Tian Xiong never imagined that the leader of a dignified gang would be outmaneuvered by a young girl.
He had completely underestimated Lin Zihan, yet she delivered a fatal blow.
In a moment of peril, Lin Zihan unleashed the spirit pearls given to her by Ji Mo.
The spirit pearls blazed with resplendent light, like stars in the heavens, unleashing incredible power that struck Tian Xiong fiercely.
Tian Xiong's protective spiritual energy was shattered, and several life-saving magical artifacts were pulverized. He was left bloody and severely wounded.
Panicked, like a wounded beast, he howled and fled.
Lin Zihan, having simultaneously activated several spirit pearls, was almost completely drained of her spiritual energy, leaving her with no strength to pursue. She could only watch as Tian Xiong escaped before her eyes.
Qiao Surong was stunned by what she witnessed. What were those things that could instantly cripple Tian Xiong? Even the Li Huo Pearl didn't possess such might!
Connecting this with Lin Zhan's earlier words, Qiao Surong suddenly had a realization: Lin Zhan had experienced a great fortune.
Not only had his cultivation surged, but he had also obtained several incredibly powerful magical artifacts.
Mr. Ji?
She silently noted the name.
"Withdraw!"
Qiao Surong cried out, issuing the order to retreat to her subordinates. Whether they could escape was no longer her concern.
This plan had utterly failed.
Taking a palm strike from Lin Zhan, she created distance and fled in another direction.
If she didn't leave now, and Lin Zihan recovered, she would surely die.
"What a pity."
Lin Zhan felt a pang of regret. If he could have captured Qiao Surong and Tian Xiong, then the Xuan Shui Pavilion and the Heavenly Wolf Gang would have been completely finished.
Allowing them to escape this time would likely lead to endless trouble.
"It seems I still underestimated Mr. Ji. I never imagined the spirit pearls he bestowed would possess such terrifying power. Mr. Ji is truly as lofty as a mountain, unfathomable."
Lin Zhan sighed inwardly. He did not pursue Qiao Surong and Tian Xiong, but instead, led Lin Zihan back into the sect to thoroughly eliminate the remaining enemies.
Not a single intruder managed to escape; all were annihilated.
This battle was a resounding victory for the Burning Heaven Sect.
Meanwhile, the Xuan Nü Pavilion and the Heavenly Wolf Gang suffered heavy losses, with dozens of elites killed.
"Investigate and find out exactly who this Mr. Ji is."
After successfully escaping back to the Xuan Shui Pavilion, Qiao Surong, unwilling to accept defeat, sought to uncover the truth.
Lin Zhan's sudden surge in strength and the magical artifacts in Lin Zihan's possession were not something the Brahma Heaven Sect could possess; it must have been gifted by that Mr. Ji.
Her seemingly foolproof plan had been ruined by Mr. Ji, and she could not stomach it.
Simultaneously, she secretly issued another order: if Tian Xiong's whereabouts were discovered, and an opportunity arose, he was to be killed without mercy.
Tian Xiong was severely injured, presenting a prime opportunity to eliminate him.
Having been threatened by Tian Xiong earlier, she would not let it slide.
"Mr. Ji? No matter who you are, Tian Xiong will pay any price to take your dog's life."
Tian Xiong, like a stray dog, filled with boundless hatred for Ji Mo, hid himself in the deep mountains and old forests.
He knew that the Brahma Heaven Sect would not let him go, the Xuan Shui Pavilion would likely kick him while he was down, and even within his own gang, there were those eyeing his position, intending to usurp him.
Tian Xiong fled westward, his destination unknown. Dazed, he collapsed onto an ancient grave.
The blood from his wounds seeped into the soil, disappearing instantly.
"Tsk tsk, the taste of fresh meat."
A voice emerged from beneath the ground, like the wail of a vengeful spirit from the netherworld.
The cold, dead aura filled Tian Xiong with dread.
He felt a powerful will descending, poised to claim his life.
"Senior, spare my miserable life! I, Tian Xiong, swear to submit to you, to serve as your ox or horse, no matter the cost."
At the brink of death, Tian Xiong hastily begged for mercy, devoid of any backbone.
"Cowardly and subservient, humans truly remain as base as ever. However, this old ancestor is in need of a dog, so I shall bestow upon you the honor of being my lackey."
A dark aura erupted from the grave, entering Tian Xiong's forehead.
Tian Xiong's eyes turned blood-red, his canine teeth grew, transforming him into a grotesque figure, neither human nor ghost. A bloodthirsty, violent, and evil aura radiated from him, his cultivation skyrocketing, directly entering the Spirit Emperor realm.
"Why has the sky suddenly turned dark?"
Ji Mo walked outside and noticed a strange phenomenon in the western primeval forest. Thick, ink-black smoke billowed towards the sky, vast and all-encompassing, a large expanse of black mist obscuring the sun.
"Who is so heartless as to set fire to the mountains? If I find out, I'll break their legs."
Ji Mo vaguely sensed the chilling, dead aura and found it extremely repulsive.
He did not recognize the unusual nature of the black smoke, mistaking it for someone setting fire to the forest.
The Nine-Transforming Heavenly Silkworm, perched on the old willow tree, gazed westward and muttered, "It seems an ancient undead being has crawled out from the nine netherworlds. The human world is bound to witness a bloody storm. However, it's best if this old fellow doesn't provoke the Master, otherwise..."
As Ji Mo was about to return indoors, he faintly heard screams.
He turned and was startled.
A chicken was beating someone!
In the vegetable garden, the black chicken ferociously pinned a man to the ground, pecking and scratching him relentlessly.
The man's clothes were torn to shreds, his body covered in wounds, and his face smeared with chicken droppings.
He looked utterly pathetic.
"Not bad, my chicken can actually guard the house and catch thieves!"
Ji Mo exclaimed, finally looking at Tian Peng properly for the first time, and offering rare praise.
It was indeed worth raising; this chicken was better at guarding than a dog.
"I've been praised, I've been praised."
Tian Peng floated as if in a trance. Ji Mo's affirmation was his greatest honor. He then received a reward, feeling so happy he could faint.
Ji Mo mistook Huang Guangcai, who was plotting against him, for a thief and kicked him several times, throwing him out of the yard.
As a reward, he sprinkled a handful of grain for Tian Peng.
"This is Shen Nong Rice."
Tian Peng looked at the golden grains of rice. He cautiously tried one, and felt his blood surge, his demonic power greatly increasing, and the ancestral bloodline power within him gradually strengthening.
The Nine-Transforming Heavenly Silkworm felt a pang of jealousy. Even the chicken was fed by the Master; when would it receive such treatment?
Did the Master dislike its ugliness?
"Hmm, I need to become beautiful."
She mused and began to weave a cocoon, wrapping herself within.
Each time the Nine-Transforming Heavenly Silkworm molted, its appearance changed drastically, and it awakened incredible abilities.
The Dragon Fish also refused to be outdone. Small bumps appeared on its head, and tiny horns began to sprout, signifying another step closer to dragon transformation.
Huang Guangcai retreated in disarray, tears of humiliation streaming down his face.
He, a direct disciple of the Great Elder of the Brahma Heaven Sect and a prodigy of the younger generation, had been humiliated by a chicken.
"No, it was that man, that malicious man named Ji. He must have secretly instructed that demonic chicken to humiliate me."
Huang Guangcai gritted his teeth, wishing he could devour Ji Mo alive.
This was an irreconcilable hatred. He swore to make Ji Mo repay this humiliation a thousandfold.
"Young man, do you wish for revenge? This old man is willing to lend you a hand."
A seductive voice suddenly echoed in Huang Guangcai's ear.