In the Di Lao, Zhang Zongnian was covered in medicinal ointment, wrapped in bandages, and still lay unconscious.
Laifu carried a bowl of medicine into the cell where he was held.
Looking at the still-unconscious Zhang Zongnian, Laifu let out a sigh.
Zhang Zongnian had already been tortured, not yet fully recovered, and was then given another brutal beating by two Body Tempering mid-stage Mouse Demons—his old wounds had not healed, and now new scars had been added.
This fellow really was down on his luck.
He propped Zhang Zongnian up against the wall, picked up the bowl of medicine, and started feeding it to him.
More than half the medicine went down before Zhang Zongnian coughed a few times and finally woke up.
“Brother, you’re awake!” Laifu exclaimed joyfully.
As soon as Zhang Zongnian opened his eyes, he began searching around anxiously.
He grabbed Laifu’s sleeve and asked urgently, “Lin Xue… where’s my little sister?”
Laifu pulled his sleeve free from Zhang Zongnian’s grip, set down the bowl, and answered, “Miss Lin was just here to check on you. When she saw you were still unconscious, she asked Elder Huai to come treat you. This bowl of medicine was brewed by Elder Huai, who told us to fetch it and feed you. I was worried those idiots under me would mess it up, so I brought it myself to feed you. How’s that, pretty attentive of me, right?”
He grinned, baring his canine teeth, and patted Zhang Zongnian’s shoulder affectionately.
Zhang Zongnian gave a bitter smile and said, “Laifu, you’re thoughtful.”
He then asked, “So where’s my sister now?”
Laifu replied, “Now? I don’t really know. I heard one of my idiot subordinates say that earlier, Miss Lin followed Er Mouse Lord to the main hall to see the Demon Princess, then went back to the Upper Level. She’s probably still up there now.”
Anxiety was written all over Zhang Zongnian’s face.
He was desperate to hand over the first volume of the Changsheng Jue to Lin Xue.
Shu Da was now a Grand Demon, and Lin Xue, forced by his oppression, had no choice but to submit to Shu Er and agree to become the wife of that rat.
If only he could get this first volume of Changsheng Jue into Lin Xue’s hands, with such a cultivation method and a Foundation-building Pill, given her innate talent, she might be able to directly achieve Foundation Establishment and become a being on par with a Grand Demon.
Then she wouldn’t have to endure Shu Da’s humiliation any longer.
With Foundation Establishment, she could fly away as a streak of light, no longer needing a flying artifact, and leave this wretched cave behind to regain her freedom.
Zhang Zongnian asked, “Laifu, can you find a way to get a message to my sister? Tell her I’ve woken up and ask her to come see me?”
Laifu looked a bit troubled and said, “That’s not so easy right now. The Upper Level is all guarded by those rats. Each one’s got their nose in the air now, and I can’t even get a word in with them.”
Zhang Zongnian’s face fell with disappointment.
But then he thought, Lin Xue would surely come to visit him in the next couple of days. When she did, he could hand over the cultivation manual then.
He just didn’t know when Shu Er would become a Grand Demon, or how much time he and Lin Xue had left.
His expression eased a little, and he said to Laifu, “Laifu, could I trouble you to get me a sheet of paper and a brush?”
He intended to write out the cultivation method ahead of time, so that as soon as Lin Xue visited, he could hand it over right away.
Laifu patted his chest and said, “No problem. Brother, you just wait. I’ll go get it for you right now.”
……
A night passed.
Shu Da, fully rested, opened his eyes and rose from the bed.
He twisted his neck, stretched his limbs a few times, and his joints crackled and popped.
The meridians throughout his body still ached faintly, but running the Wan Shu Chao Yuan technique once should be no problem.
As long as he helped his younger brother Shu Er ascend to Grand Demon today, and someone else could shoulder the burden, he could then safely enter Retreat to recuperate and eliminate the hidden dangers within his body.
He called toward the door, “Rat Seventh!”
A Mouse Demon came in and replied, “Here, big brother.”
Shu Da ordered, “Go tell Rat Fifth to gather his men, lock down the entire cave, increase patrols, forbid any group larger than ten from gathering, and prohibit anyone from entering or leaving the Upper Level cavern. Tell Elder Huai to wait at the entrance, then have your second brother come here to me.”
Rat Seventh answered, “Understood!” and turned to carry out the orders.
Shu Da returned to his room and waited quietly.
Before long, Shu Er entered his chamber, face filled with excitement.
His rat face was lit up with joy and anticipation, with a hint of nervousness, as he asked, “Big brother, are we starting now?”
Shu Da nodded and said, “Come with me.”
He led Shu Er toward a hidden passage at the back of his chamber.
Behind Hong Lao San’s chamber was a massive natural cavern.
Above the cavern, there was a crack through which the sky could be seen.
The crack was blackened as if scorched by fire.
This cavern was where every generation of the Hong Family’s Grand Demons underwent their tribulation.
The narrow opening above could shield against part of the Tribulation Lightning, reducing the force of the Heavenly Tribulation.
The Heavenly Tribulation couldn’t be avoided and had to be endured, but its power could be diminished.
Every generation of the Hong Family’s demonic beasts chose to undergo their tribulation beneath this crack when ascending to Grand Demon.
Most of the Tribulation Lightning would be blocked by the crack, and only a portion would hit the one crossing the tribulation, greatly increasing their chances of survival.
