Shang, however, acted with surprising maturity. Though tempted by greed—his mortal heart stirred by the tempting specter of the demon's persuasion—he firmly suppressed the impulse. This youth carried a storage pouch laden with Spirit Stones; he must have a background. If a move were to be made, it had to be executed perfectly, leaving no loose ends.

With this thought, Wang Shang shot his junior brother a meaningful glance. The dissolute young man immediately understood, leaped forward, and bellowed.

"Absolutely not! You creature has ravaged the world; how can a mere offering of Spirit Stones buy your way out? We must not only capture this fiend, but you must also come back to the mountain with us so my father can deal with your crime of harboring a demon!"

They presumed the boy was simple-minded and young, believing that if they could just drag him back within the boundaries of the Mount Tai Sword Sect, he wouldn't have a chance to fly away.

Feng Zikang sneered inwardly. Disciples from such petty sects dared to harbor malicious intent toward him? If not for other considerations, he would have ended them with a single sword stroke, sparing himself the sight of these sycophantic small-minded individuals.

The only reason he was being so cautious stemmed from Huo Zhongguang’s timely warning in his Sea of Consciousness.

Now that Huo Zhongguang had offered up his Primordial Spirit Core, Feng Zikang had relaxed his control, no longer keeping him entirely confined within the Prison of the Four Symbols Divine Demons. As long as Feng Zikang consented, Huo Zhongguang could perceive the surrounding situation.

Upon hearing that the two were disciples of the Mount Tai Sword Sect, Huo Zhongguang quickly urged caution, noting that the people of Mount Tai would be useful for the upcoming journey to the Demon Manor on Dragon Tooth Island.

It turned out that the East Sea’s Dragon Tooth Island was once the foundational territory of the Mount Tai Sword Sect.

Three hundred years ago, the founding patriarch of the Mount Tai Sword Sect, Daoist Qingmu, was extraordinarily gifted. His profound martial skill, the Fengshan Sword Art, earned high praise from masters of the Confucian and Agrarian schools. Although the Mount Tai Sword Sect had not yet ascended to the status of a major sect, everyone knew that with the patriarch leading, it would not take long for the sect to flourish and join the ranks of the great sects.

Thus, the ambitious Daoist Qingmu entered seclusion to refine his creation, choosing Dragon Tooth Island as his retreat.

Who knew that less than two years later, Daoist Qingmu suddenly emerged from seclusion, his face deathly pale. He claimed to have been defeated by a sword strike, gave his final instructions, and then his body exploded and died.

Afterward, the Mount Tai Sword Sect constantly spied upon Dragon Tooth Island but found nothing. With Daoist Qingmu’s demise, the sect gradually declined, barely managing to maintain an unremarkable status.

After the events at the East Sea Demon Manor, Huo Zhongguang found the situation suspicious and began investigating, uncovering the link between the Mount Tai Sword Sect and Dragon Tooth Island. Recalling that earth-shattering sword strike at the Demon Manor, he intuitively felt it must be related to Daoist Qingmu’s defeat. The fact that the Mount Tai Sword Sect sent disciples to investigate Dragon Tooth Island year after year, resulting in many deaths without ceasing, suggested deeper secrets.

However, he was eager to return to the mountain at the time and didn't investigate further.

Now that this opportunity had arisen, Huo Zhongguang naturally instigated Feng Zikang to visit the Mount Tai Sword Sect. After all, those two clowns could be crushed in the palm of his hand; there was no rush.

The current leader of the Mount Tai Sword Sect, someone named Liu, possessed only Foundation Establishment cultivation—Huo Zhongguang himself wouldn't spare him a glance, let alone Feng Zikang. Once inside the sect, the real objective was to subtly extract the secret of Dragon Tooth Island.

"Oh, what should I do now?"

Feng Zikang deliberately put on a pale, frightened expression, feigning deep distress.

Wang Shang smirked obscenely. "Little brother, don't worry. Our Sect Master is a man of justice. When he sees you, he will handle this fairly!"

