The great dragon circled down to the Demon Plant's ankle, coiling around its thick leg, then anchored the other end to a stone on the opposite cliff face, adhering firmly to the rock. This was a maneuver of using borrowed strength.

The Demon Plant's leg was snagged, halting its advance mid-air. Its upper body, driven by inertia, continued to lunge forward, resulting in it crashing headlong against the cliff. The Demon Plant's hands shot out swiftly, gripping the rock face just in time to prevent a full collapse.

Furious, he seized the dragon with his hands, spun it twice in the sky, and then hurled it toward the mountain.

Fortunately, the dragon’s divine energy was merely an illusion conjured by the Qilin Beast; otherwise, Zhu Ping would have undoubtedly lost his spirit and suffered qi deviation.

Once tossed away, the Qilin Beast hastily reverted to its original form, simultaneously gathering the stray divine energy, flying back, and reforming into an even fiercer great dragon. The breeze was sharp, its bearing righteous and imposing, a figure of heroic majesty. The crowd cheered him on with applause, paying no attention at all to the dragon's master.

The great dragon soared above the Demon Plant’s head and charged straight for its eyes.

Pfft. A hole was pierced through the eye, and the dragon burst out through the crown of its head.

The ejected brain matter delighted the sheep grazing overhead, who greedily sucked at the Demon Plant's vital fluids—the purest essence of divine energy.

The Demon Plant died completely, collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.

The great dragon, its mission accomplished, dissolved into a wisp of divine energy and vanished from sight.

The crowd stood paralyzed, utterly incapable of thought, unable to conceive who possessed such immense power. They glanced at one another, shook their heads in unison, and remained silent.

The only ones left in the area were the transformed sheep, still lapping up the brain fluid. Once satisfied, they too dissipated into plumes of divine energy and disappeared.

Gazing upon the ravaged scene, the onlookers felt as though they had just woken from a nightmare.

The Five Brothers of Qishan murmured amongst themselves, "We never imagined there was such a master among us. We are still leagues away from that level. But who exactly was it?"

His eyes swept through the crowd, searching for a face etched with exhaustion, perhaps one that looked slightly different. Yet, everyone else merely displayed expressions of astonishment or sheer terror.

Finally, his gaze settled on Zhu Ping, noticing him panting heavily, beads of sweat slicking his brow, which piqued his curiosity.

Zhu Ping, mistaking the look for recognition of him as the savior, simply nodded.

However, that gaze lingered for less than three seconds before being withdrawn without hesitation. It seemed he held no hope for Zhu Ping whatsoever. His thought was: "This kid truly has no backbone; encountering the slightest danger leaves him breathless and weak, sweating from kidney deficiency. He’ll only ever be fit to carry our burdens in this lifetime."

But three seconds later, the gaze flickered back, and he noticed a secret: the beautiful woman beside him was gone. Right, it must have been the beauty who saved us. But where was she now? He racked his brain, scanning his surroundings.

Ao Jiao Lu, the second of the Five Brothers of Qishan, pointed toward the sky and shouted in amazement to the gathering, "Everyone look! That beautiful young woman is up there! It must be her who saved us!"

The crowd scrambled out of the cave, tilting their heads up to behold Princess Yadan soaring overhead. Thunderous applause and resounding cheers erupted.

Princess Yadan was completely bewildered, unaware of what had transpired. Ignoring the crowd, she flew straight down.

The cheering masses surged forward, rushing to thank the princess, who then realized they believed she was their savior. She could only try to explain, "I'm sorry, I think you’re mistaken; I didn't save you just now."

But no one paid heed, or perhaps no one truly heard.

At the scene, only six individuals refrained from joining the celebration: Zhu Ping, and the Five Brothers of Qishan.

All this time, the Five Brothers of Qishan had believed their cultivation was sufficient to handle any major crisis, yet today, amidst the disaster, they had done nothing useful beyond directing the masses to dodge.

Zhu Ping walked tenderly to the destroyed Demon Plant, picked up a vine, and infused it with divine energy once more. The severed piece immediately sprouted anew, growing back.

Near the plant's waist, the beast's face was faintly discernible. Zhu Ping could feel the message it transmitted: "Thank you for giving me a chance at rebirth. You are now my master, and I pledge my allegiance to you."

He communicated with the vine through mental force: "Vine, do you recall the Vengeful Beast War your family participated in three thousand years ago? All the divine beasts involved perished, forming a Vengeful Curse. I need to know how to summon the curse that binds your family’s vengeful beasts; can you tell me?"

The vine replied, "You already possess the right to command them. The divine energy of our family's highest administrative officer already flows within you; you can order them at any time."

