Zhang Zongnian was manhandled by the team of patrol Lesser Beasts into Luoyun Cave and brought before the Di Lao.
“Old dog, come out! There is work to do!” the Badger Demon shouted at the entrance of the Di Lao.
Laifu came out from the guard hut with two Lesser Beasts, asking grumpily, “You pest, why are you not patrolling your Monster Mountain properly? Why have you come to your Lord Dog’s place?”
The Badger Demon pointed at Zhang Zongnian behind him and said, “I caught a spy. Lock him up tight for me.”
Laifu looked at Zhang Zongnian and asked in astonishment, “A spy?”
The Badger Demon sneered, “This kid claims to be a Demon who became refined on his own in the wild. He only has Body Tempering Middle Stage cultivation, yet his Transformation is such a perfect human form. He must have received guidance from some expert. Either that, or he grew up among the Human Clan and based his Transformation on their appearance. Otherwise, how could he have taught himself to manifest such a fine appearance?”
“Since he came from the side of the Human Clan, he might very well be an undercover spy! I am going to report this to the Master of the Cave now. In a while, the Master of the Cave will come down to interrogate him to see what his purpose is. You old dog, keep a good eye on him! Do not let him escape!”
After saying that, the Badger Demon pushed Zhang Zongnian, who was bound as tight as a rice dumpling, over to him, then turned and left with his team of patrol Lesser Beasts.
Laifu sized Zhang Zongnian up for a few moments and ordered the two Lesser Beasts behind him, “Go, open any cell and lock him up.”
The Lesser Beasts came forward and escorted Zhang Zongnian toward a nearby cell.
Seeing Laifu again, Zhang Zongnian felt a sense of familiarity.
From the current height difference between him and Laifu, he could see that after his Transformation, he was a full head taller than his original body.
He considered how he should explain to Laifu that he was Zhang Zongnian.
……
Outside the Qian Si Yuan, Guo Shan Feng and a team of Demon Troops stood guard at the entrance.
Guo Shan Feng gradually began to feel that something was not quite right.
Previously, after Zong Biao and Du Niangzi led the young men and the Yaojing into the Secret Realm respectively, they would usually finish and come out in about half an hour.
Yet this time, they had been inside for nearly half a day, and there was still no movement in the courtyard.
Guo Shan Feng frowned deeply and kicked open the courtyard gate.
The courtyard was empty; there was no portal and no people.
Guo Shan Feng immediately ordered a Demon Troop, “Quickly, go report to the Mountain Lord and the Second Leader that something has gone wrong with the Secret Realm.”
The Demon Troop took the order and ran off at full speed.
With a grim expression, Guo Shan Feng held his Long Sword and waited in the courtyard.
Before long, a mass of black mist rushed over rapidly and stopped outside the Qian Si Yuan.
The black mist dissipated, revealing a middle-aged man who looked like a wealthy merchant.
It was none other than the Second Leader Zong-Lie.
A trace of gloom was now visible on Zong-Lie’s usually calm and composed face.
He looked at the courtyard and asked, “How long have they been inside?”
Guo Shan Feng replied, “Over two hours.”
Zong-Lie’s face was covered in dark clouds, and he felt somewhat uneasy.
During the past few days when Du Niangzi was training those eight Yaojing, he had sent people to check on their learning progress.
Although it was a bit slow, it was progressing steadily. Especially the two most beautiful ones, who could basically be said to have completely mastered the Yang-Sucking Technique.
This time, things were done in a hurry, and they had to be arranged to enter the Secret Realm ahead of schedule.
Although it was indeed possible that the six Yaojing might cause the process of absorbing Yang Energy to go unsmoothly due to their lack of skill, it should not have been delayed for this long.
There was still a faint sliver of impurity in his Serpent Core that had not been expelled.
He believed that with another month or two of cultivation, he could reach peak perfection and could Jiedan at any time.
As long as he persisted for another month or two, he could be promoted to a Yao Wang.
