“Let’s go, now!” Feng Zikang stood up and waved at Huo Zhongguang. “Go?” Huo Zhongguang seemed slightly puzzled. “Once that Bicorned Whale Shark is dead, do you think those two blockheads from the Mount Tai Sword Sect will just sit there waiting for death? I’m afraid they’ll be too scared to remember to bring me along, and all this effort will have been wasted.” Feng Zikang chuckled, patted his shoulder, let the little fox jump onto him, and elegantly stepped out into the rain. Despite the torrential downpour, not a single strand of his hair was damp! Huo Zhongguang suddenly understood, quickly darted forward, transforming into a streak of blood-red shadow, and drilled into Feng Zikang’s Sea of Consciousness.

The Bicorned Whale Shark shrieked, baring its white, menacing fangs at the tiny figure before it, issuing a display of savage power.

“Little dog! Be careful, that thing is fierce!” Niu Wu, who hated the Twin-Fin Whale Shark to the core, snatched up his flying fork and hurled it fiercely at the shark, but the creature’s hide was thick and tough; the fork, thrown with great force, simply slipped off, causing no damage whatsoever. “Oh dear! This Bicorned Whale Shark must be at least a hundred years old; judging by its appearance, it’s about to become a demon!” Wang Shang was startled. He supported Liu Yue, then turned back with a cold sneer: “Junior Brother Yue, rest assured, this Bicorned Whale Shark is so formidable, even I, your senior brother, might not manage to subdue it. Even if this brat somehow manages a victory, it will surely be a mutually destructive one. Then, we can…”

Their scheming plan was sounding quite splendid, but they watched as the little dog stood firm before the Whale Shark. Although his face was deathly pale and his heart filled with extreme terror, he gritted his teeth and refused to retreat a single step. He planted his feet, inhaled deeply, and threw a punch. “Heh! What good is a mere punch against this kind of savage beast?” The Whale Shark was impervious even to swords and blades; what use was a mere fist strike? This child clearly hadn't learned any proper techniques; even if he possessed great strength, what purpose could it serve? Wang Shang’s lips curled into a cold, dismissive smile.

But before his sneer could fully form, before his words were even finished, they saw the little dog’s punch subtly imbued with a faint reddish light, and with a resounding boom, it landed squarely on the Bicorned Whale Shark’s soft abdomen! “Thwack!” First came a soft sound of flesh and bone rupturing, followed by a slight hiss as blood sprayed forth. The little dog remained standing, motionless—at least, judging by that small, retreating silhouette, he appeared entirely unharmed. The one who was injured was the Bicorned Whale Shark! Where the little dog’s punch had struck its belly, a gaping hole now appeared, nearly severing the creature in half. Guts and muscle flew backward! A look of agonizing disbelief crossed the Bicorned Whale Shark’s face. It shuddered its enormous body, then its legs gave way, and it pitched backward. It crashed to the ground, kicking up a massive spray of water!

Wang Shang and Liu Yue were paralyzed with shock. “This… if this youth had used this punch earlier…”

The little dog stood frozen, seemingly unable to believe the immense power he had just unleashed. The surrounding villagers also froze instantly. His parents, naturally overjoyed, were stunned into statues. Niu Wu, who had been bending down to retrieve his steel fork, was splattered with the Whale Shark’s blood; when he looked up, he too stood rooted to the spot. All the other villagers didn’t dare to even draw a breath, staring blankly at the youth with his fist raised high, and the colossal shark lying motionless on the ground. Silence descended, broken only by the howling sea wind and the chaotic noise of the torrential rain battering the roofs and the ground. Then, the little dog suddenly snapped out of his daze and erupted into a long, wild peal of laughter!

Wang Shang and Liu Yue jolted as if struck by lightning. Without hesitation, they turned and fled! Who knew what kind of monster this youth was? If he suddenly decided to turn his attention to them, there was no way they could withstand the terrifying might of that world-swallowing punch. Though arrogant and domineering, they were also experts at self-preservation. Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing was best! They whipped around and ran, completely forgetting about the bounty they sought. At this moment, their own lives were far more important. However, it seemed fate was on their side. Just as they bolted out of the village entrance, they ran smack into Feng Zikang, who was strolling back while leisurely carrying the little fox. “Oh? Why the rush to leave, gentlemen? I was just admiring the magnificent spectacle of the storm brewing over the sea and felt inclined to take a walk. I didn't expect to hear sounds of fighting in the village. My Mission Bead has dissolved into ash—the mission has failed. Could it be that the monstrous beast in the sea has already been slain by you two?”

Wang Shang and Liu Yue were rather disheveled at that moment. But their quick little minds spun rapidly. They exchanged a glance and replied in unison, “Precisely! The great beast has been eliminated. We were just heading back. It’s fortunate we ran into you here. Please, join us on our way!” Feng Zikang smiled gently and readily agreed.

The Mount Tai Sect was not far from here, merely a journey of five hundred li. If they were to fly using magical artifacts, it would take at most half a day to arrive. Unfortunately, although Wang Shang had reached the third layer of Qi Condensation, he hadn’t yet learned the art of flying with artifacts; as for Liu Yue, he was merely at the second layer of Qi Condensation and certainly couldn't fly either. So, they had prepared a luxurious carriage as their mode of transport.