Shu Er followed Shu Da into the cavern and was surprised to see over a dozen monsters tied up on the ground, as well as a headless cat corpse.
Looking closely, he saw that the monsters on the ground were Hua Ban Tongling and over a dozen Body Tempering late-stage Tiger and Leopard Demons—Hong Lao San and Hong Yanzhi’s most trusted subordinates.
Hua Ban Tongling stared wide-eyed, his mouth stuffed with a piece of animal hide, able only to make muffled sounds.
The other Tiger and Leopard Demons were as pale as death, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
The headless cat corpse was the body of Hong Lao San.
Shu Er asked in confusion, “Big brother, what’s all this…?”
Shu Da snorted coldly and said, “All things contain the essence of sun and moon.”
“My Wan Shu Chao Yuan technique gathers all the sun and moon essence from the nearby mice and condenses it, then infuses it into the recipient’s body as cultivation.”
“Half a month ago, when I was forming my core to become a Grand Demon, I just used the Wan Shu Chao Yuan technique once. All the sun and moon essence in the mice of Luoyun Cave has been sucked dry by me. It’ll be a long while before they can accumulate enough for another core condensation.”
“If we waited until the mice had enough essence for your core formation, it’d take another year or two.”
“I can’t wait that long, so I’m doing it differently. I’ve summoned the mice to come and have them devour these cats.”
“These dozen big cats are all late-stage Body Tempering. The mice will eat their flesh and drink their blood, and they’ll gain some demonic energy from it.”
“I’ll use the Wan Shu Chao Yuan technique again, extract the demonic energy from their bodies, and condense it into yours to help you form your core and ascend to Grand Demon!”
Shu Er’s eyes sparkled, and he nodded eagerly.
On the ground, Hua Ban Tongling and the other Tiger and Leopard Demons went pale as they realized they were about to be eaten alive by thousands of mice. A few even fainted on the spot.
Shu Da walked to the center of the cavern, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began summoning all the mice in the mountain.
Shu Er sat opposite him, cross-legged, face full of anticipation.
……
Elder Huai arrived at the Di Lao and observed Zhang Zongnian through the cell door.
Stroking his long beard, he nodded and said, “It seems you’ve recovered quite well. That puts my mind at ease.”
Zhang Zongnian cupped his hands in thanks. “All thanks to Elder Huai’s miraculous hands.”
Elder Huai said, “Zongnian, it’s not just an old man’s nagging, but acting on impulse can ruin things. You’re still young; you must learn from this and never be so rash again.”
Zhang Zongnian looked ashamed and bowed his head in acknowledgment.
Laifu chimed in from the side, “Exactly! Why’d you have to provoke Er Mouse Lord? Never mind his big brother, even he’s already at the peak of Body Tempering and might become a Grand Demon any day. With your cultivation, why butt heads with him? That’s just asking for trouble.”
Zhang Zongnian sighed and said, “Elder Huai, Laifu, you’re both right. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
The three were chatting when suddenly a haughty voice rang out:
“Elder Huai, so you’re here. I had a hard time finding you.”
They turned to see one of the Mouse Family members, Rat Seventh.
Now that Rat Seventh served Shu Da and was trusted by him, he had become quite arrogant.
Once timid and shrinking in the cave, he now acted superior and looked down his nose at everyone.
Elder Huai asked, “May I ask what business you have with this old man, Seventh Lord?”
Rat Seventh looked down at Elder Huai and, in an ordering tone, said, “The Great Cave Lord orders you to go wait at the entrance to the Upper Level right now. Do not delay.”
Elder Huai was confused but replied, “Yes.”
Rat Seventh turned to Laifu and, in the same tone, commanded, “And you, old dog, the entire cave is now locked down. Watch your men. Until new orders arrive, guard the Di Lao well. No wandering around! No gatherings of more than ten people, and no going to the Upper Level without permission.”
Laifu was confused. “Lockdown? What for? What happened?”
Rat Seventh snorted, proudly showing off, “You don’t know? Of course not—you live in the Lower Level, not like us with our Upper Level connections.”
“No harm in telling you. Listen up—today, our Er Mouse Lord is going to ascend to Grand Demon! The Great Cave Lord has specially ordered a complete lockdown of the cave! Until Er Mouse Lord succeeds, no one is to wander about! Violators will be severely punished!”
As soon as Zhang Zongnian heard this, it was as if a bolt of lightning struck his mind.
Shu Er was ascending to Grand Demon today.
Shu Er had said that after he became a Grand Demon, he would marry Lin Xue.
Before, Shu Er had tried to take advantage of Lin Xue while she was unconscious, intending to defile her, but Elder Huai had stopped him, telling him that to improve his chances of surviving the tribulation, he needed to maintain his Origin Yang Body and not lose his essence. That was the only reason he stopped.
But if he survived the Heavenly Tribulation today and became a Grand Demon, there would be no more need to maintain his Origin Yang Body.
With that damned rat’s lecherous nature, the first thing he would do was surely consummate his marriage with Lin Xue.
At this thought, Zhang Zongnian’s whole body trembled.
If Shu Er became a Grand Demon, how could Lin Xue possibly resist him?
How could he stop all of this from happening?
Was he really going to have to watch helplessly as Lin Xue was defiled by that damn rat, utterly powerless to intervene?