Thank you.

He glanced at the cheering crowd nearby, thinking it was time to move on.

The valley was not very long; after only a few steps, they emerged from it. Just past the valley exit, the path ahead was blocked by several figures resembling officials.

The Five Brothers of Qishan were always proactive. They stepped forward and respectfully inquired, "May we ask who you esteemed sirs are, and why you block our way?"

One of the officials replied impatiently, "Are you here for the test convention? You have already passed the trial; you’ve passed the preliminary round..."

"What? That was a test set up by you just now?" The crowd grew furious. "How could you use people's lives as an experiment?"

The official snapped, "Enough nonsense. If you wish to continue the test, step forward. Stop lurking in the back like cowardly turtles."

Although everyone agreed their actions were wrong, ultimately, personal gain compelled them to swallow their anger.

They lined up, and an officer with a badge marked "Tester" stepped forward. He commanded the first child in line to stand on a specially constructed platform and began the test.

He ordered the child to hold both hands up, placing them over his heart. Chest out, stomach in, open the mouth wide. The Tester released divine energy, letting it permeate the child, then follow the path down the throat. After a minute, the energy was retracted. The Tester announced:

"Divine Energy Saturation: Seventy percent. Divine Beast: Primary Spirit Sovereign. Development Level: Fifth-level Spirit Sovereign."

Another official recorded the data.

One by one they proceeded, and only after a considerable time did it come to the Five Brothers of Qishan.

The Tester continued reporting:

"Divine Energy Saturation: Eighty percent. Divine Beast: Mottled Tiger. Divine Beast Level: Intermediate Spirit Sovereign. Development Level: First-level Spirit Condensation."

What shocked Zhu Ping was that, aside from differences in their demonic beasts and their ranks, the rest of their data was astonishingly similar.

"Ao Jiao Lu: Divine Beast Level, Intermediate Spirit General. Black Paw Bear: Level, High Spirit General. Wild Hairy Pig: Level, Intermediate Spirit Sovereign. Howling Sky Dog: Second-level Spirit God."

Zhu Ping nodded and said, "I understand, but I must go to the Divine Palace. Look, I still have to carry the luggage for the Five Brothers of Qishan."

The Five Brothers of Qishan looked at Zhu Ping, surprised that this seemingly timid young man would risk his life for the Princess—truly a man! They pleaded on Zhu Ping’s behalf: "Tester, didn't you say opportunities were equal? Zhu Ping should also fill one of the spots. Besides, he has to carry our luggage; he still owes us a favor, how can you let him go so easily?"

Seeing they could not be persuaded otherwise, the Tester finally consented. However, he issued three warnings to Zhu Ping:

"First, you must not wander about the Divine Palace. We know you are going for the Princess's sake, but you must restrain your emotions, or you will be reported to the Emperor by the Palace's informants. If that happens, you will be thrown out immediately, without even a chance to fight the divine beasts."

"Second, never underestimate any opponent. No matter how weak someone appears, who knows what hidden abilities they might possess?"

As he said this, the Tester gave Zhu Ping a slight smile, implying that since he was bold enough to charge the Blood Pass, his courage must stem from more than just passion; he must be a deeply hidden master.

"Third, do not engage in combat with anyone inside the Divine Palace, because the Divine King might appear anywhere, in any guise. It’s possible that the hands reaching out from the next stall asking for toilet paper while you are relieving yourself belong to the Divine King himself. Offending the Divine King carries an enormous penalty."

Having said this, he looked at the dazed Zhu Ping and asked, "Did you remember everything?"

Zhu Ping nodded distractedly. The Tester smiled sweetly, "Truly young and reckless. What is this thing called love in the mortal world, that it makes one willing to live or die for another?"

With that, the Tester had apparently agreed. The group gathered their belongings and set off.

Zhu Ping still carried the heavy luggage at the very back of the procession, but his mind was ahead of the others. He was constantly probing for any danger ahead. They relied on these few people to gain entry to the Divine Palace, and he didn't want any harm to befall them.

Thankfully, they reached the capital city smoothly. Everywhere was a scene of prosperity. People thronged the streets, shoulder to shoulder. Vendors hawked their wares with gusto, and the thick atmosphere of joy enveloped everyone's hearts.

But none of this managed to calm Zhu Ping’s turbulent spirit. His mind was completely filled with the image of the Princess; he truly couldn't fathom what magic she had cast upon him.

The Tester took the Five Brothers of Qishan and Zhu Ping shopping, buying them several sets of exquisite clothing. "When we return, you will change into these formal garments, and tomorrow I will take you to audience with the Divine King. Children from the countryside shouldn't look too shabby; they can’t afford to be looked down upon by the noble-born youngsters."

