Ancient God Ruins.

Divine Bone Forest.

Deep within the Magnet Mountain Gorge.

At this moment, the Lei Luan had reverted to its Bee King form, stopping obediently beside Luo Xiu.

"Your Majesty, I have long had this Bee King under my control, and it has even become my Taoist Body. So, I ask that you do not harm it. You can continue to control it and use it to command the entire Thunder Bee Swarm, which can endlessly brew honey for you," the Lei Luan said, which was precisely what Luo Xiu had in mind.

He well understood the principle that a single feast is far less valuable than a steady supply of food.

Then Luo Xiu summoned the Little Pouch, and with the Lei Luan's help, he collected the entire Thunderstrike Wood along with the three Bee Hives on it.

Just then, Luo Ying approached Luo Xiu, looked at the calf-sized Bee King, and asked, "As a Lei Luan, you are a Divine Beast with a noble and powerful bloodline. Why would you choose a bee as your Taoist Body?"

Kuang Pi nodded. "Although this Bee King is not simple, it is still an insect, while you are avian. Even if you had just picked any bird as your Taoist Body, it would be stronger than choosing an insect."

"Exactly," Yaya said. "If you chose a bird as your Taoist Body, you would still have hope of cultivating your original form. But if you choose an insect, all your cultivation will be in vain."

Luo Ying added, "Or you could have chosen a human. Humans make the most perfect Taoist Body."

"Alas!" The Lei Luan sighed. "It's a long story. Do you really think I didn't want to?"

"I originally belonged to the Azure Luan Clan, but a mutation at birth turned me into a Lei Luan. While this lightning power is strong, it has also confined me.

Luo Ying's expression shifted to one of sudden understanding. "This Bee King is a thunder-attribute Demon Beast, and only a thunder-attribute Demon Beast can serve as your Taoist Body. Since thunder-attribute Demon Beasts are extremely rare, you had no choice but to pick it, is that right?"

"Correct, that's more or less it."

At that moment, Luo Xiu asked, "Where is your original body?"

The Lei Luan replied, "My original body should still be at Burial God Hill."

"Your Majesty, there is a very powerful existence within the Ancient God Ruins. I cannot describe what it is. Perhaps it's a wisp of aura left behind by an Ancient God after death. The real reason those people from the Upper Realm come here is to go to Burial God Hill to find that trace of Ancient God's Breath."

"It's said that whoever obtains that trace of Ancient God's Breath can gain a portion of a god's power and may even comprehend supreme Divine Skills!"

"However, no one who goes to Burial God Hill ever comes out alive."

"I went there once myself. Although I didn't obtain the Ancient God's Breath, I made another discovery. I then attempted a tribulation breakthrough, but I was betrayed and ambushed. As a result, my tribulation failed. I left my body behind there, escaping with only a Residual Soul."

"Fortunately, after I escaped, I found this Thunderstrike Wood to take shelter in and possessed the Bee King's body. That is how I've managed to survive until today."

Yaya asked, "Why did those people want to betray you?"

The Lei Luan said, "I held no grudge against them. I don't know why they would attack me during my breakthrough."

Kuang Pi smiled. "It doesn't require a reason. It's simple jealousy."

"When people around you are all on the same level, and one day you have a fortuitous encounter and are about to surpass them, they become envious. They'll do everything they can to sabotage you."

Luo Xiu nodded, deeply agreeing with Kuang Pi's words.

Isn't it the same in the modern civilized world? When you make money and are about to improve your life, your own relatives and friends grow jealous. They'll be polite and friendly to your face, but deep down, they're dying to stab you in the back.

In this world, aside from one's parents, almost no one truly wishes you well. Or perhaps, they wish you well, but they don't wish you better off than themselves.

Of course, this isn't an absolute rule. There are always a few good people.

Yaya brandished her little fists and said, "Those people are horrible! If my friends became stronger, I would be happy for them. I would never get jealous."

"That's how I feel too," Kuang Pi laughed. "That's why I, Kuang Pi, have preferred to be alone all these years rather than associate with those hypocritical scoundrels! Until I met you, Xiao Luo," he added, glancing at Luo Xiu.

Luo Xiu smiled and changed the subject. "In that case, Burial God Hill sounds quite interesting."

Kuang Pi said, "Brother Xiao Luo, to be honest, I've been there too. In fact, these swords on my back… I got them there. I also found the Key Fragment there."

Luo Xiu made up his mind. "We'll rest and reorganize in the Land of Lawlessness first, then we'll head to Burial God Hill."

