A moment later, Wang Wu transformed into human form, holding a treasure cauldron, with two Demon Emperor's Command Flags behind him, and began collecting taxes.

Along the way, the large and small families no longer made a stir, including those clans that had clamored the loudest before.

When Wang Wu finished collecting taxes and returned to the Black Tortoise Royal City, he found that the Royal City Tax Bureau, which was previously empty, was now fully staffed with all the demon tax collectors — except for those who couldn't come due to death.

All five thousand of them.

"From now on, regular tax collection will continue, but aside from the forestry and fief taxes, all other taxes can be exempted!"

"In addition, as per usual, send the Spiritual Qi from the treasure cauldron to Dragon and Snake City once a month! And order all the great kings along the way to assist in escorting it. Those who dare to commit the sin of heavenly robbery will be killed without mercy!"

Wang Wu simply instructed, then tossed out the two Demon Emperor's Command Flags and the treasure cauldron used for tax collection. The commotion he caused was all to buy himself enough time for cultivation.

He even strongly supported Princess Lark and Dragon and Snake City, holding the rear position, all to seize more time for himself, wasn't it?

Time was really running out.

This turmoil thus ended.

Wang Wu returned directly to his fief, first ordering Yuan Bupu to take over the Crane Race's Seek Death Camp. Why not take over tens of thousands of top-quality demon soldiers?

As for the fiefs confiscated from the Crane Race, after some thought, Wang Wu took Xiong Shiliu and placed him in the Crane Race's fief, along with releasing the Companion Demon Vine here, forming a forest three hundred miles in circumference.

"You will cultivate here, and when you advance to the First Grade, you will be released."

"You should be able to guess my purpose. From now on, you will be my substitute. If you don't want to be hunted down by Lu Wuchen and Liu Wujiu, this group of Celestial Realm Great Cultivators from the Human Race, you'd better have some means of self-preservation."

"Don't think about any little tricks. Aside from not being able to leave this place, I won't restrict your any cultivation path. I will even assist you in cultivation. Over the past two years, you should have felt that your cultivation speed is ten times faster than before because I have refined your Ancient Blood."

"Also, I can tell you clearly that this Companion Demon Vine is now your match. It will follow you and become your Companion Demon Vine when needed."

Upon saying this, Wang Wu smiled slightly, finding it amusing that not long ago, Xiong Shiliu had been envious of this Companion Demon Vine.

Who would've thought that after all the twists and turns, it could finally fulfill its wish.

"Aren't you afraid that the Companion Demon Vine will betray you?"

Xiong Shiliu was very calm, having seemingly anticipated this outcome.

He was just puzzled why Wang Wu would generously give him the Companion Demon Vine, which was about to advance to the Second Grade, just to be a substitute?

"I used to worry a lot until I finally learned an important lesson: treat yourself well, treat others well, treat everything well, even flowers and plants. As long as you have love in your heart, it can feel your sincerity. We are not master and servant now, we are friends, so I never worry that it will betray me."

"Good friends, for life."

Wang Wu spoke sincerely.

The surrounding leaves swayed as if agreeing with his statement.

Xiong Shiliu was dumbfounded.

So much so that even as Wang Wu left, he was still questioning the authenticity of the matter. Big deal, it seems that it could actually make sense.

"Snap!"

Suddenly, a bizarre, barbed vine lashed down hard.

With Xiong Shiliu's current strength, even he was lashed until his skin ripped and bled profusely, crying out in pain, thinking that Lu Wuchen had arrived.

At this moment, a lazy voice finally sounded.

"What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and cultivate. Didn't you hear what my master said? Once you advance to the First Grade, you'll be free!"

"What! You you you—"

Xiong Shiliu was utterly shocked, and as a result, another lash came down, drawing yelps from him.

"I'll fight you!"

"Oh, that's quite fun. Little Xiong Xiong, I know everything about you!"

That voice suddenly turned wicked.

Xiong Shiliu instinctively felt something was wrong, but whether to resist with all his might or surrender, how should he choose?

"Xiong Wu is coming!"

"Whoosh!"

The wind calmed down, and the forest quieted instantly.

It actually worked.

But a few seconds later, thirty-six barbed, terrifying, malicious whips came lashing down crazily!

The Companion Demon Vine could also get annoyed and angry.

"Stop! I'm supposed to be Xiong Wu's substitute, and you wouldn't want me to fail the mission, right?"

Xiong Shiliu cried miserably, already beaten to a bloody pulp. Damn it, he was a grand Peak Third-Grade Great Demon, about to advance to the Second Grade. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? Even Lu Wuchen's disciple, the Five Poison, wasn't this cruel and vicious.

The forest quieted again, seemingly pondering.

Xiong Shiliu seized the chance and said:

"Friend, let's make peace. I'll start cultivating seriously right away, and you can just quietly watch over me. We won't interfere with each other, and even if you want to escape, I will absolutely not interfere! Howl! What did I say wrong again!"

Xiong Shiliu broke down!

What the hell is this broken Demon Vine!

"Smack!"

"Who said we're friends? You dare!"

"Ow! I'll cultivate right away, stop hitting, stop hitting! Ah~"

——

At this moment, at the edge of the forest formed by the Companion Demon Vine, Wang Wu was shrinking to the size of a soybean, reviewing the previous battle, and taking stock of the Companion Demon Vine's earnings.

