Within a large tent in the encampment across the strait. Zong Shou wore a grim expression, staring at what he held.

The overnight plunder had yielded only two medicine bottles, along with a few sixth-tier Beast Cores. The only other items of any value were the few spirit-grade weapons lying nearby.

“Is that all? Where is the Small Qiankun Pouch? You just returned from Jie Fu City—don't tell me you came back empty-handed? Forget the rest, but surely you have at least eight or ten Earth Extreme Pills? I heard Tan Tao mention that Qian Tian Mountain and Xuan Mountain City place orders annually with the Eastern Lin Sects for twenty or so Earth Extreme Pills to serve as offerings for the Profound Martial Grandmasters.”

“The Small Qiankun Pouch is unique to secluded sects. If even Qian Tian Mountain doesn't have one, why would our Blazing Flame Mountain?”

Xiong Kui knelt halfway, looking utterly helpless. He gazed at Zong Shou with an expression reserved for utter fools. “As for Jie Fu City, which one of us truly ruined the Blazing Flame Mountain? Our sect managed to exchange for fewer than fifteen Earth Extreme Pills in total, and most must be sent back immediately. Even as the Heir of Blazing Flame Mountain, I cannot hoard excessively; I only have these two remaining, I swear I am not deceiving you!”

Zong Shou covered his face, feeling as if his heart couldn't endure the strain. He had genuinely hoped to recoup some of his losses this time. But the reality was that aside from the four Earth Extreme Pills obtained from Xiong Kui and Feng Yu, there wasn't a single other valuable item.

The military camp, which had filled him with high hopes, contained provisions for less than seven days of rations. Though sufficient for four hundred thousand men, its total worth couldn't even compare to a single Storm Flame Arrow. Then there were the earth and stone materials for construction.

Oh, right! There were also millions of arrows, approximately twenty thousand sets of spare weaponry and armor, and two hundred thousand second-tier Beast Cores—this was the only slightly worthwhile haul. Regrettably, most of it couldn't be carried away and had to be regrettably burned or simply discarded.

To say this venture was a total loss would be no exaggeration!

Zong Shou couldn't help but grind his teeth. This Demon King position, he was determined to secure it this time. Without gaining control of Qian Tian Mountain, there would be absolutely no chance of turning the tide toward profit.

His gaze toward Xiong Kui gradually grew dangerous as he stroked his chin, beginning to deliberate.

“How about this, Zong Yuan: cut off one of his fingers and send it back to Blazing Flame Mountain. Tell his father that I will only release the hostage upon receipt of a ransom of at least twenty seventh-tier Beast Cores.”

Xiong Kui’s face immediately turned ashen. Seeing Zong Yuan, who stood rigidly behind Zong Shou, step forward abruptly, he quickly waved his hands. “Wait! Just one finger, I, Xiong Kui, don't care. However, according to the rules of my Blazing Bear Clan, once a member has been captured by another, succession to the Clan Head position is impossible. Given my father’s temperament, he likely won't pay even a single first-tier Beast Core for my finger. You can cut it off, Heir, it’s useless to me.”

Zong Shou was momentarily stunned, looking toward Zong Yuan and Ruo Shui with a questioning gaze.

Both of them subtly nodded, confirming that what Xiong Kui said was true.

Zong Shou’s heart turned instantly cold. He had originally planned to extort a fortune, then tamper with Xiong Kui’s soul imprint before releasing him—a multi-faceted gain. But hearing Xiong Kui speak, it seemed he wouldn't even be able to secure half a first-tier Beast Core this time.

His eyes grew even colder, flickering uncertainly. No Small Qiankun Pouch, no Earth Extreme Pills, and no monetary value—what use was this fellow alive?

After a moment of thought, a flash of inspiration struck Zong Shou. “Zong Yuan, that urine pot made from Feng Yu’s head—can it really fetch money? Are you deceiving me?”

Zong Yuan’s face twitched violently, but he still replied calmly, “Reporting to the Heir, many people from Qian Tian Mountain have died at Feng Yu’s hands in recent years, including over a dozen from prominent families whose relatives are all exceedingly wealthy. Naturally, there are quite a few who hold grudges against Xiong Kui.”

Zong Shou’s eyes immediately lit up. Xiong Kui’s massive, ten-foot-tall body had transformed in his sight into a gleaming, golden chamber pot. Perhaps if he had it studded with a few gems and turned into a piece of art, it could fetch a high price.

Xiong Kui had already understood Zong Shou’s implications, and despair washed over him. He had initially surrendered, abandoning his dignity precisely to avoid having his skull fashioned into a urinal. But hearing Zong Shou’s tone, it seemed the fate of becoming a urine pot was unavoidable. Imagining the golden liquid of others being poured onto his own skull in the future sent shivers all over his body—it was simply unbearable.

Just as he sank into despair, a thought struck Xiong Kui, and his eyes darted around before he spoke decisively, “I, Xiong Kui, cannot produce money. But I know the city defense maps and Spirit Array structures of Blazing Flame Mountain City.”

Zong Shou’s killing intent subsided slightly, and he smiled thinly. “You are sensible, but that’s not enough to buy your life. Continue—”

Xiong Kui breathed a sigh of relief. Since he had started speaking, he hesitated no longer, feeling no psychological burden. “I also know the defense maps of all cities under Blazing Flame Mountain’s jurisdiction, the disposition of military forces, and even all the feuds between the various clans within Blazing Flame Mountain—who my father truly trusts and who harbors rebellious intentions. Are these satisfactory, Heir?”