Zhu Ping was so touched by the Tester's thorough consideration that he almost wept.

The next day, the Tester indeed woke early, rousing the group, and they arrived at the entrance of the Divine Palace.

The group was immediately struck dumb by the sheer grandeur of the place.

Ten-meter-thick walls stretched for a thousand li, freshly painted vermilion radiating auspiciousness, and the thousand-year-old elm gate swung wide open before them. The solemn and imposing city guards stood rigidly, their expressions grim as the dead.

The Tester approached the entrance and spoke courteously, "Guardian Divine General, I am the Tester, bringing my disciples here today to challenge the Palace trials. Please grant us passage." He then pulled several gold coins from his pocket and slipped them into the guard's hand, smiling obsequiously, "These are a small token for the brothers; you work hard. Go have a drink. Heh heh."

The guard looked at the gold coins thoughtfully, then finally nodded, "You may enter. However, only your disciples are permitted entry. The Divine King has decreed today that all officials involved in state affairs are barred. So, I apologize, but we can only let the disciples pass. They certainly won't bother the Divine King, chasing him with memorials demanding approval, collection, currency, or recommendations."

The Tester replied, "Then I must trouble you, Guard. These disciples are country folk, inexperienced; please look after them."

The Guard said chivalrously, "Based on your understanding of proper courtesy, I will certainly help you with this matter." He then led the six inside the Palace, leaving the Tester with a noble and resolute silhouette without hesitation.

The Divine Palace was indeed magnificent. All sorts of rare treasures were casually displayed outdoors. Courtesans, exquisitely dressed, filled the corridors, their delicate perfumes intoxicating. Pearls and jewels glittered in profusion, and colorful murals adorned every wall, corridor, and pillar, making one reluctant to leave.

The group felt both reverence and curiosity toward the Divine King: Who exactly was this divine being, and what was his level?

The Five Brothers of Qishan asked the Guard.

The Guard chuckled, "As for our Divine King, he is quite simply the highest rank in the Condensing Spirit Continent. To my knowledge, he has cultivated to the Third-level Spirit King. He will likely advance further. You must work hard; perhaps in the future, you will have a chance to inherit the Divine King's position."

The Five Brothers of Qishan politely deferred, "That is too kind; how could we possibly compare ourselves to the King?"

The Guard's laugh suddenly sharpened into a ferocious sneer, "You indeed know your place. You certainly cannot reach the Divine King’s realm, because you are about to die. Heh heh. Guards! Men!"

As his voice fell, numerous soldiers sprang out from what moments before had been an empty rock garden, surrounding the six.

The Guard laughed, "Quickly, seize them and lock them in the Demonic Beast Dungeons! Tomorrow they will fight the beasts for the amusement of our beloved King Gore."

The six were terrified, staring blankly at the soldiers. Judging by their weapons, the soldiers were not joking. Zhu Ping, however, held onto a sliver of hope in his heart: "You must be joking with us, right? Testing our ability to react?"

The Guard laughed even harder, "Yes, we are testing your psychological endurance! Come on, bind them!"

Zhu Ping smiled faintly at the five and said, "See? I told you they were joking with us. Big Brother is truly loyal, telling us the purpose of the test right away. I thank you all in advance."

The six were marched to the Demonic Beast Prison. Seeing the utterly dark and filthy dungeons, they fell into complete despair. They had known all along that this was the Guard's trick.

In fact, Zhu Ping had become suspicious the moment the Guard refused the Tester entry; this violated the continental regulations. He secretly summoned the Guard's divine beast using his mental force and employed the "Drunken Beast Taming Technique" mentioned in the Beast Taming Records to paralyze it. Only then, through the beast's residual mental echoes, did he learn of a rebellion in the court:

King Gore had originally been the Divine King’s capable assistant, diligently aiding in managing state affairs. However, after serving the Divine King for so long, Gore grew increasingly dissatisfied and his ambition swelled. He secretly practiced his spells day and night, consolidating his divine energy and taming his divine beast, eventually surpassing the Divine King and staging a coup. He had imprisoned the Divine King and all the royal relatives in the Demonic Beast Prison.

Zhu Ping reasoned that if such important figures were being held there, the location must be extremely secret; unless he was captured himself, he would never find it. That was why he cooperated with them in the staged scene.

He had previously informed the Five Brothers of Qishan through mental force, which is why they all played along so perfectly with Zhu Ping’s charade.

His original goal was merely to rescue Princess Yadan. But now, it seemed, he might as well rescue the entire Lanpu clan while he was at it—after all, it was the land that bore and raised him.