The entire elite of the Crane Clan, plus two Second-Grade Great Demons, that's quite a haul, enough to instantly promote the Companion Demon Vine to First Grade.

So he wouldn't leave such a flaw.

Fortunately, the Companion Demon Vine was sensible, firmly keeping the bottom line of 1% of the income. What's its share is its share, what isn't, it won't touch even if beaten to death.

Betrayal, escape, rebellion against the Celestial Spirits, none of that exists. We are friends; our friendship is everlasting.

"My Immovable Golden Body, although can be seamlessly released and stacked, has a significant weakness—it's easily interrupted. Although I have mastered the Level 7 Overlord Body, this doesn't change the fact that if I'm up against two battle-experienced Second-Grade Great Demons or Second-Grade Human Race Cultivators, their Qi Blood can interrupt my Qi Blood Divine Techniques."

"There's a way to deal with this disadvantage. One route is the assassin or thief path, quickly approach, deliver a fatal blow, and immediately retreat, leaving no chance for interruption. However, this is the path Xiong Pi already took, and ultimately, he died because of it."

"A single trick cannot sustain forever. If the Human Race Immortal Alliance decides to hunt down the Snake Emperor relentlessly, it will be my turn to meet my end."

"So the best approach is to remain covert and continue hiding until I've fully overcome the Three Calamities, until the entire Cultivation Realm forgets about me, thinking I'm dead—this is the best strategy."

"Aside from that, there are conventional methods too, like cultivating the Five Aggregates Golden Body."

"And, of course, there's refining the Lifebound Demon Soldiers..."

Wang Wu pondered for a while and eventually decided to continue putting aside the cultivation of the Five Aggregates Golden Body, focusing instead on setting up the Five Elements Spirit Array within himself.

Due to the abundance of resources, the Small Tripod couldn't store them all, so he needed to use a lot of resources to refine the Lifebound Demon Soldiers.

Taking out the Small Tripod, Wang Wu drank three large gulps of Spirit Liquid, an excellent elixir for recovering both health and stamina. Three sips before battle, three before cultivation, three before refining, ensuring worry-free processes!

Then, he took out pieces of Profound Iron Block, an excellent material for refining Lifebound Demon Soldiers.

Activating Qi Blood, he gathered it at his right forepaw. When placed on the Profound Iron Block, it melted as if liquefied, leaving a terrifying claw mark in an instant.

Truly, the Lifebound Demon Soldiers of Celestial Sixth Grade are terrifying!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

A faint friction sound emerged, sounding ordinary, but within seconds, all the wild grass within a hundred meters wilted and withered, and even the trunks of the Companion Demon Vine were silently cut into powder by invisible Essence of Gold Qi.

It shivered in fear, yet dared not to move.

By the time Wang Wu finished refining the large Profound Iron Block several square meters in size in a few minutes, it had demolished the nearby forest for ten miles.

There's no choice; once the Lifebound Demon Soldiers of Celestial Sixth Grade start refining, the power can't be concealed at will.

"There's no need to conceal it here. Take Xiong Shiliu and move further away."

Wang Wu ordered, and the Companion Demon Vine, as if receiving an amnesty, withdrew a hundred miles with Xiong Shiliu, not daring to go too far. Although its main body had been released, meaning it technically wasn't a Companion Demon Vine of Wang Wu anymore, if it wanted to run, it really could.

Once, Wang Wu wanted to suppress it, control permissions, and such.

But now he's let it go, without any measures for a long time.

He truly wanted to be friends with it.

But it dared not, didn't trust, no one would trust...

No, no, no, good friends shouldn't betray each other.

Not even a thought allowed.

That's evil, deserving of contempt, immoral...

At this moment, in the Crane Clan's territory, Wang Wu found a mountain. He didn't want to disturb others, a simple virtue he held dear.

After all, the commotion of refining Celestial Sixth Grade Lifebound Demon Soldiers was considerable.

Swish swish swish!

A few minutes later, another piece of Profound Iron Block was completely refined and the mountain directly lowered by thirty meters…

At this rate, the mountain would disappear from here completely.

As Wang Wu felt helpless, he saw a hundred miles away, an old man, bare-chested and carrying a vine, bound in chains, kneeling.

Further away, two more figures appeared in similar attire, one being Yan Feihen.

"Grand General, guilty minister Kong Zhen requests an audience!"

Master Ya fluttered his little wings, flying over with an ingratiating look, but as he approached within a hundred meters of Wang Wu, hundreds of deep wounds suddenly appeared on him, as if he had been mercilessly cut a thousand times.

"Spare me, Grand General!"

"Shut up! What are you doing here? I'm refining Lifebound Demon Soldiers. Within a hundred meters, it's filled with invisible Essence of Gold Qi. Don't you even understand that?"

Wang Wu was expressionless, Master Ya's little cunning was all used up for this.

"Grand General, truly wise..."

"Shut up, speak directly!"

"Reporting to the Grand General, guilty ministers Kong Zhen, Ya Bufan, and Yan Feihen are willing to offer a treasure to the Grand General. They noticed the Grand General is refining Lifebound Demon Soldiers, hence willing to present the secret realm once used by the Peacock Emperor to refine Celestial Fifth Grade Lifebound Demon Soldiers to the Grand General."

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