang inwardly, yet it further solidified his resolve to ensure the lotus seeds matured.

For the seeds to mature, the Red Flame Giant Tiger and White Feathered Demon Bird were undoubtedly key. Only by killing them and using their blood and flesh essence to nourish the "Demon Blood Ancient Lotus" could the lotus seeds fully mature.

Originally, Zhouyang was stalling with the two beasts to not only hone his combat abilities but also because the beasts still retained most of their strength. If he showed overwhelming power, he feared they might flee or, in desperation, self-destruct their demon pills in a suicidal attack.

But now, the incense from the lotus seeds seemed to have begun to muddle the minds of the two Tier Five demon beasts.

Zhouyang could clearly see that after the incense emerged, while the beasts appeared as energetic as though they consumed a great supplement, the intelligent gleam in their eyes swiftly faded, gradually replaced by primal beastly instincts.

Thus, he worried not about them fleeing anymore, for beasts driven by primal instincts couldn’t possibly relinquish the "Demon Blood Ancient Lotus."

"It’s time to end this game!"

He murmured softly to himself, eyes blazing with determination, as he brazenly launched his ultimate move.

A deafening dragon’s roar ensued, and a cyan-gold dragon surged forward from behind Zhouyang, swiftly striking the White Feathered Demon Bird at once.

In an instant, white feathers filled the air, fluttering alongside blood-soaked chunks of torn flesh. The massive demon body of the White Feathered Demon Bird was shredded into pieces by the cyan-gold dragon, crashing down to the ground below.

A platinum-colored demon pill shot out from the falling remains of the demon bird, and a blood shadow of the demon bird appeared above, mourning as it tried to snatch the demon pill and flee.

But it had only flown a short distance before it was absorbed into a golden treasure tower.

Zhouyang collected the demon pill of the White Feathered Demon Bird, waved his hand, and several Tier Five Spirit Talismans shot out from his hand, transforming into various magic spells that blasted towards the Red Flame Giant Tiger charging at him.

Over the years, he had killed many Golden Core Stage cultivators, accumulating a stockpile of various Tier Five Spirit Talismans amounting to thirty or forty in total. Although he had stored more than half in the Zhou Family Secret Vault and gifted a few to younger disciples, he still kept over ten as a backup.

At this moment, he unleashed nearly half of the Tier Five Spirit Talismans he had in hand, instantly blasting the Red Flame Giant Tiger into severe injury.

Then, before the severely injured Red Flame Giant Tiger could catch its breath, a spear shining with purple firelight suddenly descended from the sky, piercing straight through the back of its neck into its brain.

The Red Flame Giant Tiger raised its head in anger, glaring fiercely at the tiny human opposite it, emitting a roar filled with reluctance and regret as its massive tiger body crashed towards the ground.

The Red Flame Giant Tiger, several tens of feet long, crashed from the sky onto the ground, creating a massive pit dozens of meters wide, as if a meteorite had struck, causing a tremendous shake.

Even in death, the Red Flame Giant Tiger’s massive eyes remained glaring at the sky, still reflecting an unwillingness concerning its own death, an attachment and longing for life.

Evidently, after the "Fiery Sun Heart-Burning Spear" pierced its neck into its brain, under the burning soul effect carried by the magical artifact, the Red Flame Giant Tiger’s intelligence was briefly restored to normal, muddled by the peculiar fragrance of the lotus seeds.

Unfortunately, by then it was already too late for it to escape or desperately fight Zhouyang. It could only use all its remaining life force to let out the final elegy of its life.

In the sky, Zhouyang watched this scene, and was slightly moved.

This was the first time he had sensed such a heroic and unyielding spirit in a demon beast. The Red Flame Giant Tiger’s final elegy evoked in him a sense of tragic heroism.

This Red Flame Giant Tiger was once a formidable power dominating this land of the Barbaric Mountain Range, a sovereign ruling over a group of demon beasts.

However, due to the emergence of the [Demon Blood Ancient Lotus], it, as a sovereign and the demon beasts within its territory, were all forced into this blood battle like in a meat grinder.

The various demon beasts slaughtered earlier, many came from its territory.

It slaughtered its own subordinates to nourish the [Demon Blood Ancient Lotus], hoping to consume this spiritual object to advance further.

Yet, fate plays tricks on demons, no matter how much effort it exerted, the disparity in strength ultimately rendered all its efforts futile, costing it its life.

"Indeed, everything has a spirit. I didn’t expect that even a mere demon beast could exhibit such moving behavior!"

