Huo Zhongguang's entire aura had shifted dramatically. If before he was saturated with the greedy scent of the mundane, a fat man squinting, whose eyes saw nothing but Spirit Stones; now, though his physique remained unchanged, his gaze carried a quality of sinister ferocity.

The trials and tempering of this past year had transformed this former good-for-nothing into the foremost disciple among the third generation of the Military School. "I heard Senior Brother successfully achieved Foundation Establishment; I came specifically to offer my congratulations!" Feng Zikang said, cupping his hands with a smile, his demeanor entirely natural.

This was finally a plausible excuse; otherwise, there was no explaining why a chicken would willingly walk into a weasel's trap. "It was all thanks to your help, brother..." Huo Zhongguang's tone, however, lacked the easy warmth of before.

Over the past year, he had finally understood exactly what Feng Zikang had given him, yet pleasantries still needed to be exchanged. "But how does that compare to you, brother, slaying Wuduya?

Your fame now rings throughout the world, reaching its zenith!" This was also the plain truth. When Feng Zikang arrived at Sunset Peak today, the Sect Master Yuan Buhuan and several seniors from other sects had not even brought up that matter.

On one hand, it was because the Venerable Master Wule had uncovered a puzzle, making Huo Zhongguang's status somewhat awkward; on the other, achieving Foundation Establishment was something many could accomplish. Compared to Feng Zikang, who had altered the world's destiny and left behind glorious tales of chivalry, it was indeed hardly worth mentioning.

Huo Zhongguang scrutinized Feng Zikang from head to toe, his expression grave. "Brother, your cultivation seems stuck at the fourth layer of Qi Induction.

I heard Wuduya was immensely powerful; how did you manage to kill him?" Feng Zikang appeared unruffled and generously produced the Soul-Piercing Nail bestowed by Elder Yun, placing it before Huo Zhongguang. He chuckled, "It was all thanks to this thing, wasn't it?

A single successful strike, pure luck, really..." "A magic artifact?" Huo Zhongguang's pupils contracted, his face darkening. "I never imagined brother possessed such a fine treasure..." Feng Zikang inwardly suppressed a laugh.

Venerable Master Wule likely intended for him to serve as bait, perhaps seeing his comparatively low cultivation and existing rapport with Huo Zhongguang. Who knew that the relationship between him and Huo Zhongguang was too delicate for outsiders to understand?

This foremost third-generation senior brother might fear him the most. Perhaps only by having Feng Zikang expose all his trump cards and deliberately feign weakness would Huo Zhongguang be tempted to swallow the bait...

For the first time, Feng Zikang felt that being too powerful was also a source of trouble. "This is a magic artifact gifted by Elder Yun; it possesses only one divine ability, and once used, it’s gone..." He idly tossed the Soul-Piercing Nail in his hand before casually dropping it onto the table.

"Oh..." Huo Zhongguang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, the tension easing from his previously taut face. "On your journey to the Southern Frontier, how has your cultivation progressed, brother?" Feng Zikang shook his head.

"This junior brother's aptitude is dull; until now, my Bamboo Grove's Mystic Calculation Art has only reached the fifth level." He silently circulated his profound art, causing his facial features to emit a brilliant luster—the vision of the Five Senses united, signifying the Mystic Calculation Art reaching the fifth level. "The fifth level..." A spark flashed and vanished in Huo Zhongguang's eyes.

The fifth level of the art meant no divine ability could surpass the fifth level... This junior brother's inherent power was indeed not high, but what other strange things might he possess?

Foxes would always hesitate; they desired to steal the chicken but feared the hunter's arrows. However, as long as they could not escape their innate greed, they could not evade their destined calamity.

Huo Zhongguang hesitated for a long time before finally being unable to hold back his inquiry. "Junior Brother Feng, your arrival late at night, specifically on this day, surely isn't just to congratulate me on establishing my foundation, is it?" He had changed his address, and the facade of brotherly affection was entirely dropped from his expression.

Feng Zikang smiled faintly and calmly took a seat. "Senior Brother, you are perfectly aware of the matter; why ask again?

While in the Southern Barbarian Cold Mountain Grotto, I chanced upon knowledge of the Demon Realm entrance within the Dragon Tiger Mountain Secret Realm. After careful deduction, tonight is precisely when it opens." "Senior Brother, are you not interested in taking a look?" Huo Zhongguang stared at him for a long moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Junior Brother, if you are interested in this place, why drag me along?" Huo Zhongguang’s current demonic cultivation was truly beyond Feng Zikang’s expectations. Originally possessing only two incomplete demonic divine abilities and being a cultivation failure in the orthodox path, he had somehow, after killing Liang Si'an, elevated his spirit and forged an entirely new path of demonic cultivation.

Now that he had achieved Foundation Establishment, his bones were like steel and his eyes like lightning; he possessed the imposing presence of an ancient Demon General. His trip out for Foundation Establishment must have involved another strange encounter, acquiring a demonic inheritance, which is why he was so fearless, intending to use the opening of the Demon Realm entrance to venture inside for further cultivation.

"I hear the Demon Realm harbors supreme magical arts. Senior Brother Huo, now that you’ve reached this stage, do you not wish to advance further?" Feng Zikang deliberately adopted a greedy, drooling expression.

In reality, the highest demonic arts of the Demon Realm were only on par with his own Formless Celestial Demon Heart Art. He possessed the true lineage, so he cared little for the Demon Realm.

It was dark, foul-smelling, and extremely perilous—only those who desperately sought higher demonic arts, like Huo Zhongguang, would risk death to enter. Huo Zhongguang sighed.

"Junior Brother, to be frank, I do have that intention. However, I heard that even if the Demon Realm entrance opens, without the proper method, one cannot enter.

I, Senior Brother, do not know the entry method; going there would be pointless..." This statement was clearly a test. Feng Zikang sneered inwardly.

Even Master Wule guessed that he would use a Blood Sacrifice method to enter the Demon Realm; pretending ignorance now was simply overdoing it. "This...

I am also not entirely certain. Perhaps we can investigate right before the entrance; then we will know for sure.

What do you say, Senior Brother?" Feng Zikang deliberately displayed eagerness while pretending ignorance of the details. Hearing this, Huo Zhongguang laughed heartily.

"That is excellent! Old Brother has exactly that thought!

Let us go together then!" Originally, Master Wule's plan was for Huo Zhongguang to find some pretext to lure Feng Zikang into the Dragon Tiger Mountain Secret Realm, instructing him to believe whatever Huo Zhongguang said and follow him in; who knew that the situation had reversed, and it was Feng Zikang who had to employ careful schemes to coax Huo Zhongguang into accompanying him. But regardless, the ultimate objective had been achieved.

Before the Demon Realm entrance, the black mist was dense, almost substantial—the clear sign that the entrance was about to open. Only a few faintly visible golden threads sliced through the darkness, flashing with an unseen light.

If a cultivator's power surpassed the Nascent Soul stage, they would see strands upon strands of golden thread forming a vast, seemingly limitless net, shrouding heaven and earth, offering no escape. The supreme Military School art!

The Ten Directions Ambush Grand Formation! Four Core Formation masters, each holding their magic weapons, stood with grave expressions, ready for battle!

Venerable Master Wule, positioned in the northeast corner, gazed expectantly, awaiting the arrival of the two figures!