On a blue-hued desert plateau, hidden within the cliffside, lay an ancient treasure known as the Sacred Jade Room.
Inside were Xue Hui, Chen Linlin, and her father, Chen Zhenlong.
The latter had just been roused from his meditation by the two children.
"Lord Patriarch, it's time to continue our journey."
Hearing Xue Hui's voice, Chen Zhenlong slowly opened his eyes and saw the two children standing before him.
Both were already prepared to depart and resume their journey toward the Blood Moon Marsh.
Realizing it was time to leave, Chen Zhenlong rose to his feet and walked toward the Fuzhuang Box. His daughter hopped inside, and he carefully secured it before slinging it over his back.
Three days had passed since Xue Hui had given him the Realm Breaker Soul Ascendant Pill, and Chen Zhenlong could already feel his cultivation approaching the threshold of Legend Rank. The realization filled him with excitement.
Chen Linlin, however, looked slightly disappointed.
She had imagined that her father would immediately ascend to Legend Rank the moment he consumed the pill. Naturally, she had been a little disheartened when she didn't witness such a dramatic breakthrough.
Even so, both Chen Zhenlong and Xue Hui were deeply satisfied with the tremendous improvement in his strength.
Chen Zhenlong's aura had grown considerably denser and more imposing than before.
Despite its potent medicinal effects, the Realm Breaker Soul Ascendant Pill couldn't be fully absorbed overnight. Completely refining its medicinal energy required time and focused cultivation, neither of which Chen Zhenlong could afford while they were still in the middle of their mission.
Nevertheless, thanks to the lingering effects of the pill, he was confident that a year of secluded cultivation would be enough to break through to Legend Rank.
What did that mean?
For someone who had remained stuck at the pinnacle of Black Gold Rank for years, unable to take even the smallest step forward, such certainty was nothing short of miraculous.
Chen Zhenlong had long understood that reaching Legend Rank was never simply a matter of when.
It was a matter of whether he could reach it at all.
Whether the heavens permitted it.
Whether fate called for it.
Whether fortune favored him.
Whether he was truly destined to cross that threshold.
Few understood this better than Chen Zhenlong.
Not every Black Gold-rank Demon Spiritualist could reach Legend Rank. For someone who had spent years struggling to advance, finally seeing the possibility of a breakthrough within reach was an incredible blessing.
If the news reached every Black Gold-rank Demon Spiritualist in Glory City, countless people would turn green with envy.
This journey had already brought them heaven-defying benefits.
First, his daughter had been completely cured of her poison.
Then there were the treasures Xue Hui had obtained, including the Ten Whiskers Water Attribute Needles and the Sacred Jade Room.
And now, he has been given a direct path toward Legend Rank.
Chen Zhenlong could hardly wait to return home and share the news with his wives.
Only the Glaze Blood remains, and then we can all return home, he thought.
While Chen Zhenlong waited patiently, Xue Hui peered outside the Sacred Jade Room, checking their surroundings to ensure it was safe to leave.
Once he was satisfied, the trio resumed their journey toward the Blood Moon Marsh.
Leading the way, Xue Hui guided Chen Zhenlong along the least dangerous routes. With the Demon Detection Compass in hand, they could determine whether powerful demon beasts were lurking nearby and adjust their course accordingly.
Thanks to the compass, they avoided several potentially exhausting battles.
After all, their goal was to obtain the Ten Whiskers Water Attribute Needles and the Glaze Blood as quickly as possible.
Chen Zhenlong wholeheartedly agreed. The farther they traveled from Glory City, the more unpredictable and dangerous the outside world became.
Time passed, and they finally reached the edge of the Blue Hue Desert, entering an entirely new territory: a lush forest shrouded in dense mist.
Walking beneath the towering trees, Xue Hui and Chen Zhenlong both breathed sighs of relief.
Their relief was understandable. Crossing the sandy plains had been a treacherous ordeal. With scorching temperatures and few places to take shelter, they had been constantly exposed to the threat of demon beasts.
The journey alone had pushed both their physical endurance and mental fortitude to their limits.
Now, surrounded by towering trees and lush greenery, with a cool, refreshing breeze brushing against their faces, they could finally relax.
As they ventured deeper into the forest in search of a suitable campsite, Chen Zhenlong quietly admired the leafy canopy overhead and the gentle rustling of branches.
Before long, he spotted what appeared to be the perfect place to conceal the Sacred Jade Room: a sturdy earthen slope reinforced by thick roots and natural rock formations.
With night approaching, he decided it would make an ideal campsite.
He was just about to speak when something suddenly slammed into his side.
Caught completely off guard, Chen Zhenlong crashed onto the forest floor. At that exact moment, a white blur streaked past at lightning speed, slicing through the air where he had been standing moments earlier.
CRASH!
CRACK!
BOOM!
Trees splintered, and the ground shook violently.
"What was that?!" Chen Zhenlong exclaimed, turning toward Xue Hui, who lay beside him.
