Su Chuxue drew her gaze back with a hint of reluctance, then giggled, "The Young Master’s senior sister is a good person! Why don’t you have the Young Master marry her?"

Zong Shou was left speechless, rapping Chuxue lightly on the head as a mild reprimand. Setting aside the fact that Gong Xinran’s relationship with Gao Yi was extremely ambiguous and certainly not to his true liking, he himself already held someone dear in his heart.

A figure of ethereal beauty involuntarily flashed through his mind. He quickly shook his head; the person he had encountered in his previous life was, after all, merely a construct conjured by the advanced intelligent computers of the future. He had no idea what the real person might be like now.

He found himself quite ridiculous; truly a homebody to the extreme. Merely seeing a silhouette and a dance posture atop Mount Sheng had left his soul captivated, without even a single word exchanged. Even knowing the other was just a virtual character, he still couldn't forget her.

Chuxue, clutching her head, was thoroughly indignant at Zong Shou’s rough handling. "Why did you hit me, Young Master? Did I say something wrong? I think that Gao Yi is so insincere; it would be far better for Sister Xinran to marry you than him! A Gao family from Dragon Spirit City is vastly inferior to our Profound Heaven Mountain! The Young Master already has a fiancée, but which of the Demon Kings in the East Lin Cloud Continent doesn't have several wives and concubines? Father told me that the Emperor's line is strictly single-inheritance. When the Old Master was alive, he depended on you, Young Master, to propagate the lineage. That way, you wouldn't be bullied by the direct descendants of the Zong family—"

Zong Shou’s lips twitched; anyone else saying this might have been acceptable, but coming from Chuxue’s mouth, it sounded bizarre no matter how he heard it.

However, Gao Yi was indeed somewhat suspicious. Even someone as simple-minded as Chuxue seemed to sense it. But this man had been with Gong Xinran for three years. Given this man’s background and character, what kind of woman couldn’t he find? If he didn’t genuinely love Gong Xinran, why bother?

Moreover, at this moment, he truly couldn't offer any help. He could only hope that Gao Yi’s killing intent was directed solely at him, or perhaps there would still be time after he obtained that object—

He glanced upward with a shadowed gaze. Zong Shou then smiled and flicked Chuxue’s brow. "If they aren't willing, can we force them? Let's go find the Thunder Roc Egg!"

As his words fell, Zong Shou activated the Wind-Walking Spirit Bone and headed toward the other side of this Corpse Demon Mountain. Chuxue wondered, So what if we were to force them? Then she pondered, Are we really going to look for that Thunder Roc Egg?

Only when she saw Zong Shou walking further and further away did she hastily follow behind.

Continuing the ascent along the path, at about four thousand zhang, Zong Shou suddenly stopped, planting his feet firmly. He tilted his head back, gazing ahead.

"We’re here!"

Following Zong Shou’s line of sight, Chuxue looked up in astonishment and clearly saw a massive, sheer cliff face stretching horizontally before them. It projected outward from the main body of the Corpse Demon Mountain, extending thousands of zhang into the void. It rose over three thousand zhang high, incredibly steep.

Zong Shou’s gaze gradually revealed a hint of complex emotion. In the next instant, he reached out, scooped Chuxue up, and launched himself forward. His body soared up three zhang, and the Wind-Walking Spirit Bone installed on his waist and legs extended several grappling hooks, firmly gripping the rock face before him.

Little Jin, hidden in his sleeve, had somehow moved to his back. It extended over a dozen tentacles, their tips transforming into suction cups, adhering tightly to the cliff face.

He ascended rapidly, looking for all the world like a multi-legged spider.

Chuxue found it even more peculiar, wondering how the Thunder Roc Egg could possibly be here.

But remembering the countless astonishing things her Young Master had done these past few months, she finally held back her words, silently urging the Cold Nether Tiger to guard the two of them.

Soul Beasts were condensed from soul power and had no intrinsic weight. Therefore, even though the Cold Nether Tiger could not fly in life, it was able to closely accompany them now.