He thought to himself, Whether you ever get to see the Sect Master is another matter entirely.

Feng Zikang hung his head dejectedly. He had no choice but to agree, feeling inexplicably suppressed. When had he ever been so low-key? He felt depressed and restless.

"Junior Brother, for you to restrain yourself and not immediately dispatch those two ruffians, even I, Brother, admire you!"

In a dilapidated hut in the fishing village, Feng Zikang sat quietly while Huo Zhongguang’s blood shadow manifested, his expression filled with amusement. "I thought that even if you intended to visit Mount Tai, you would have killed your way there."

Feng Zikang shook his head and smiled lightly.

Although he cultivated the Demonic Path, it was not centered on mindless slaughter, but rather on cunning and mastering the art of controlling the human heart—the Unphased Heavenly Demon Way. What benefit would there be in slaughtering his way to Mount Tai? It would waste time and effort, likely yielding minimal results.

"That's true, you are not a indiscriminate killer."

Huo Zhongguang recalled their past experiences; Feng Zikang always killed only at the most opportune moments, achieving mastery effortlessly. This made him admire the depth of his Junior Brother’s wisdom and prudence at such a young age even more.

The finest house in the fishing village was naturally occupied by Liu Yue and Wang Shang. Seeing Feng Zikang’s meekness, the villagers looked down on him, carelessly assigning him a broken shack to rest in. Feng Zikang paid it no mind.

Dinner was dried fish and taro—there wasn't a shred of respect shown to an immortal. The world's snobbery was generally thus.

As for Liu Yue’s quarters, the lights burned late into the night, filled with clamor. The villagers hated and feared him but dared not disobey, supplying whatever he demanded—fresh fish, fine wine, the best the village had to offer. Liu Yue was still unsatisfied. Seeing the Village Head’s two daughters, barely thirteen or fourteen, though rustic, they were young and charming. He forced them to serve drinks, and the Village Head dared not voice his anger.

"Bullying the weak is the way of the world," Huo Zhongguang sneered ceaselessly.

Feng Zikang offered no comment. Although the human heart is unfathomable, it is also a tremendous force. He gently stroked the little fox’s fur, contemplating the true essence of the Dao.

The common people were ignorant and foolish, consumed only by greed, governed by the seven emotions and six desires, the three poisons and five harms—truly impure. The most established three forces in the cultivation world were those who intentionally lowered their status to instruct and enlighten the masses, enduring hardship and tirelessly serving the mundane world.

Even in this dilapidated hut in the fishing village, there was a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva. The village schoolhouse displayed a statue of Confucius. Even if the Daoists did not erect idols to avoid deceiving the masses, the Village Head wore a Talisman of Laozi, purchased from the city, around his waist.

After all this effort to maintain the mortal world without cultivating themselves, what was it all for?

Feng Zikang vaguely felt that this matter was connected to the highest Dao of the Demonic Path, though he could not yet fully grasp it.

"Someone is coming!" Feng Zikang’s senses were sharp, augmented by the surveillance of his Unphased Heavenly Demon Incarnation. He detected a small figure approaching and called out, signaling Huo Zhongguang to conceal himself.

Footsteps sounded hesitantly at the door, followed by a timid voice.

"Imm—Immortal Elder, are you resting?"

The voice sounded familiar; it was clearly the Village Head’s eldest son, who had been boasting the night before, now speaking with a distinct trace of tears.

Feng Zikang waved his hand, and the simple wooden door swung open. The little boy was startled and fearful but forced himself to step inside, clutching a large sea bowl, which he respectfully presented to Feng Zikang.

The bowl contained steamed fish cakes, a delicacy in this village. It was the same food the Village Head’s family had offered Feng Zikang last night, which the latter had given to the child. Today, the boy brought it back.

"Immortal Elder, please partake!"

Feng Zikang glanced at it and shook his head. "I don't eat these. You keep them."