Zhouyang sighed softly, genuinely moved by the heroic and unyielding spirit of the Red Flame Giant Tiger.

However, this moment of sentiment did not sway him into changing his decision.

Thus, after a moment’s silent mourning for the Red Flame Giant Tiger’s corpse, he summoned back the "Fiery Sun Heart-Burning Spear" embedded in its brain, then extracted the demon pill and threw the corpse along with the remnants of the White Feathered Demon Bird into the blood pool.

The waters of the blood pool surged and quickly swallowed the bodies of the two massive demon beasts.

Subsequently, under Zhouyang’s expectant gaze, the lotus seeds on the blood-red lotus quickly plump and ripen.

As Zhouyang gazed upon the plump, bulging lotus seeds on the canopy, a genuine joyous smile finally appeared on his face.

There were seventeen lotus seeds in total, each as large as an egg, with a purplish-red hue, enticing like ripe grapes.

He exerted a great deal of effort to shift his gaze from the seventeen lotus seeds, then focused on the two eager spirit birds beside him and slowly spoke: "Earlier, the two of you hunted demon beasts and tossed them into the blood pool to nourish this [Demon Blood Ancient Lotus]. Golden Roc contributed three demon beasts, while Cai’Er only offered two. Now, I will distribute this spiritual object to Golden Roc for consumption. Cai’Er, do you accept this?"

Cai’Er is the nickname Jiang Fengxian gave to the Five-Colored Peacock, and Zhouyang also adopts this nickname to refer to it.

Upon hearing this, the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle immediately let out a joyful cry, casting a triumphant glance at the Five-Colored Peacock, then swiftly darted forward towards the blood-red lotus, devouring its blooming petals.

The Five-Colored Peacock, seeing this, although its eyes were full of unwillingness and indignation, made no movement, merely turning its head away, silently responding to Zhouyang’s words.

Seeing this, Zhouyang couldn’t help but smile, aware that this beautiful big bird still harbored some discontent in its heart.

However, this didn’t matter. Once the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle advanced to a Tier Five Demon Beast, this proud Five-Colored Peacock would no longer be able to compete with it. By then, the two spirit birds naturally wouldn’t cause any further trouble.

What neither Zhouyang nor the Five-Colored Peacock expected was that after consuming about two-thirds of the [Demon Blood Ancient Lotus] petals, the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle suddenly stopped eating, then lifted its claw to break off the remaining petals and tossed them to the Five-Colored Peacock.

After doing all this, Zhouyang received a mental message from the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle through the [Demonic Soul Contract] they had, requesting to enter the Spirit Beast Ring to sleep.

Seeing this, Zhouyang was slightly taken aback, but then smiled warmly as he waved the Spirit Beast Ring in his hand to accommodate the pouncing Golden-winged Thunder Eagle inside.

Then, looking at the Five-Colored Peacock, who appeared confused as it gazed at the [Demon Blood Ancient Lotus] petals on the ground, he smiled gently and said, "You see, although the Golden Roc can be a bit mischievous, it still has a good heart. It even saved a portion for you. So let’s not be contentious with it and try to get along well in the future!"

Upon hearing his words, the Five-Colored Peacock let out a series of low, ambiguous cries, leaving it unclear whether it agreed with him or remained indifferent.

However, based on the fact that it later pecked and ate those [Demon Blood Ancient Lotus] petals, it was evident that it accepted the goodwill of the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle.

After consuming the remaining third of the petals, the Five-Colored Peacock raised its head to look at the remaining lotus pod, or more precisely, the lotus seeds on it.

Gazing at those plump, purplish-red lotus seeds, it suddenly extended its claw to make a gesture toward Zhouyang, finally curling its two claws in a beckoning motion.

"You want two lotus seeds?"

Zhouyang’s eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly as he understood the Five-Colored Peacock’s intentions through its actions.

To be honest, he still didn’t know what the lotus seeds were used for, but considering that their cultivation had consumed the corpses of two Tier Five Demon Beasts and one Tier Five Barbaric Beast, these seeds were clearly more precious than the petals.

Now, the Five-Colored Peacock was reaching out its claw to ask for two lotus seeds, and even Zhouyang, usually generous, found it a bit hard to part with them at this moment.

The key was not knowing why the Five-Colored Peacock wanted the seeds.

If it merely wanted to taste them out of curiosity, wouldn’t he be losing out a lot?

So after a moment of hesitation, he looked at the Five-Colored Peacock seriously and asked, "Can you tell me why you want the lotus seeds?"

