As his voice thundered between heaven and earth, the terrifying might of an Emperor Realm Expert swept over Luo Xiu from all directions! The force kicked up a violent gale, causing Hua Muyan's delicate frame to sway. Her long hair fluttered as she quickly hid behind Luo Xiu. Having just been reborn, she only possessed the strength of the Mahayana Realm, so she was naturally terrified of such immense power.

Luo Xiu calmly watched the turbulent surface of the lake, the corners of his mouth suddenly turning up into a slight smile. He had, in fact, sensed a rather powerful aura hiding beneath the lake much earlier. That was precisely why he had come.

A short while later, as the tumultuous waves on the lake calmed, a tall figure appeared on its surface. He was a youth who appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old. Dressed in white with waist-length hair styled in a middle part, he exuded an air of defiance, like a rebellious teenager.

Seeing the azure aura emanating from Luo Xiu's body, the youth's expression grew serious, but he showed no fear. He walked on water, striding arrogantly toward Luo Xiu on the shore. "I don't know what Secret Technique you used to turn your Spiritual Power azure, but do you really think that makes you the Azure Emperor?" he said with disdain. "A pathetic thing like you isn't even worthy of carrying the Azure Emperor's shoes! You might be able to fool these minor Demon Beasts, but do you really think you can fool me? I travel widely and heard long ago that the Azure Emperor died in the Lower Realm decades ago! So who the hell do you think you're fooling?"

As if he hadn't heard a word, Luo Xiu suddenly asked, "What's your name?"

The youth declared proudly, "I don't hide my name from anyone. I am Ai Kun, Lord of the Wan Yao Forest!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ai Kun kicked off, shooting into the sky and landing with a thunderous crash in front of Luo Xiu. A purple Spiritual Power aura flared from his body. "I, Ai Kun, don't go looking for trouble, but I'm not afraid of it either!"

At the same time, the Great Dao Destiny Wheel quietly materialized in the Void behind him. Once Demon Beasts cultivate to the tenth level and enter the Emperor Realm, they acquire a truly human-like body. From then on, their path along the Great Dao and their cultivation methods are no different from human Cultivators. This is why an Emperor Realm Expert of the Demon Race also possesses a Great Dao Destiny Wheel.

Seeing that Ai Kun was about to strike, the crowd of Demon Beasts ringing the lakeshore looked at Luo Xiu with pity.

Luo Xiu, however, remained unfazed. He sized up Ai Kun and said lightly, "You look quite young for a member of the Demon Race. To become a Profound Emperor at your age... you have some talent."

Ai Kun smirked. "My talent is not something you're qualified to discuss. Actually, I knew you were here the moment you arrived. I was planning to find you after I finished my business, but I didn't expect you to deliver yourself to my doorstep to be eaten. Heh, a mere Mahayana Realm Cultivator who used some Secret Technique to boost his Divine Sense dares to run wild in my Wan Yao Forest?"

Before he could finish speaking—SLAP! A sharp slap landed squarely on his face.

Ai Kun clutched his swollen cheek, his eyes trembling as he stared at Luo Xiu in disbelief. He had absolutely no idea how Luo Xiu had even moved!

At this, the surrounding Demon Beasts were utterly dumbfounded.

Luo Xiu gave Ai Kun a mirthless smile. "I'm different from you. I both enjoy starting trouble and am not afraid of it."

Luo Xiu knew full well that with Demon Beasts, words were useless. Action was the only way.

Ai Kun suddenly exploded with rage, "You bastard, you dare to slap—"

SLAP!

Luo Xiu raised his hand and delivered another one.

Now that Luo Xiu possessed his Life-bound Green Lotus, he no longer had to worry about his illness flaring up when he acted. If he were to unleash his full power, this Profound Emperor would be no different from a Gathering Spirit Realm Cultivator in his eyes.

Ai Kun's body trembled, his eyes filling with terror as he slowly backed away. Emperor Realm Experts of the Demon Race usually had good self-awareness. Through those two slaps, Ai Kun had been forced to recognize reality: the human youngster before him was definitely not a Mahayana Realm Cultivator! This young human's power was just as terrifying as his Divine Sense!