Whatever had attacked them had charged straight at them with the clear intention of smashing into them.
Fortunately, Xue Hui had sensed the incoming threat and tackled him to the ground mere seconds before the attack struck.
Seeing that a vast stretch of the forest had been obliterated, Chen Zhenlong immediately scrambled to his feet. His pupils contracted as he searched for their assailant.
What had once been a thriving forest was now a wasteland of shattered trees and broken earth. At its center lay a massive crater nearly the size of a small lake.
Instead of answering his question, Xue Hui sprang into action.
A surge of soul force erupted from his body, revealing the aura of a Three-Star Bronze-rank Demon Spiritualist.
At the same time, he activated the Demon Concealing Lamp. Thick smoke poured from it, enveloping his small frame and concealing his presence from the demon beast's perception.
Following Xue Hui's lead, Chen Zhenlong unleashed his soul force and summoned his demon spirit.
His body transformed into that of a Wind Dragon Blood Buffalo, swelling in size as powerful muscles bulged beneath his hardened hide. His demonic horns curved forward, giving him a fearsome appearance.
He planted his hooves firmly against the ground, standing as immovable as a mountain.
His sharp eyes tracked the silver blur as it ricocheted through the forest at incredible speed, bouncing off trees and rock faces before abruptly changing direction.
This time, it charged straight toward him.
Crossing his massive arms in front of his body, Chen Zhenlong braced himself for the collision.
But before the white blur could reach him, Xue Hui suddenly jumped into its path.
Concealed by the smoke from the Demon Concealing Lamp, the boy thrust out his small arm and placed his palm directly in front of the incoming blur.
BANG!
A thunderous crash echoed throughout the forest as something slammed violently into a solid surface.
Xue Hui remained motionless, his arm extended.
Before him floated the Sacred Jade Room, summoned at roughly one-third of its original size. Its jade surface trembled from the tremendous impact it had just absorbed.
"Lord Patriarch, quick! Hold that demon beast down!" Xue Hui shouted urgently.
Without hesitation, Chen Zhenlong lunged forward and pinned the creature to the ground.
Only to discover that it was...
...a donkey?
Lying before the Sacred Jade Room was a white-furred donkey of average size, seemingly no different from an ordinary one.
For a brief moment, confusion flashed across Chen Zhenlong's face.
However, he didn't waste time questioning what he saw.
He immediately removed the Fuzhuang Box from his back and threw himself onto the fallen creature, pressing it firmly against the ground.
Donkey or not, this creature had demonstrated enough strength to reshape the surrounding landscape.
Meanwhile, Xue Hui swiftly rehung the Fuzhuang Box on his back and retrieved a vial of inscription ink made from the blood of the fallen Leather Arm Ape.
Squatting beside the donkey's head, he began drawing an intricate inscription pattern along its neck. The ink seeped into its fur, gradually changing its color from white to metallic silver.
The donkey's body shook violently, its limbs twitching as though an immense power were surging within it.
Once the inscription was complete, a faint silver glow spread across the pattern.
"Okay, now we just-ack!"
THUD!
Before Xue Hui could finish speaking, the demon beast donkey suddenly exploded with strength, sending him flying like a rag doll.
"Xiao Hui!"
Before Chen Zhenlong could check on the boy, he felt himself being dragged upward.
Despite the donkey's considerably smaller frame, it was somehow strong enough to haul him along as it raced wildly through the forest.
Clinging tightly to the creature, Chen Zhenlong tried to anchor his feet against the ground in an attempt to halt its momentum.
His efforts proved futile.
The donkey bolted forward, dragging him along and smashing him into everything in its path.
Trees were uprooted, boulders shattered, and the terrain was torn apart.
Chen Zhenlong was being tossed around like a rag doll.
A moment later, Xue Hui's voice suddenly rang inside his mind through their soul communication technique.
"LORD PATRIARCH! YOU HAVE TO BITE THE INSCRIPTION PATTERN I DREW ON ITS NECK! HARD ENOUGH TO DRAW BLOOD, AT LEAST!"
For a moment, Chen Zhenlong thought he had misheard.
But remembering that they were communicating through a soul technique, he quickly dismissed the possibility.
"XIAO HUI! I'M NOT BITING THIS THING'S NECK! ARE YOU CRAZY?!"
Has the boy lost his mind?
Even if he were desperate, Chen Zhenlong would never sink his teeth into a demon beast like some wild animal.
"Lord Patriarch, you'd be wasting a golden opportunity!" Xue Hui's voice replied, sounding both urgent and oddly sheepish. "I've already inscribed a Submission Seal on it. Just one bite, and the beast will fall under your command!"
Upon hearing this explanation, Chen Zhenlong nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Why did he have to be the one doing this?
If Xue Hui had drawn the seal, couldn't the boy be the one to carry out the final step?
