The heart of the Central Continent was vast, far larger than the other four regions. Abundant in spirit qi and resources, it nurtured countless geniuses and drew many forces with ancient inheritances and formidable foundations.

The Luoheng Holy Land was one of them. Deep in the Western Extreme, a massive mountain range sat in an imposing manner. The layered green peaks and misty clouds presented a scene of immortal grandeur.

Within the mountains, Zuo Yang walked slowly. His face subtly showed signs of fatigue. “I’ve arrived.”

Looking at the stretch of green mountains and clear water before him, he gently exhaled, opened his palm, and formed an ancient hand seal. Space trembled lightly. Where there had been nothing, a portal instantly appeared. Without hesitation, Zuo Yang stepped inside.

Not far from the portal, an old man leisurely sat cross-legged, cultivating. Sensing the commotion, he slightly opened his eyes, and then it flew wide open.

He completely lost his composure. “Z-Zuo Yang!”

Zuo Yang nodded. “Elder Wang.”

Elder Wang was so excited that he immediately stood up. “You’re back! This is great! Excellent! Hahaha... joyful news, joyful news, tremendously joyful news!”

He quickly sent a transmission. The Luoheng Holy Land was larger than the Myriad Transformations Holy Land. Those nearby immediately hurried over, while those far away rushed to come. Zuo Yang’s return was like a dream to them.

Surrounded by a crowd, Zuo Yang was a bit displeased. “Move aside. I need to see the Holy Master.”

Suddenly, a furious shout came from midair. “You’re Zuo Yang? You still have the face to come back!”

A young man instantly landed before Zuo Yang, followed by dozens of people. Unlike the lively crowd, his entourage appeared grim and unwelcoming.

Zuo Yang frowned slightly. “Who is he?”

The old gatekeeper appeared a bit awkward. “After you left, he became the new Holy Son.”

Zuo Yang was silent for a moment, then calmly stared at the young man. “Well, not anymore.”

“What did you say?!”

Zuo Yang thought for a moment. “I’m back. I’m going to continue being the Holy Son.”

The young man flew into rage. “How dare you! The position of Holy Son is fundamental to the Holy Land. It requires passing numerous trials. How could you just decide to be it whenever you want—”

Suddenly, a burst of laughter came. “Hahaha... Is it true?”

A white-haired old man in hemp robes descended silently, landing barefoot before Zuo Yang.

The crowd immediately bowed. “Holy Master!”

The Luoheng Holy Master paid no heed to them, staring at Zuo Yang with ecstacy. “Zuo Yang, do you know how many years I’ve waited to hear you say that? Tsk, it’s just that your cultivation level is a bit low. When you left back then, you were already at the Heavenly Tribulation realm—”

Zuo Yang interrupted him. “I’ve been busy cooking. I haven’t had time to break through.”

The Luoheng Holy Master didn’t dare push him either. “It doesn’t matter. It’s good that you’re back. You’ve never had an issue with breaking through, anyway. Whenever you want—”

Zuo Yang interrupted him again. “Also, being the Holy Son comes with conditions.”

“Speak your mind!”

“I want the Soul-Harvesting Fruit.”

The Luoheng Holy Master waved his hand grandly. “Granted! Your cultivation level has reached the Earthly Tribulation realm, you’ll need it for your breakthrough. I’ve prepared it for you!”

Not far away, the former Holy Son was almost green with envy. That Soul-Harvesting Fruit was something close to a saint herb! He was also at the Earthly Tribulation realm and had long coveted that fruit, but to no avail. Yet today, the old man handed it to Zuo Yang as casually as a radish.

Zuo Yang’s next words made him even more devastated. “It’s not for me. I want to give that fruit to someone else. Deliver it for me. Be quick, or it’ll be too late.”

The Luoheng Holy Master hesitated slightly. “What... To someone else...?”

Zuo Yang turned and left. “Farewell.”

The Luoheng Holy Master panicked. “I’ll send it, I’ll send it! It’s just a fruit, you say who it goes to, it’s done. Wang Yong, you handle this matter. Listen to Zuo Yang!”

The old gatekeeper, Wang Yong, replied, “Yes, understood! I’ll deliver it right away!”

Zuo Yang instructed carefully, “Deliver it to the Great Flame Empire’s capital. Give it to a person called Gu Han. He’s my junior brother. Don’t you go putting on Holy Land airs with him.”