After climbing upward for about a thousand zhang, just as Little Jin’s strength began to wane and fatigue showed, the space before their eyes suddenly widened—they had reached the very top of the cliff face.

This highest point held a platform spanning several hundred zhang in circumference. Although it was right against the mountainside of the Corpse Demon Mountain, a huge, deep chasm separated it from the main body.

Not only could the vicious beasts not cross, but even the savage birds in the sky avoided this place.

Yet Zong Shou didn't spare the surroundings a glance. After setting Chuxue down, he activated the Wind-Walking Spirit Bone and, with several swift leaps, arrived at the center of the platform.

This area dipped slightly downward, revealing a hot spring about ten zhang square, emitting wisps of steam. The overflowing water flowed to the right, forming a cascading waterfall.

Chuxue followed closely, stopping beside Zong Shou. As the hot spring below came into view, she immediately exclaimed in surprise, "How is this a hot spring?" She couldn't help but ask again with curiosity, "Young Master, why are you here?"

Zong Shou’s expression was solemn; he shook his head and did not answer, his eyes flickering with sharp light.

In his memory, the water here should have been icy cold—this was the source of Chuxue's surprise. Beneath this rock face flowed a natural water vein, allowing it to gather the water essence of heaven and earth.

Since the water was still warm now, the object inside should still be there.

Following the normal trajectory, this object should have been discovered ten years later when the Spiritual Energy Tide began to affect the entire Cloud Continent, found by a Sun-Viewing Realm Spirit Master. In just half a year, it helped that person's sect cultivate a Heavenly Rank Martial Ancestor.

That sect was long gone in later generations, leaving behind only legends of questionable truth. And the library where Zong Shou spent his previous life happened to contain a fragment of history recording this secret.

He had painstakingly researched this location, conducting virtual inspections in the illusory realm. Naturally, this item would not appear in the game.

His only worry now was whether he could truly use the Thunder Roc Egg within as he wished.

His breathing grew slightly heavy. After a moment, Zong Shou gave a self-deprecating smile. This object was too important to him; he couldn't afford to vacillate between hope and fear.

Taking a deep breath, he forcefully grabbed Chuxue’s hand and unhesitatingly plunged into the hot spring.

Sinking twenty zhang, Zong Shou suddenly rocketed upward. His Pine-Pattern Wind Sword was abruptly drawn, gathering all his strength as he thrust it sideways.

Due to the water resistance, Zong Shou's power was reduced by a full seventy percent. Fortunately, the stone wall beside them was not very stable to begin with. The sword tip merely brushed it before it collapsed sideways.

Zong Shou and Chuxue were swept inward by the surging water. After finally steadying themselves and breaking the surface, they saw a small cave, about thirty zhang wide.

The cave was dim, making it impossible to see. However, the air was quite fresh, suggesting another passage connected to the outside of the cliff.

Zong Shou casually formed a hand seal and summoned a fist-sized ball of flame into his palm, illuminating the cavern. Chuxue then gasped, her expression fixed as she stared ahead.

In the center of the cave stood a colossal purple egg, nearly half a zhang tall. Beside it was the spring vent of the hot spring, surrounded by boiling water. The surface of the eggshell was covered in strange, winding patterns, resembling the unpredictable paths of lightning during a thunderstorm.

Chuxue froze on the spot, while the corner of Zong Shou's lip curved slightly. "No need to guess, this is the Thunder Roc Egg! But it's been over ten thousand years; there’s no life left inside. Even obtaining the Ten Thousand Spirits Longevity Jade wouldn't make hatching it possible—"

"It really is the Thunder Roc Egg?"

Chuxue sucked in a cold breath, her eyes widening to their limit. The Ancient Thunder Roc was one of the Divine Beasts. Even its descendants, the Thunder Eagles, which inherited merely one-tenth of its bloodline, were incredibly formidable raptors today, known for their fierce might—one of the mounts sought by Spirit Masters.

And now, the egg of a Divine Beast sat before her. Even knowing it could no longer hatch, the sight instinctively stunned her into silence.