If any accident occurred now that caused the Hei Pi Yao Wang to lose his momentum, all his previous efforts would be wasted.
Had some accident occurred in the Secret Realm?
Du Niangzi was considered his person; he had promised her great profits to win her over to work for him.
Furthermore, this Qian Si Yuan was under his strict surveillance at all times, and she had no opportunity to contact Hei-Feng. She should have no reason to cause trouble.
Zong Biao was his own son and would certainly not betray him.
He had personally inspected the sixteen young men Zong Biao brought in; they were all ordinary humans without any cultivation, so nothing could go wrong there.
He had also looked over the eight Yaojing from Xixia Mountain that day; they were all just Yao in the Body Tempering Stage.
(Lin Xue at that time used the Spell Technique from the Heavenly Demon Transformation Art to hide her Demon Aura, so Zong-Lie did not know she was actually an Early Core Condensation Grand Demon.)
Even if there were some Lesser Beasts causing trouble inside, with Zong Biao and Du Niangzi, two Core Condensation Middle Stage Grand Demons present, those Zhujing Yaojing could not stir up any significant trouble.
Zong-Lie thought it over and felt that there should not be any problems.
He said, “Perhaps those few Zhujing Yaojing are not very familiar with the Double Cultivation Art, so they have been delayed for a bit longer. Let us wait a while more.”
Guo Shan Feng nodded and responded, “Yes.”
Zong-Lie said, “I will return to serve at the Mountain Lord’s side first. If there is any news, send someone to report immediately.”
Guo Shan Feng bowed respectfully and replied, “As you command! Please rest assured, Leader. I will keep a close watch here. As soon as there is any situation, I will report it to you and the Mountain Lord immediately.”
Zong-Lie nodded and left with an uneasy mind.
Guo Shan Feng raised his head and watched Zong-Lie’s departing back. The respect on his face remained, but a trace of mockery appeared in his eyes.
Zong-Lie returned to the main hall.
Hei Pi Yao Wang sat upon the Treasure Throne.
His complexion was currently ash-gray, his eyelids drooped, and he lay half-reclined against the backrest, motionless. At a glance, he looked like a corpse that had been dead for several days.
Hearing Zong-Lie’s footsteps, Hei Pi Yao Wang moved slightly, lifted his eyelids, stared at Zong-Lie, and asked, “How is it? Have my Yao-Fei come out of the Secret Realm yet?”
Although his whole being was deathly still, he still possessed a natural aura of authority, his tone filled with the majesty of a regional hegemon.
Zong-Lie lowered his head and replied, “Elder Brother, the time for entering the Secret Realm was a bit rushed. Some Yao-Fei have not yet mastered the Double Cultivation Art very well, so they have been delayed for a bit longer and have not been able to come out yet. Please be patient and wait a little longer, Elder Brother. I have already ordered Guo Shan Feng to stand guard there. Once they come out, they will be sent here immediately.”
Hei Pi Yao Wang’s gaze turned cold, his eyes falling on Zong-Lie’s face. His tone was as if it had been frozen in ice: “Wait? How much longer do you think this king can wait?”
Zong-Lie’s heart jumped, and he said, “Elder Brother, please rest assured, it should not be much longer.
Zong Biao is particularly concerned about your matters. With him watching inside the Secret Realm, nothing will go wrong.”
Hei Pi Yao Wang stared at him for a while, then waved his hand and said, “This king is tired. You may leave.”
Zong-Lie lowered his head and said, “Yes, Elder Brother, please rest. I shall take my leave.”
He backed away a few steps and then turned to leave the hall.
Several Pig Demon guards stood watch at the entrance of the main hall.
Zong-Lie gave them a meaningful look and said, “Take good care of the Mountain Lord.”
Afterward, he walked to a side hall, sat cross-legged, calmed his mind, and began to cultivate, accelerating the process of expelling that sliver of impurity from his Serpent Core.
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