Wang Yong shuddered. Put on airs with him? Knowing he’s your junior brother, would I dare? Wouldn’t the Holy Master annihilate me?

The Luoheng Holy Master smiled. “Zuo Yang, any other requests?”

Zuo Yang thought for a moment. “Yes. Help me teach someone a lesson. He bullied my junior brother.”

***

Although the Holy Demon Sect’s history wasn’t as long as ancient Holy Lands like the Luoheng Holy Land, because of its sect master, its strength was not inferior at all. It ruled over numerous demonic sects, both great and small, with only the enigmatic Tianlong Temple able to rival it.

Since demonic cultivators tended to follow their hearts more freely, their methods were often more brutal than those of ordinary cultivators. As a result, the region was a riot of demons with dense demonic qi, like a ghost domain. Yu Miao was accustomed to all this, having grown up here since childhood.

As she walked, a sinister and terrifying laugh echoed. “What a beautiful woman! Daring to come here alone! Tsk tsk, perfect timing. I’m about to break through and just happen to need a furnace cauldron. You’ll do!”

As the words fell, a grotesquely ugly old man blocked her path, leering at her lecherously.

However, Yu Miao was unfazed and looked at him calmly.

The old man rubbed his hands. “You’re not afraid? It doesn’t matter. Later I’ll let you taste—”

Before he finished speaking, a large hand suddenly shot out from the side, grabbing him tightly. The old man turned to look and was terrified.

Behind him, dozens of figures had appeared at some point. Every one of them brimmed with killing intent, ready to devour him alive. The old man immediately recognized them as high-ranking elders of the Holy Demon Sect. As for the middle-aged man who had grabbed him, he was even more familiar. It was Yan Qianjue, the Holy Demon sect master!

Yan Qianjue was ferocious, full of murderous aura. “You dare use my daughter as a furnace cauldron? You son of a bitch! You must be tired of living!”

“Spare—”

Yan Qianjue applied slight force, and the man exploded into a cloud of blood mist.

Yet, the sect master was still not appeased. “Go find this bastard’s sect, kill them all and refine them into demon marionettes! Remember, not a single tree or a single blade of grass is to be left for him!”

Behind him, someone immediately set to work. “Understood!”

“Young Sect Master, you’re back!”

“You’ve gotten even more beautiful, Young Sect Master!”

“Of course! You’re the most beautiful person under heaven, Young Sect Master!”

“Indeed.”

That high-ranking Holy Demon Sect group vigorously flattered.

However, the moment Yan Qianjue glared at them, the crowd shuddered and hastily bowed. “Greetings, Young Sect Master!”

Yan Qianjue’s face piled up with smiles, rubbed his hands, wanting to get closer but not daring. “My daughter, you’ve finally come back. You don’t know how much I’ve missed you like crazy. I wanted to go see you, but I was afraid of annoying you. I miss you more every day by not going...”

At this moment, he was the spitting image of a mortal old father. There wasn’t any trace of the Holy Demon sect master’s dominance and demonic might left.

Yu Miao didn’t seem appreciative. “Enough. I’m tired.”

“Let’s go, let’s go, I will take you back for a good rest!”

Yu Miao said lightly, “Also, help me with a few things.”

“Tell me, tell me!”

“I want the Blood Sea Nether Demon Grass.”

“There’s no need for formalities. The entire Holy Demon Sect is yours. Whatever you want, just take it!”

Yu Miao paused slightly. “Send someone to the Great Flame Empire, give it to a person called Gu Han. It must be quick, no delays.”

“Is Gu Han—”

“None of your business.”

Yan Qianjue was a bit hurt, but thinking this was a golden opportunity to repair relations with Yu Miao, he gritted his teeth. “Elder Zhou, go deliver it now!”

“Understood!”

Yu Miao stopped him, a hint of gloom flashed in her eyes. “Wait. Take the treasure robe my mother left behind as well, give it to him along with the herb. If he can recover, he should be able to use it later.”

Elder Zhou was dumbfounded and glanced at Yan Qianjue. “Huh? This—”

Yan Qianjue was furious. “Do it! What, are you telling me to deliver it myself?!”

Elder Zhou was sweating profusely. “Yes, understood!”

Yu Miao instructed, “Remember, when you see him, put away the Holy Demon Sect attitude of yours. He won’t fall for that act at all.”

