Su Province, deep within Yin Yue Mountain.

Ever since harvesting enough souls last time, Fang Yuan hadn't targeted human cities again, but instead brought his newly acquired subordinate—the Vajra Giant Ape—here.

In a secluded valley where black fog loomed and blood-red light scattered, Fang Yuan's massive tiger-like body was immersed in the central Cold Pond, eyes closed deeply focused, with flickering blood light surrounding him and billowing black fog enclosing him, making for an extremely sinister and frightening sight.

A blood-colored Demon Banner was suspended above Fang Yuan's head, with blood light undulating and black fog swirling. On the small surface of the banner, countless ghostly faces emerged, seemingly wanting to burst out of the banner, with faint low and chaotic wailing of ghosts lingering persistently.

Upon returning to Yin Yue Mountain, Fang Yuan immediately began refining the newly acquired Soul Bodies within the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, hoping to quickly advance his magical artifact.

The number of these Soul Bodies was staggering, and fully refining them would take considerable time.

Step, step, step~

Just then, a series of footsteps sounded from outside the valley, coming closer, suggesting a large group of creatures had gathered at the valley entrance.

The next moment, a voice came from outside.

"Big brother, little brother has returned to report!"

"Returned?"

Fang Yuan slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them, and stood up, saying lightly, "Come in then!"

The indifferent voice reached outside the valley. Soon after, the Vajra Giant Ape entered slowly, leading a horde of fierce beasts.

Cyan Feather Wolf, Armored Giant Lizard, Nine-Ringed Silver Rat... a variety of fierce beasts gathered, obediently following behind the Vajra Giant Ape, all lowering their heads respectfully at the terrifying Fang Yuan.

The number of these fierce beasts reached into the thousands, densely packed, filling the entire valley, and all were of the second tier in strength, with most already at the late second tier, not far from the third tier.

"Big brother, I dared not slack off on the task you gave me earlier. These creatures are the fierce beasts I recruited while out the past few days, and they are all willing to submit under your command!"

The Vajra Giant Ape approached, exceedingly respectful, saying with a smile.

Having just arrived at Yin Yue Mountain, the Vajra Giant Ape, under Fang Yuan's order, recruited fierce beasts within the Yin Yue Mountain range, bringing them back.

Now, feeling he had recruited enough, the Vajra Giant Ape returned to report.

"Well done! Their strength is quite sufficient, quite usable! You worked hard!"

Looking at these fierce beasts with somewhat dense Blood Qi, Fang Yuan revealed a greedy gleam in his eyes, with a sinister curvature at the corner of his mouth, conveying a foreboding feeling.

Heh heh heh... these are all excellent blood feasts!

Though none are third tier, devouring these creatures would nonetheless yield significant progress in his cultivation.

Elated by his big brother's praise, the Vajra Giant Ape ingratiatingly said, "Not hard, not hard at all, I'm more than happy to serve big brother! In the future, if big brother has needs, just give the order, and little brother will spare no effort, ensuring everything's done to perfection!"

Having said this, the Vajra Giant Ape put on a stern face, looking at the mass of beasts behind him, urging coldly, "What are you all dawdling for! Hurry and pay respects to big brother!"

"I don't think that's necessary!"

Just as the beasts flinched, preparing to act, a cold voice suddenly came from the opposite side—Fang Yuan had spoken.

With these words, the beasts about to step forward froze in unison, even the previously smiling Vajra Giant Ape halted, confusedly turning toward where big brother was.

Fang Yuan squinted his eyes, his cold gaze fixed on those fierce beasts, exuding a bone-chilling aura. With a thought, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner above shook lightly in the black fog.

Instantly, the black fog in the entire valley received some sort of command, rolling toward the beasts, with shrill ghostly wails suddenly echoing through the valley, as vicious ghosts emerged one after another from the blood-stained banner, baring fangs and brandishing claws, charging toward the beasts.

"What's big brother doing!"

The Vajra Giant Ape flinched, bewildered by Fang Yuan's actions, instinctively retreating to the side.

The next moment, the ghostly horde swept past where the Vajra Giant Ape stood, surging into the mass of beasts like a flood.

The instant the ghosts appeared, the fierce beasts realized something was wrong, howling in terror and attempting to flee backwards.

Alas, these fierce beasts, none having reached the third tier, stood no chance of outrunning the ghosts lurking in the black fog. Before escaping the valley, they were torn to pieces by the ghosts.

For a moment, the valley resounded with screams, the vast bodies of fierce beasts dismembered in an instant, flesh and blood flying, splattering the dark ground a deep red. The pungent smell of blood permeated the valley within breaths.

Not even a minute passed before the once raucous valley grew completely silent, as the ghosts returned to the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, and the thick black fog rapidly spread outwards, becoming thin once more.

Fang Yuan stepped forward a few paces, approaching the "slaughterhouse" before him, gazing at the numerous corpses on the ground, activating the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Scripture, opening his maw wide, slowly devouring the blood-qi-rich flesh, continuously refining it.

Not until a long while later did the Vajra Giant Ape regain his senses, looking at the bloody scene before him, a chill running down his spine, hesitantly saying, "Big brother, you are..."

Sadly, Fang Yuan ignored him, continuously swallowing the remains of the fierce beasts.

After devouring the last Armored Giant Lizard, and finishing digesting it, the aura Fang Yuan emitted clearly rose a level.

"I estimate one more round should allow me to achieve a breakthrough!"

With the blood light around him retracting, Fang Yuan's eyes flashed; his current cultivation had reached the peak of the fourth tier, just one leap away from the fifth tier.

"Go find more! This Demon Monarch wants more!"

Then, suppressing his excitement, Fang Yuan turned his gaze to the shrinking Vajra Giant Ape, his eyes cold, watching the giant ape shiver internally.

"Alright, big brother, little brother will get on it now!"

Coming to his senses, the Vajra Giant Ape dared not hesitate, eagerly nodding.

What sort of big brother have I pledged myself to? So terrifying.

But now that I'm on the bandit's ship, getting off is impossible!

This guy is just as ferocious as the Devouring Demon Monarch from the inherited memory.

If I become useless one day, will I end up like those beasts today, swallowed whole?

The more the Vajra Giant Ape thought, the more frightened he became, terror chilling his heart, and recalling that his big brother constantly self-identified as Demon Monarch, the giant ape had a terribly bad suspicion.

Could big brother really be the reincarnation of some ancient demon?

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