When the Five-Colored Peacock heard his question, it immediately opened its beak and continuously chirped toward the Spirit Beast Ring on his wrist.

Seeing this, his heart stirred, and he couldn’t help but blurt out, "You mean, if you swallow two more lotus seeds, you can also advance to Tier Five?"

Inside the Spirit Beast Ring on his wrist, the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle was sleeping and digesting the medicinal power of the [Demon Blood Ancient Lotus] to break through to Tier Five. The Five-Colored Peacock’s behavior at this time led him to make such a deduction.

And as he suspected, upon hearing his words, the Five-Colored Peacock nodded repeatedly, its eyes full of expectation as it looked toward him.

"Alright, then I’ll give you two lotus seeds."

Zhouyang nodded slightly, raised his hand, channeled a stream of magical power toward the lotus pod, and extracted two lotus seeds, throwing them to the Five-Colored Peacock, which swallowed them in one gulp.

After swallowing the seeds, the Five-Colored Peacock first looked at him with eyes full of gratitude, then burrowed into another Spirit Beast Ring on his hand and began to sleep.

Not knowing how long it would take for the two Spirit Birds to advance to Tier Five, Zhouyang didn’t stay in place to wait. He simply raised his hand to pick the lotus pod from the Blood Pool and stored it in a Jade Box, then left the valley to explore the Spirit Mountains throughout the range.

In order to let the [Demon Blood Ancient Lotus] mature, most of the Demon Beasts and Barbaric Beasts in this mountain range had become its nourishment, and all the Spiritual Objects these beasts used to guard were now ownerless, free for Zhouyang to collect.

He explored the mountain range for three days and nights, amassing seven Tier Five Spirit Elixirs, over forty Tier Four Spirit Elixirs, and more than a thousand Tier Three Spirit Elixirs. He also discovered several Demon Beast Eggs, including two from Tier Four Demon Birds.

Additionally, in the lair of the Red Flame Giant Tiger, Zhouyang found a large piece of [Flame Star Stone] weighing several tens of thousands of pounds.

This [Flame Star Stone] is a type of fire attribute Spirit Ore, which can be refined into a Tier Five Spiritual Gold known as [Flame Star Iron], and [Flame Star Iron] is one of the best materials for refining Tier Five Pill Furnaces and Artifact Cauldrons.

Over the years, Zhouyang had obtained quite a few Tier Five Magical Artifacts, but had yet to acquire a single piece of rare items like a Tier Five Pill Furnace or Artifact Cauldron.

The appearance of this [Flame Star Stone] gave him hope.

With the size of the [Flame Star Stone] in his possession, after refining, he would at least be able to produce several hundred pounds of [Flame Star Iron], more than enough to craft a Tier Five Artifact Cauldron or Pill Furnace.

With these substantial gains, Zhouyang contentedly embarked on his journey back.

Nearly half a year later, he returned quietly to Chongxuan Mountain.

"Husband, you’re finally back!"

On Chongxuan Mountain, Xiao Ying, upon seeing Zhouyang return safely, greeted him with a face full of smiles as if she had found her pillar of support, leading him into the cave dwelling.

"What’s wrong? From the way you looked just now, it seems like something happened while I was away this past year, didn’t it, Ying’Er?"

Inside the cave dwelling, Zhouyang, sitting down by the table, recalled the concerned look on his Dao Companion’s face when she first saw him and couldn’t help but inquire about it.

Xiao Ying’s face tensed upon hearing his words, and she nodded thoughtfully, saying, "Husband, you’re right. There is indeed a tricky matter that I cannot decide on. I need you to handle it."

It turns out that after Zhouyang left for half a year, low to mid-tier cultivators began frequently entering the forests surrounding Chongxuan Mountain to hunt demon beasts and harvest spirit elixirs. Some bold individuals even ventured within a hundred miles of Chongxuan Mountain.

After Xiao Ying had Wang Yanzhang go out and investigate, he found that most cultivators entering Chongxuan Mountain’s territory were from the subordinate cultivation clans of the "Six Paths Alliance" within An Country, with only a few being loose cultivators looking for opportunistic gains.

This was undoubtedly a dangerous signal.

Since Zhouyang, under the pseudonym "Qingyun Wanderer," had taken control of Chongxuan Mountain, it had been rare for anyone from the "Six Paths Alliance" to tread within a thousand miles.