Luo Xiu slowly advanced, raising his hand to strike again.

Terrified, Ai Kun immediately dropped into a crouch, his face a mask of misery. "What are you doing?! Oww! Did I do something to you? Attacking without any reason, have you no manners? Can't we be civilized about this?"

Luo Xiu looked down at him, a faint smile on his lips. "I never actually planned on doing anything to you. You were just being too arrogant. If I hadn't slapped you back to reality, we wouldn't be able to have a proper conversation."

Ai Kun was speechless.

Luo Xiu asked, "All the Demon Beasts here obey your commands, correct?"

Ai Kun nodded obediently.

Luo Xiu glanced impatiently at the Great Dao Destiny Wheel behind Ai Kun. "Get rid of that thing. It's blinding."

"Yes, Senior!"

Luo Xiu then commanded, "Have your followers find all kinds of rare Spiritual Medicines and bring them here."

Ai Kun asked cautiously, "Senior, are there any other instructions?"

Luo Xiu thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Have everyone else disperse. I'm going to fish."

"Alrighty," Ai Kun replied, hurriedly waving at the other demons to leave.

Afterward, Luo Xiu took out his fishing gear by the lake and began to fish at a leisurely pace, while Ai Kun squatted obediently to one side, tasked with handling the landing net.

Before long, Demon Beasts began arriving one after another with Spiritual Medicines. Luo Xiu secretly activated the Qihuang Technique—the same art Luo Ying called the Nine Suns Creation Technique—and absorbed all the medicinal energy from the plants. He used it to replenish his Qi Huang Medicine Power, which was another name for Fortune-Forming Power.

Hua Muyan wasn't idle either. Eager to recover her strength, she frantically absorbed the energy from various Spiritual Medicines, even starting to compete with Luo Xiu for them.

Watching Luo Xiu and Hua Muyan treat these rare Spiritual Medicines in such a crude and wasteful manner, Ai Kun felt his heart ache as if it would shatter.

Luo Xiu suddenly asked, "By the way, which world is this?"

Ai Kun replied hastily, "Senior, this is Jucui State. It's considered the worst among the Three Thousand Worlds of the Upper Realm."

Luo Xiu asked curiously, "How is the quality of a world determined?"

"It's based on various factors," Ai Kun explained, "like how many powerful experts it has, what kind of cultivation resources it produces, whether its economy is prosperous, and so on." He sighed. "Take our Jucui State, for instance. The name sounds nice, but in reality, it's so weak that Lingtian Plateau wouldn't even give it a second glance."

Luo Xiu frowned. "What's the significance of whether Lingtian Plateau thinks highly of it or not?"

Ai Kun replied, "A while ago, Emperor Hao of Lingtian Plateau launched something called the 'Three Thousand Alliance Pact.' The goal is to unite all the Three Thousand Worlds of the Upper Realm into a single Three Thousand Alliance. Senior, let me tell you, Emperor Hao's methods are ruthless! Anyone who defies him is immediately obliterated! Still, when I think about it, it's probably not a bad thing that he hasn't taken notice of Jucui State."

As he spoke, Ai Kun's expression suddenly froze. A look of terror filled his eyes as he stared at Luo Xiu, his body beginning to tremble uncontrollably. He had just remembered Luo Xiu's azure Spiritual Power, which almost certainly connected him to Lingtian Plateau.

"That... Senior, you..."

Luo Xiu just shook his head and smiled. "Don't worry, I'm not involved in any of that. Continue telling me about this Emperor Hao."

Ai Kun wiped the sweat from his forehead and thought for a moment. "Well, regarding Emperor Hao... there isn't much more I know. Oh, right! There is one other thing worth telling you about, Senior."

"About ten years ago, when I was out traveling, I heard that Emperor Hao and Emperor Xian had a massive fight. In the end, Emperor Xian was gravely injured and imprisoned on Calamity Extermination Island, where she's being guarded by numerous Emperor Realm Experts! I just don't get it. Emperor Xian is Emperor Hao's own sister. Why would a brother and sister have such a terrible falling out? Bad enough to lock her up in a terrifying prison like Calamity Extermination Island..."

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