At this moment, Dou Dou asked, "Chen Shuisheng, what should we do with these Bird Demons?"

Luo Xiu looked at the Disciples of Heavenly Gull Sect led by Yue Qiu Gao, thought for a moment, and said, "I am not fond of violence. I prefer to repay enmity with virtue. Therefore, I will give you an opportunity to pledge your loyalty to me."

Upon hearing Luo Xiu's words, Luo Ying and the others wore strange expressions.

You, not fond of violence? You prefer to repay enmity with virtue? You can tell that to the ghosts!

Yue Qiu Gao had been scared witless, but these words snapped him back to his senses. He hurriedly led the other disciples to their knees.

"We are willing to submit!"

"From this day forward, we will go through fire and water for His Majesty, the Azure Emperor, and would die ten thousand deaths without regret!"

Luo Xiu scanned the members of the Heavenly Gull Sect and said coolly, "I can give you a chance, but you will only get one."

"If you ever betray me or harbor any ulterior motives, then I'm afraid your fate will be the same as the Jade Blade Sect's will be soon enough."

Cold sweat beaded on Yue Qiu Gao's forehead as he nodded hastily.

"We will never betray Your Majesty!"

Luo Xiu waved his hand. "All of you, rise. I'm not a fan of all that monarch-subject etiquette."

「Deep within a mysterious mountain in the Ancient God Ruins.」

Lin Xiyue sat cross-legged in meditation, absorbing a Demonic Beast Inner Core that emitted a strange glow. The ground within a radius of several hundred meters around her had frozen solid, exuding a bone-chilling cold.

Xun Mi stood quietly to the side, acting as her protector.

It had been over a month since they entered the Ancient God Ruins. During this time, Xun Mi had hunted many powerful Demon Beasts and seized numerous cultivation resources from those from the Upper Realm. She had given the vast majority of these resources to Lin Xiyue, keeping only a tiny fraction for herself. Xun Mi could be said to dote on Lin Xiyue, her successor, in every possible way.

By now, Lin Xiyue had reached the Great Perfection of the Void Refinement Realm. She had also fully mastered the "Nine Yin Emperor Technique" that Xun Mi had taught her.

As time passed, Lin Xiyue slowly opened her eyes, and the profound aura surrounding her dissipated.

"Sister Mi, I still couldn't break through." Lin Xiyue sighed, her spirits a little low.

Having spent so much time together, the two women had become as close as sisters.

Xun Mi smiled. "Don't be anxious. How could the Mahayana Realm be so easily reached? Don't forget, you're only in your twenties."

"In just over a month, you've advanced from the Gathering Spirit Realm to the Great Perfection of the Void Refinement Realm. Such speed is already terrifying. Among your peers, there is basically no one who can compare to you."

Lin Xiyue nodded.

Xun Mi continued, "But I think you understand that your rapid progress is not only due to your Nine Yin Constitution and talent. The main reason is the abundance of resources. Demonic Beast Inner Cores, the Treasured Blood of Demon Beasts, and all those elixirs we stole... one could say you were literally propped up to the Void Refinement Realm."

"So, what you need to do now is solidify your cultivation through real combat and gain more experience in fighting. If you blindly seek higher realms, you'll face endless problems down the line."

"You need to understand the purpose of our cultivation. It's not just about pursuing a long life and seeing grander sights. It's also about being strong enough to defeat your enemies and protect yourself and those you care about."

"Yes, I understand," Lin Xiyue replied.

Xun Mi looked into the distance. "Let's go. It's time to find some people to rob. Afterward, we'll check out Burial God Hill. If you can find a Divine Skill there, then this trip won't have been for nothing."

Lin Xiyue stood up and grinned. "Time for the Witch Twins to make their move."

Xun Mi shook her head with a laugh. "What Witch Twins? That sounds awful, and so childish."

Lin Xiyue was a bit defensive and muttered, "I wasn't the one who came up with the name. It's your fault for bullying those people from the Upper Realm until they gave us that nickname."

Xun Mi changed the subject. "Speaking of which, how is your comprehension of the Divine Skill I taught you coming along?"

Lin Xiyue sighed. "I still haven't even found the starting point."

Xun Mi ruffled her hair. "Never mind. Comprehending Divine Skills isn't just about aptitude. If you don't have the fate for it, no amount of study will do any good."

"For now, we can only try to find another Divine Skill for you, to lay a foundation for your future."

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