Now, the cultivators from the subordinate cultivation clans of the "Six Paths Alliance" began entering this area, openly capturing demon beasts and harvesting wild spirit elixirs within the territory. This was clearly a form of provocation and probing.

Facing such provocation and probing, in Zhouyang’s absence, Xiao Ying alone couldn’t decide how to manage it.

No wonder Zhouyang had a troubled expression when he saw her as soon as he returned.

After listening to her explanation, Zhouyang’s face first showed a slight change, then he pondered briefly before asking her, "Have you informed Elder Qingyang about this matter?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ying promptly nodded and replied, "I have informed him, but Elder Qingyang is said to be in seclusion for cultivation now. Unless the ’Six Paths Alliance’ truly launches a massive attack, the Profound Sun Immortal Sect wouldn’t dare to easily awaken him. Thus, the response we received was to decide and act autonomously!"

Zhouyang slightly knitted his brows and began pondering deeply.

After a long while, he finally relaxed his brows, nodded lightly, and said, "I understand how to handle this matter. Ying’er, leave this matter aside; I’ve already procured the Tier Five ’Heart of the Tree Demon’ for you. Next, focus on your cultivation of artifact refining skills to prepare for refining your lifebound spiritual artifact."

"I understand, husband. But you must also be careful. If it comes to it, there’s no harm in abandoning Chongxuan Mountain and returning to the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm."

Xiao Ying nodded slightly but didn’t interfere with how he resolved it, only offering her opinion with a worried face.

However, Zhouyang didn’t agree with her suggestion.

Retreating to the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm was the last resort among last resorts.

Even if Zhouyang abandoned Chongxuan Mountain, he could request the Profound Sun Immortal Sect to arrange another Spirit Mountain for his cultivation rather than retreating to the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm in disgrace.

Furthermore, in his view, the matter hadn’t escalated to such a serious degree.

Thereafter, Xiao Ying naturally went to the Artifact Refining Chamber to diligently study artifact refining skills in seclusion, laying a foundation for creating her lifebound spiritual artifact.

Meanwhile, Zhouyang quickly summoned all the Foundation Establishment disciples on the mountain.

Now, including Ye Yunshan, who had just successfully reached foundation establishment, there were seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators on Chongxuan Mountain: Zhou Ronghua, Zhou Rongxiang, Zhou Shengying, Li Qingyun, Ren Fei, Wang Yanzhang, and Ye Yunshan.

Among them, Zhou Ronghua had the highest cultivation, already at the third layer of foundation establishment, while Ye Yunshan had just succeeded in reaching foundation establishment less than three months ago and had not yet completed the transition of cultivation techniques.

At this moment, Zhouyang gathered these individuals in front of him, glanced across their faces, and directly asked them, "You should all be aware of the situation outside the mountain. As disciples of Chongxuan Mountain, let me ask you: do you have the courage to confront those invaders?"

Upon hearing this, the seven individuals collectively showed a change in expression.

The three Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Zhou Family were better off, knowing that Zhouyang, as their family ancestor, certainly wouldn’t send his family juniors to their deaths, thus feeling anxious but relatively calm.

However, Li Qingyun and Ren Fei, two registered disciples of loose cultivator origin, could not hide their panic, their gazes drifting, not daring to look at Zhouyang.

Yet the best performance was by Wang Yanzhang, who had always been mocked by others as "living off a woman".

This person soon cupped his hands and replied after Zhouyang spoke: "Willing to fight to the death for Master!"

Zhouyang’s face immediately displayed an appreciative smile.

Zhou Ronghua and the other two Zhou Family Cultivators, upon hearing Wang Yanzhang’s words and seeing Zhouyang’s smile, finally realized belatedly and quickly chimed in, "Willing to fight to the death for Master!"

Li Qingyun and Ren Fei, despite being utterly frightened in their hearts, could only follow suit with forced bravery.

As for Ye Yunshan, she didn’t need to say much. As Xiao Ying’s direct disciple, if Zhouyang commanded, she would certainly go through any trials, else she wouldn’t be worthy of the title "direct disciple".

"Good, since you all have this determination, I shall grant you magical artifacts and spirit talismans to aid your valor."

Zhouyang nodded, shouted "Good," and with a wave of his hand, he produced a heap of Tier Three Spiritual Artifacts and Tier Three Spirit Talismans before him for the seven to choose from.

When he left the Boundless Desert Sea Cultivation Realm, he specifically selected a batch of premium Tier Three Spiritual Artifacts and Talismans from the Zhou Family Treasure Vault in anticipation of such situations today, which finally proved useful.