Above Luoyun Cave, dark clouds loomed heavily.
Bolts of heavenly thunder struck down mercilessly.
Inside the cave chamber, Hong Yanzhi listened to the rumbling thunder, watching Lin Xue sitting on the bed with her eyes tightly shut, motionless, her face full of worry.
Lin Xue had only told her that she was going to cultivate, and then fell into this state; no one knew when she would wake up.
Although Hong Yanzhi didn’t know exactly what Lin Xue was doing, she was clear that Lin Xue’s actions must be in order to deal with Shu Er, who was about to advance to become a Grand Demon.
Now, she and Lin Xue were deeply bound; if one was harmed, so was the other.
Naturally, she prayed sincerely in her heart that Lin Xue would successfully complete what she was doing before Shu Er became a Grand Demon and wake up as soon as possible, to avoid being tormented by Shu Er.
The rolling thunder lasted for about a quarter of an hour, then gradually faded away, and the dark clouds dispersed.
Hong Yanzhi looked at Lin Xue, who still had her eyes tightly closed with no reaction at all, and her heart sank.
She didn’t know whether Shu Er had survived the Lightning Tribulation, or if he would come to cause trouble.
The worry on her face deepened.
Inside the cavern, Shu Er’s body was battered and bruised, with not a single patch of good flesh left, lying on the ground twitching and groaning, “Aiyo aiyo.”
Although the crack at the top of the cave blocked most of the heavenly thunder, a few bolts still struck his body, leaving him riddled with injuries.
If it weren’t for the cave’s superior terrain, he would have been reduced to ashes under those repeated lightning strikes.
Shu Da, seeing that Shu Er could still breathe, let out a sigh of relief, then went out to order someone to call Elder Huai in to treat Shu Er.
Elder Huai entered the cave and was shocked to see countless layers of mouse corpses piled everywhere inside.
He stepped over the corpses scattered on the ground and came to Shu Er’s side.
After checking him over, he reported to Shu Da, “Master of the Cave, there’s no need to worry. Second Lord has suffered only flesh wounds. With some medicine and good rest, he’ll be fine.”
He stood up and saluted, saying, “Congratulations to the Second Master for successfully condensing his Jindan and advancing. Congratulations to the Master of the Cave. Our Xixia Mountain has gained another Grand Demon.”
Hearing Elder Huai’s words, Shu Er’s charred face was full of ecstatic joy.
He exclaimed excitedly, “Big brother, did you hear that? I’ve made it!”
Relief washed over Shu Da’s face as well.
This useless little brother of his had finally been forced into advancing as a Grand Demon and could now help him keep the demons on this mountain in check.
Once Shu Er recovered, Shu Da could finally retreat for some closed-door cultivation to nurse his own body back to health.
From now on, Xixia Mountain’s Luoyun Cave would be firmly in his grasp.
His next step would be to use Wan Shu Chao Yuan to slowly absorb the demon energy of the hundreds of body-refining mouse demons on the mountain, further refining his Serpent Core, forming a Demon Pill, and ascending to become the Yao Wang!
Thinking of the day he would become the Yao Wang, even someone as steady as Shu Da couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.
Shu Da was just about to instruct Elder Huai to prescribe some fast-acting ointment for Shu Er to help him heal his injuries quickly, when he saw Shu Er shakily and stubbornly struggle to his feet, wobbling unsteadily as his legs trembled and he headed toward the exit.
Shu Da was taken aback and asked, “Where are you going?”
Shu Er’s eyes were wild with excitement as he grinned, “Elder Huai told me before, if you want to advance to Grand Demon, you have to remain pure, not spill your vital essence, that way your chances of surviving the tribulation are higher.”
“I, Shu Er, have been holding it in all this time.”
“When you advanced to Grand Demon, big brother, you and the little demons all got to taste what it’s like to be a male demon with that Hong Yanzhi, but I, Shu Er, had to endure.”
“Now I’ve advanced too, so there’s no need to hold back anymore. I’m going to consummate with my wife right now!”
At this, Shu Da was so angry his nose nearly went crooked.
This foolish brother—can’t he have a bit of ambition? Just advanced to Grand Demon, covered in wounds, can barely stand, and the first thing he thinks of is to play with a female demon?
Face red with fury, Shu Da glared at him and rebuked, “Sit down! Stay right here and heal your wounds! Until you’re fully recovered, you’re not allowed to go anywhere!”
Shu Er was immediately disgruntled, but dared not defy his big brother’s orders, so he could only sit back down on the ground, sulking.
Shu Da said to Elder Huai, “Elder Huai, give him the best and fastest-acting medicine you have, let him recover quickly.”
Elder Huai nodded, “Rest assured, Master of the Cave, I’ll prepare the medicine right away.”
He saluted and left the cave.
Shu Da was just about to instruct his brother further, when suddenly Rat Seventh burst in, panic-stricken, shouting, “Big brother, bad news! The weasels from Yellow Wind Mountain are attacking!”
Both Shu Da and Shu Er were greatly alarmed.
Shu Da hurriedly asked, “What’s going on? Old Seven, don’t panic—explain clearly!”
Rat Seventh panted,
“The brothers standing guard outside say that Lang Qianxing and Lang Buping from Yellow Wind Mountain, along with hundreds of their Demon Troops, have come to our Xixia Mountain. They’re outside our cave entrance shouting, claiming that Hong Yanzhi is their Yellow Wind Mountain’s daughter-in-law, and Hong Lao San is their in-law.”
“They say our Mouse Family snatched the Hong Family’s cave, and as in-laws, they’re here to demand justice for the Hong Family. They want us to hand over Hong Yanzhi and give up Luoyun Cave, or else they’ll wipe out our Mouse Family. Big brother, you’d better go take a look!”
Upon hearing this, Shu Da’s face filled with rage.
He sneered, “That old thing Lang Qianxing is only at early Jindan, and his son Lang Buping is nothing but a showy pillow—a couple of useless fools, and they dare challenge me, Shu Da? They don’t know what’s good for them!”
“If the Lang Family wants to die so badly, I’ll grant their wish. I’ll slaughter all these weasels, and then I’ll take Yellow Wind Mountain for myself!”
With Wan Shu Chao Yuan, he had forcibly pushed his cultivation to mid-Jindan. Though he suffered backlash in his body, the cultivation was real.
At mid-Jindan, facing early Jindan, he could easily crush them.
Half a month ago, he could smack Hong Lao San to death with a single slap; today, he could do the same to Lang Qianxing and his good-for-nothing son Lang Buping.
Glancing at Shu Er, Shu Da considered whether to bring his newly advanced Grand Demon brother along for show.
Shu Er, seeing Shu Da look his way, immediately flopped back onto the ground, moaning and groaning as if grievously wounded and weak as a kitten.
Shu Da couldn’t help but fume.
This useless, hopeless brother!
When it comes to fighting, he acts like he’s dying, completely unreliable.
Where was all that vigor from earlier, wanting to mess with a female demon?
Forget it. The other side only has two early Jindan. I’m enough on my own!
With a cold snort, he said, “Fine, you stay here and heal up!”
He turned to Rat Seventh and ordered, “Gather all our Demon Troops. Come with me to face the enemy!”
Rat Seventh replied, “Understood!”
Shu Da, together with Rat Seventh, strode out of the cave.
Shu Er lay on the ground groaning for a while, perked up his ears to listen, and when he was sure Shu Da had gone far, he scrambled up eagerly, muttering, “You had your fun that day, but won’t let me vent my fire! Today, I’ll do as I please!”
Stepping over the corpses littering the ground, he staggered out, left the cave chamber, and went straight toward Lin Xue’s room.