Zong Shou fell silent, offering no comment. After a long while, just as Xiong Kui began to grow uneasy, he suddenly laughed. “Defense maps of the Blazing Flame cities? That is indeed tempting, but it’s still a bit too distant. Zong Shou vaguely remembers that your Blazing Bear Clan passes down a cultivation method through generations. What was it called again? The Sovereign Flame Spirit Incineration Art—rumored to contain a great secret, connected to the orthodoxy of an Ancient Demon Emperor?”

Upon hearing the words ‘Demon Emperor orthodoxy,’ Zong Yuan and Chu Xue both gasped in shock. Xiong Kui’s face instantly turned pale again. This time, however, his expression was grave, and he remained silent, uttering not a word. The light in his eyes gradually settled into a look of utter stillness.

Zong Shou narrowed his eyes slightly. Seeing this reaction, he knew extracting information this way was futile, but he didn't care. He waved his hand. “Zong Yuan, Xue’er, step back to the entrance!”

Zong Yuan’s brow twitched, and he cast a careful glance at Xiong Kui. Without much hesitation, he and Chu Xue retreated to the tent flap ten feet away. Then, Zong Shou remained silent, his eyes half-closed, appearing as if he had fallen asleep. Xiong Kui’s breathing grew heavy; his arms suddenly tensed then relaxed. After a long pause, he made no move.

Zong Shou chuckled derisively. “Afraid? Such a golden opportunity won’t come again. If you could capture me and return to Blazing Flame Pass, you wouldn't just be blameless, you’d be rewarded. Are you so wary? Zong Yuan, retreat another ten feet!”

Zong Yuan frowned, about to comply and step outside the tent, when Xiong Kui’s body suddenly exploded upward.

With crackling sounds like splitting beans, the Wheel Meridians, which should have been sealed, burst open entirely. His entire form was like a drawn bowstring suddenly released to its maximum tension, roaring as he lunged a palm strike toward Zong Shou. Flames shimmered across his entire being.

Seeing that Zong Yuan and Chu Xue were already a dozen feet away and unable to intervene, a flicker of delight crossed Xiong Kui’s eyes. It worked! Although he didn't know why Zong Shou was so foolish, nor did he understand the numerous discrepancies, he knew that if he could just capture Zong Shou, he could escape this day. Perhaps he could even wash away the past humiliation by taking off Zong Shou’s and Zong Yuan’s heads to play with.

His hand was inches away from Zong Shou, his mind surging with excitement, when he suddenly noticed a faint smile spreading across Zong Shou’s face.

Then, with a casual step to the left, Zong Shou evaded him, landing precisely in a blind spot just out of reach of Xiong Kui’s arm. A flash of sword light erupted from his right hand, piercing through the dense, surging protective energy. He violently struck the side of Xiong Kui’s arm with the flat of his blade.

Xiong Kui felt his entire right arm go numb, as if bitten fiercely by a venomous snake. Then, an extremely insidious surge of energy pierced into his body and scattered in all directions. He had to exert his full strength just to barely resist the invasion of these erratic, chilling electric currents that left his body tingling.

However, at this moment, Xiong Kui’s eyes were filled with blank incomprehension. What concerned him more than the chaotic true qi inside him was Zong Shou’s masterful, precise sidestep and that utterly unexpected sword strike. He only snapped back to awareness near the edge of the encampment tent, and his pupils immediately contracted to pinpricks.

This Zong Shou wasn't just skilled in martial arts; his power was formidable! He had already reached the Innate Realm, his swordsmanship exquisite! Indeed, rumors could not be trusted. People said Zong Yuan of the Purple Thunder Spear had lost all his spiritual energy and was destined to fade into obscurity. Yet, he suddenly erupted, grasped the profound lightning spear intent, and slew four Profound Martial Grandmasters in succession! And this Zong Shou, the cripple from the rumors, had hidden his depths so profoundly. An Innate at fourteen years old—he, Xiong Kui, known as one of the most outstanding geniuses of Blazing Flame Mountain, had only broken through to the Innate Realm at the age of twenty-one, even with the aid of elixirs! This Zong Shou had reached the Innate Realm at only fourteen!

This meant that Zong Yuan’s retreat was because he knew his master would be perfectly fine. Yet, there was no hint of retreat in his heart; the gap between them was still five tiers. Xiong Kui's combat strength could rival that of a Profound Martial Grandmaster, and he still had trump cards unused. He refused to believe he couldn't subdue this Zong Shou, this boy barely over fourteen—he couldn't possibly be more monstrous than Zong Yuan!

The thought solidified, and just as he was about to burst through the tent fabric, Xiong Kui suddenly spun around. The flames surrounding him instantly intensified several times over, then condensed again, turning silver-white. His aura became even more overwhelmingly fierce and tyrannical, enveloping the entire tent.

Xiong Kui’s speed increased significantly at this moment. His entire form blurred into an afterimage, and he launched another palm strike toward the youth opposite him from a distance. The entire process was as silent as before. Zong Shou’s lips curled up slightly. As expected! What Xiong Kui practiced was precisely the secret technique of the Blazing Bear Clan, the Sovereign Flame Spirit Incineration Art! In his past life, he had only glimpsed an incomplete version; too many incantations were missing, and he could never fully comprehend the crucial parts. Now, by sensing the flow of true energy directed into the opponent’s body through the qi infused earlier, the missing, unrecoverable sections became perfectly clear.