After a long moment, Xiong Kaishan landed, once again resuming his human form. He checked himself over with manic delight, as if still dreaming. For a long, long time, that ethereal, wonderful sensation refused to fade.

Only after thoroughly examining every inch of himself did he finally, truly believe it: he had actually advanced! Xiong Kaishan let out a long roar toward the heavens, and torrents of tears streamed from his enormous eyes. Suddenly, he strode forward to Jun Moxie and, with a loud thud, fell to his knees.

Jun Moxie was startled and hadn't time to stop him. Xiong Kaishan solidly knocked his head several times against the ground, his voice choked, "Thank you... thank you...

you!" Beside them, He Chongxiao’s eyes were also reddening. As a fellow Beast King, also stuck at the bottleneck, he completely understood Xiong Kaishan’s feelings, and fully grasped why Xiong Kaishan was kowtowing! Because, to the two of them, this mysterious master had bestowed a grace of rebirth!

Jun Moxie quickly helped the Fourth Brother Bear up. "What is the meaning of this? This was merely a wager, and I was only fulfilling my promise.

Why the ceremony?" Speaking these words, Young Master Jun himself felt a touch of disgust—a classic case of profiting immensely while feigning indifference. Such a small effort yielding such a massive benefit. He wouldn't mind doing ten or eight such deeds every day, and would welcome more opportunities.

But Xiong Kaishan and He Chongxiao felt nothing of the sort. They remained tearful. "Even if it was a wager, and perhaps nothing in your eyes, to this Old Xiong, it is a remaking of the universe!

Great kindness requires no words of thanks. If Senior ever requires anything in the future, simply command it. Old Xiong may have nothing else, but my strength is yours without reservation!

The title of Earth Bear King is not for naught." Jun Moxie looked at Xiong Kaishan. The sincerity shining in his simple eyes caused a sudden stir in his heart. Faced with such genuine feeling, Jun Moxie suddenly felt his own utilitarian thoughts to be rather base!

He took a long breath toward the sky, finally grasping a point. When dealing with subordinates, enemies, or those requiring schemes, one could never be too calculating. But for true friends, such scheming was utterly unnecessary; even a little was too much!

And Xiong Kaishan was clearly one such person. Anyone who received a favor from him would remember it until death, single-mindedly loyal! Such a person was worth befriending!

Jun Moxie’s gaze softened with an unusual tenderness. He gently clapped Xiong Kaishan’s shoulder and said earnestly, "Old Xiong, don't be like this. I truly consider you a friend." He took a long breath, speaking slowly, "I don't have many friends in these matters...

You are one of them. So, don't utter thanks to me!" Xiong Kaishan’s furry face instantly shone with radiance. Overjoyed, he exclaimed, "Good!

Excellent! Old Xiong was being overly sentimental, ha ha!" Jun Moxie chuckled, "Now it is your turn to guard my breakthrough while I lend the King He a helping hand! To fulfill my promise." He Chongxiao looked concerned.

"You expended so much energy just now. Perhaps you should rest a while? Recover?" Jun Moxie replied, "No need.

I can still bear it. Come." Saying this, he extended his hand. He Chongxiao hesitated for a moment, looking at him repeatedly.

Only after confirming he was indeed fine did he finally sit down. Some time later, Jun Moxie looked at the ecstatic He Chongxiao and Xiong Kaishan, and suddenly felt a profound happiness swelling within his own heart, an inexpressible joy. This happiness was entirely different from the thrill of a successful scheme, the ecstasy of obtaining an unexpected treasure, or the release of finally slaying an enemy.

This was purely, simply joyous! Yet, this simple joy gave Jun Moxie immense satisfaction! So, it wasn't just fighting and killing that brought stimulating pleasure; occasionally helping others felt very good too.

Jun Moxie mused with a smile... The entire latter half of the night passed very comfortably, pleasantly, and contentedly for Jun Moxie. The two great Beast Kings, Xiong Kaishan and He Chongxiao, tried their utmost, exerting all their strength, to invite this great benefactor and supreme master to join them in celebration.

They vowed that they had prepared an enormous quantity of Monkey Wine to express their sincere gratitude. It was truly too difficult to refuse such fervent hospitality, especially since the two Beast Kings had already voiced their intentions so sincerely. Moreover, there was still ample time before dawn.

Thus, Jun Moxie happily agreed to go. Monkey Wine was legendary good liquor, incomparable to the coarse wines existing in this world. Since such a magnificent opportunity presented itself, it would be a waste of heaven's bounty not to sample it!

On the way, Xiong Kaishan constantly issued commands, ordering his subordinate Ninth-level and Eighth-level Profound Beasts to contribute their absolute finest delicacies. He even directly demanded, "Bring them over at the speed of King He!" Instantly, the central area of the Heaven’s Punishment Forest descended into chaos, with shouts erupting everywhere. The commotion stirred up this time was even greater than the previous Profound Beast tide.

The depths of the silent Heaven’s Punishment Forest were usually exceptionally quiet, but tonight, dust filled the air as high-end species of Profound Beasts darted about like headless flies. The noise from the last Profound Beast tide, though immense, had scarcely affected the forest's interior. But this time was different; the upheaval blossomed right in the heart of the woods.