"Lord Patriarch, that demon beast's physique rivals that of a Legend-rank expert, and it's extremely vindictive. Letting it go will only bring trouble in the future!" Xue Hui urged. "If you don't want to bite it, just make-"
Before he could finish, the connection between them abruptly severed.
Their Soul Communication Technique had been cut off.
That could only mean one thing: the distance between them had exceeded the technique's maximum range, which was considerable to begin with.
Still being dragged along at terrifying speed, Chen Zhenlong felt his heart sink.
Swallowing his humiliation, he sucked in a deep breath and roared at the top of his lungs.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!"
He bared his fangs and sank them straight into the demon donkey's neck, right where the Submission Seal had been inscribed.
"GRRR AAAAARGH!"
Like a tiger subduing its prey, Chen Zhenlong clamped down harder, tightening his jaws as he used his weight to slow the beast's momentum.
"GGGGRRR AAARRRGH!"
With one final surge of strength, his fangs pierced the creature's unnaturally tough hide.
A metallic taste flooded his mouth.
Blood.
Chen Zhenlong nearly gagged, fighting down the overwhelming urge to vomit.
At that exact moment, the area around the Submission Seal began to warm. A faint but unmistakable silver glow radiated from the pattern, spreading outward along the donkey's neck like flowing veins of light.
The creature's entire body began to tremble as its strength rapidly drained away.
Finally, it collapsed violently onto the ground.
Man and beast tumbled across the forest floor in a chaotic roll, tearing through the soil and snapping trees in their wake.
Before Chen Zhenlong could pull his teeth free, the donkey threw back its head and let out a loud, shaky howl.
"RAU-ULLLLLL!"
"What the hell?!" Chen Zhenlong blurted out, utterly baffled.
---
Back in the devastated stretch of forest, Xue Hui stood atop the Sacred Jade Room, staring in the direction of Chen Zhenlong and the demon beast donkey had disappeared.
A grimace was etched across his small face.
"Hui-hui... do you think Father will be okay?"
Standing beside him, Chen Linlin clutched his arm tightly.
The two had climbed onto the roof of the Sacred Jade Room the moment Xue Hui lost his connection to Chen Zhenlong.
"He's fine, Linlin. Lord Patriarch is already on his way back."
Although Xue Hui's words sounded reassuring, a faint tension lingered in his voice. The perceptive little girl noticed it immediately.
She couldn't understand why.
'Father isn't in danger anymore, and he'll be back soon... So why does Hui-hui sound so nervous?'
If only she knew what had transpired between Xue Hui and her father during their conversation, she would have understood the source of his unease.
An hour passed.
The sky darkened as night gradually blanketed the forest.
In the distance, two silhouettes emerged from the shadows, making their way toward the Sacred Jade Room through the dimly lit trees.
One was Chen Zhenlong.
Beside him, matching his pace, was the demon beast donkey, obediently following its new master.
Although Chen Zhenlong maintained a composed expression, his irritation was unmistakable. Xue Hui could practically feel the silent fury simmering beneath that calm exterior.
It certainly didn't help that the patriarch's eyes were fixed directly on him.
"C-Congratulations, Lord Patriarch!" Xue Hui stammered, forcing an awkward smile as he hurriedly praised Chen Zhenlong. "You've acquired a Black Gold-rank demon beast companion! And it's actually a Holy Cloud White Dash! Its speed and physical toughness are comparable to those of a Legend-rank demon beast. Having it with us will greatly increase our chances of success!"
Like a shrewd merchant trying to close a profitable deal, Xue Hui wasted no time praising both Chen Zhenlong and his newly acquired companion, desperately attempting to gloss over the... unconventional method used to secure it.
"RA~UL."
Xue Hui nearly choked on his own saliva.
The donkey had spoken.
And what a voice it was!
Deep, smooth, and refined, it sounded like the voice of a strikingly handsome gentleman with impeccable manners.
"Xiao Hui," Chen Zhenlong said flatly, his expression utterly blank. "Was that truly the only method you could think of?"
Xue Hui felt sweat trickling down his back.
"There was no other way?" Chen Zhenlong added, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.
He maintained his cold, soul-piercing stare, seemingly intent on boring a hole through Xue Hui's head as he waited for an answer.
The boy grimaced at the sharpness in his tone.
'Well... there's no escaping this one.'
Deciding he might as well rip off the bandage, Xue Hui forced a sheepish smile.
Scratching the back of his head, he explained, "Well, Lord Patriarch... the other method required you to use both hands."
He awkwardly waved his arms to demonstrate.
"Which means you would've had to let go of your hold-"
Before Xue Hui could finish, a head-sized fruit came hurtling straight toward his face.
He twisted his body and narrowly dodged it.
SPLAT!
The fruit smashed against a tree behind him, bursting apart on impact.
"RAA~UL!"
The donkey nodded approvingly, its deep, refined voice sounding almost as though it were praising its new master's well-executed throw.
Chen Zhenlong remained expressionless, still feeling deeply wronged by Xue Hui's suggestion.
End of Chapter 23