Elder Zhou thought for a moment. “Young Sect Master, how about when I see him, I kneel and kowtow to him first?”

Everyone was speechless.

Yan Qianjue held back a few times but couldn’t contain himself. “Daughter, this Gu Han is a guy?”

“Mhm.”

Yan Qianjue’s heart twitched violently.

Yu Miao knew he misunderstood and frowned again. “He’s my junior brother.”

Yan Qianjue immediately relaxed. Junior brother, ah. That’s fine then! Hmm? No! Junior brothers are even more dangerous!

Yu Miao couldn’t be bothered to explain further. “Oh, right. There’s someone I really dislike. Go and teach them a lesson for me.”

***

The main hall of the Fu estate in the Central Continent was decorated in dazzling gold. There, the travel-worn Fatty stood, marked by wind and frost.

He glared at the equally portly middle-aged man, his eyes bloodshot. “One last time, are you giving it or not?!”

The middle-aged fatty was also furious. “Not a chance! This matter alone ends here!”

This man was Fatty’s biological father, the current Fu family head, Fu Youde.

Fatty trembled with rage. “If you don’t give it to me today, I’ll break off our father-son relationship!”

Fu Youde sneered coldly. “Dream on! You carry my blood in your veins, you can’t just break it off whenever you say. Look at you. Who wouldn’t know you’re my offspring?!”

Fatty was at a loss for tears. “How did I end up with a father like you?!”

Fu Youde was unmoved. “Let me tell you, anything else is possible, just not this. One more crooked thought, and I’ll make you regret it!”

Fatty’s beady eyes darted around a few times, then he pointed at a pillar in the main hall. “If you won’t give it, I’ll smash my head against that and die right in front of you today!”

The pillar was made of strange metal that was extremely thick and sturdy.

Fu Youde gave him a side eye, saying nothing.

Fatty gritted his teeth. “You’ve lost a son today!”

He firmly smashed his head against the pillar. Instantly, a tremor shook heaven and earth. The entire main hall shook a few times, then collapsed with a roar. The huge commotion immediately alarmed all the old and young of the Fu family. They rushed over, only to be struck dumb on the spot.

In the pile of rubble, Fu Youde was covered in dust, his arms crossed. His face was all gray, hard to make out. Not far away, Fatty sat amid the ruins in despair.

“Damn...”

“How is Fatty’s head so hard...?”

The crowd looked at each other in bewilderment. They were already used to the father and son squabbling all day. However, it was a first for such a big ruckus to happen, almost tearing down the house.

“Family Head, what’s going on?”

“Young Master wants something, just give it to him.”

“Right, our family’s treasures are piled sky-high. There’s no reason to be so stingy.”

The crowd tried to persuade him, but Fu Youde remained unmoved. “Let him die! When he’s dead, I’ll have ten—no, a hundred more sons!”

An elder with considerable seniority stepped forward, saying earnestly, “Ahem... Youde, even if you had ten thousand more sons, only one has ever managed to make the Dao Bell ring nine times since the Fu family was established.”

Fu Youde’s expression stiffened. He looked at Fatty, whose eyes were vacant and in despair. His heart softened as he sighed. “Anything but that. You should know what that thing means to the Fu family. I can even give you the position of the family head.”

Suddenly, an aged sigh came through. “Give it to him.”

“Old Ancestor! You can’t—”

“Give it!”

Fu Youde sighed heavily. “Understood!”

With a thud, Fatty knelt down. “Old Ancestor, thank you so much! I know how important that thing is to you, but... he’s my friend. I can’t just stand by and watch him die.”

Old ancestor said again, “Enough. The Fu family has never had an ungrateful, disloyal person. This debt of gratitude must be repaid.”

Fatty gritted his teeth. “Old Ancestor, that shameless old thing from the Wu family bullied my brother. This matter isn’t over!”

***

In the Great Flame Empire’s capital, Gu Han didn’t know that the things Zuo Yang and the others were doing for him would stir up such commotion.

Upon hearing the two were going out, Zhao Mengyou couldn’t help herself either. “I’m going too!”

If she hadn’t been cold and tranquil by nature, she would probably have been driven mad by Yun Fan’s verbal torment. Naturally, she wanted to go out for some fresh air as well.

Gu Han was about to object but Yun Fan beat him to it. “You really want to go?”

“Yes.”

“You won’t regret it?”

“No.”

Yun Fan snickered again. “Good. Then let’s go together.”