One often saw scenes of a bear clutching a pile of bright red, oozing fruit, speeding south to north, its heavy footfalls shaking the earth; opposite, a Golden Tiger, equally laden with fruit, raced by. Then, rounding a corner, the two Ninth-level Profound Beasts coincidentally collided with a "Boom!" Both tumbled backward in an undignified heap, precious fruits scattering everywhere. A gust of wind signaled the swirling arrival of the Tiger King, Lion King, and Eagle King.

An opportunity to share wine at the table with super-experts like this was exceedingly rare! Only a fool would fail to seize such a chance. Perhaps a casual word from this expert could trigger their own breakthrough.

Hadn't Third Brother and Fourth Brother advanced so inexplicably? That terrifying effect—no magical heavenly treasure could match it! When Jun Moxie saw the enormous stone table, his eyes widened.

Upon seeing the two colossal "wine cups," Jun Moxie felt a strong urge to faint. He almost suspected that Xiong Kaishan and He Chongxiao had invited him not for wine, but for bathing, given the sheer size of the "cups" and the vessels holding the wine—even a large bathtub wouldn't be this big. Then he saw the golden-furred monkeys laboriously hauling up cask after cask of Monkey Wine—each cask only a small one, as the monkeys' size didn't match the absurdity of Third Brother and Fourth Brother.

In the distance, countless more golden monkeys persisted in their transport duties, all headed for this single spot. Next, Ninth-level peak Profound Beasts, Ninth-level Profound Beasts, and high-ranking Eighth-level Profound Beasts filed up with fawning expressions, presenting countless rare fruits before retreating with wagging tails, looking highly honored. Good heavens!

Many of the fruits here were things he had only heard of in legends, let alone eaten or seen. Young Master’s eyes glowed blue: if he could bring all these fruits back to Tianxiang, think of the wealth they could generate! Although the fruits were enough to stir the soul, the bizarre Profound Beasts surrounding them were even more astonishingly peculiar.

Who had ever seen tigers and bears display such human-like fawning and pleasing expressions? This Old Master had seen it! And not just one or two, not just a pack or two, but...

so many! How could such a scene not be bizarre? Everything before him was prepared to welcome this Young Master!

Jun Moxie instantly swelled with self-importance. Jun Moxie suddenly felt as if he were a legendary figure: the Great Sage Equal to Heaven! Only when the Great Sage Equal to Heaven was about to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace, during his time as king of Flower-Fruit Mountain, when the seventy-two Cave Demon Kings pledged allegiance, could one experience such glory.

This kind of comfortable life was simply divine! Silently, a gigantic, snow-white lion approached the stone table with extreme deference, awkwardly cupping its two furry paws toward Jun Moxie in a gesture of salute. Then, it nestled against the side of the stone stool and sat down.

Its tail, stiff as an iron rod, swung back and forth behind it like a flagpole. Jun Moxie stared dumbfounded for a moment before finally realizing that the creature’s cupped paws had just been a formal greeting! A clasping of hands!

It was astonishingly polite! True shock! Xiong Kaishan, who was already seated, introduced him, "Ahem, this is my Sixth Brother, the Lion King, Shi Buchou." "Ahem, ahem!" Jun Moxie coughed violently.

"Lion King? Surname Shi? Shi Buchou (Shi Doesn't Stink)?

That name truly is... extremely distinctive!" He Chongxiao and Xiong Kaishan instantly froze, slack-jawed and dumbfounded. The White Jade Lion King’s forehead was covered in black lines; deeply embarrassed, he wished he could sink into the ground, frantically signaling Xiong Kaishan with his eyes—meaning: Explain this quickly!

A name like that could spoil any appetite for drinking! "Senior has misunderstood. Sixth Brother's surname is a homophone of 'Lion,' hehe.

It is the 'stone' from shítou (stone), and the 'worry' from chóu kǔ (sorrow), bù chóu (not worried), hehe," He Chongxiao coughed an explanation. "I see. My mistake.

Please do not take offense, King Shi." Jun Moxie nodded and even cupped his hands toward the Lion King. Lion King Shi Buchou immediately calmed down. This great expert was apologizing to him!

Truly the bearing of a superior man. The disgruntled Shi Buchou instantly felt incredibly honored! Another figure, a coarse man in golden robes transformed from a huge Golden Tiger, arrived before the stone table.

Just as he was about to speak, having nearly suffocated from holding back laughter at the "Shi Bu Chou" joke, he saw Jun Moxie’s gaze turn toward him and hurriedly bowed in greeting. "This is Ninth Brother, the Golden Tiger King, Hu Liedi," Xiong Kaishan introduced with a wide grin, unable to suppress the barely contained mirth in his eyes, clearly not having recovered from the "Shi Bu Stink" cold joke. "Tiger King Hu Liedi, yes, that name is indeed mighty!

It rivals King Xiong. One opens mountains, the other cracks earth—a fitting pair!" Jun Moxie’s expression smoothed, and his subsequent praise was clearly well-received by the Golden Tiger King Hu Liedi, who sat down feeling immensely flattered. [Ti: Dear reader, the current chapter has reached the final page of this book]