The boy gritted his teeth, placed the bowl aside, and suddenly knelt, kowtowing several times with heavy thuds.

"Immortal Elder, please accept me as your disciple and teach me immortal arts! Little Doggy can endure hardship, and I am obedient. Master, you can hit me or scold me however you wish! Just teach me a few moves so I can—"

He choked up suddenly, clearly overwhelmed by distress.

Feng Zikang didn't need to ask to know what was troubling the proud youth. Liu Yue had returned, forcing the Village Head to offer his daughters for wine. The boy’s heart was choked with suppressed anger and immense humiliation.

He wanted to learn immortal arts only to confront Liu Yue and Wang Shang. He was incredibly bold, and the only immortals he knew, besides those two villains, was Feng Zikang.

Though, in the boy's eyes, Feng Zikang's abilities seemed average and his demeanor timid, he was still an immortal who knew immortal arts. He knew only by learning these arts could he stand against the other two.

Feng Zikang shook his head. "I cannot take you as a disciple..."

Little Doggy’s face fell into deep disappointment. Surely this Immortal Elder is no match for those two villains, so much so that he doesn't even dare accept me?

"However,"

Feng Zikang’s eyes suddenly flashed with brilliance. "If you are truly willing to endure hardship, I have a method that can make you incredibly powerful tonight, enough to teach whomever you wish a lesson!"

"Ah!" Little Doggy’s face instantly lit up with joy. Children cannot hide their feelings. He blurted out, "Can I teach those two bastard immortals a lesson?"

Feng Zikang smiled faintly. "If you are willing, certainly you can... but this method, when activated, will feel like ten thousand needles piercing your body, and the pain will only subside by dawn. If you cannot bear it—"

"I can bear it, Immortal Elder, please proceed!"

Little Doggy interrupted Feng Zikang, his expression firm with resolution.

"Since that is the case," Feng Zikang sighed softly, pulling him closer. He inspected the boy’s roots, then gently tapped a finger forward. Little Doggy immediately felt as if his entire body was being carved by small knives, writhing on the floor in agony. In an instant, beads of sweat beaded on his forehead.

Feng Zikang withdrew his technique and clapped his hands. "How was that? When we use the actual spell later, it will be even more painful than this. If you cannot endure it, we should stop!"

"I can endure it," Little Doggy stubbornly stood up, biting his lower lip. "I beg the Immortal Elder to perform the spell!"

Feng Zikang nodded. "Since you are so sincere, I will cast the spell. After this, you will possess immense strength, your body as hard as refined steel, impervious to blades and spears. Those two immortals are only at the initial stage of Qi Gathering; teaching them a lesson will be quite easy."

Little Doggy’s face was set with grim determination, thrilled by the prospect, utterly unconcerned with the intense pain coming his way. He tore open his collar and declared stubbornly, "Bring it on! Little Doggy doesn't fear pain!"

Feng Zikang chuckled, his expression changing abruptly. He slapped his palm upon Little Doggy’s Tianling point. With a scream, the boy’s blood qi surged, and his eyes turned crimson. He felt a tearing agony throughout his body, yet simultaneously, an inexhaustible surge of strength. He immediately suppressed the pain, kowtowed again to Feng Zikang while kneeling, then bolted out the door and ran towards his home.

"Junior Brother, you... why are you playing the good Samaritan again?"

Huo Zhongguang emerged, his face etched with confusion. "You used the technique of Blood Qi Condensation to forcibly burn this boy's vital essence accumulated over the next several decades—just to teach those two a lesson?"

Feng Zikang smiled. "Those two are too arrogant. If they aren't taught a lesson, they won't know the immensity of heaven and earth."

"But you don't intend to kill them. When dawn breaks and this child loses his divine protection, won't they kill him?"

Feng Zikang glanced at him. "Senior Brother Huo, you've started caring about the fate of mortals?"

He smiled mysteriously. "However, I sense a change coming tonight. That child probably won't die that quickly!"