These two showed no curiosity about what transportation Feng Zikang might use. “Brother, how did you get here?” Feng Zikang smiled faintly. “Just by relying on myself…” Wang Shang and Liu Yue couldn't help but feel sentimental. Indeed, wandering cultivators had it so hard; they actually had to walk such a long distance. They then began to lavish praise on the decoration and fittings of their carriage. To ordinary mortals, their immense black carriage could be considered magnificent and exquisite. Liu Yue, emulating the story of King Mu of Zhou, used eight fine horses of different colors, named Red Banner, Stolen Ink, White Justice, Over the Wheel, Mountain Child, Deep Yellow, Brilliant White, and Green Ear. Inside the carriage, it was adorned with various rare treasures, and stocked with fresh fruit and fine wine—truly extravagant.

Feng Zikang smiled lightly and offered a few words of praise. They paid him little mind, instead turning the conversation to the perplexing question of why the little dog had suddenly become so powerful. “That’s not right, Senior Brother. The last time I came here, this brat tried to provoke me, and I easily knocked out a few of his molars. How did he become so strong this time?”

The little dog’s hostility toward Liu Yue had existed since the first time he visited. Back then, the gap in their power was enormous; he was caught trying to secretly throw mud, and a distant slap knocked out half his jaw. That was why he developed such a deep-seated hatred for cultivators. “I don’t know. I suspect he accidentally consumed some rare Heavenly Treasure, filling his internal energy and granting him immense strength. Those three punches that killed the Bicorned Whale Shark were truly astonishing. What a pity, if that treasure had fallen into our hands…”

Stories of Heavenly Treasures were common in the cultivation world, but few ever actually saw them. Low-level disciples like them often dreamed of stumbling upon something like a ten-thousand-year Ginseng Peach or an Immortal Fruit, eating one of which could boost their cultivation by millennia. Now, realizing someone nearby might have obtained such a thing, their envy and covetousness flared up even more intensely. Liu Yue suddenly licked his lips and murmured softly, “Senior Brother, I don't know what that child ate to become so fierce. What if we ate him?”

Wang Shang was startled and quickly rolled his eyes at him, signaling him to stop talking nonsense with Feng Zikang present. “Nonsense! Utter nonsense! Forget that even if the person’s medicinal properties wore off, eating him now would be useless; even if we weren't demonic cultivators, how could we commit such an act?” “Right, right…” Liu Yue chuckled, glancing sideways at Feng Zikang. Seeing his expression remain placid, he was relieved. “Just kidding, Senior Brother.”

In his heart, Liu Yue wanted to try it later. Whether it worked or not, perhaps eating the boy might genuinely add a few decades to his cultivation. But the main reason was that clearly, relying only on himself and Wang Shang, they absolutely could not subdue that child. They might even have to bring reinforcements back from Mount Tai to deal with the boy later. “Oh!” It was then he remembered that his Merit Quest had utterly failed this time. He fumbled in his robes; the Quest Bead was indeed gone, signifying failure without any reward. “Hey, your mission failed too, didn’t it?” At times like this, finding someone to look down upon made one feel better. Liu Yue nudged Feng Zikang with his mouth, showing contempt. “A wandering cultivator daring to take on a Merit Quest. Failure was inevitable!”

Feng Zikang smiled wryly and nodded, though he was secretly amused. His own mission had actually succeeded, which was beyond his expectation. Originally, he didn't care much about the one hundred Merit Points. Yesterday, when he performed the Blood Energy Gathering technique for the little dog, his intent was simply to have the child teach the two Mount Tai Sword Sect disciples, focus their power to annihilate the Bicorned Whale Shark, and frighten Liu Yue and Wang Shang into leaving overnight—he hadn't intended to earn the Merit Points. Who knew that even though the Whale Shark was killed through indirect means, it was still orchestrated by him, so the Mission Bead counted it as a success, flying back to the Military Strategist Merit Hall at Mount Longhu and granting him some points.

In truth, after the little dog killed the Bicorned Whale Shark, his vital energy dissipated, and his body weakened significantly. Forget the cultivators Wang Shang and Liu Yue, even an ordinary child could have taken him down. However, Feng Zikang had fully anticipated that the two would choose flight after witnessing the punch’s might, and his prediction proved correct. The fierce battle last night must have cost the little dog at least thirty years of lifespan. But he personally drove away the loathsome villains and killed the sea monster, becoming a village hero. Whether this cost was worth the reward depended entirely on his own introspection. Feng Zikang no longer concerned himself with the boy's future.

Wang Shang and Liu Yue, having suffered setbacks in the fishing village, were still simmering with resentment. They grumbled and cursed at each other for a long time, but being in the presence of Feng Zikang—this ‘fat sheep’—they restrained themselves from being too unrestrained, and gradually the topic shifted elsewhere. The two cultivators naturally began by discussing cultivation. Their insights and methods were clumsy and often masked by feigned mystery, primarily intended to show off to Feng Zikang. Feng Zikang merely smiled without comment, and the two grew bored of their own discussion. Since their minds were unsettled, they hadn't fully dedicated themselves to practice, and gradually, the conversation drifted towards topics men usually concerned themselves with. The further they talked, the more indecent and vulgar their exchanges became. Feng Zikang, finding it dull, sealed his five senses. While appearing to listen with a polite smile, he was actually seizing the time to cultivate. After all, the path to the Great Dao was arduous and long, like rowing upstream against a current; one must cultivate diligently every moment with fierce resolve, never slacking. Although he had a specific purpose in heading to Mount Tai, he could not neglect his cultivation practice.

Liu Yue’s eight horses were certainly no match for the eight steeds of King Mu of Zhou that could travel eighty thousand li a day. However, they were still first-rate steeds in the mortal world. They traveled with great haste, resting only once, and arrived at the foot of Mount Tai in just one day. Feng Zikang recalled that besides the Mount Tai Sword Sect, the larger cultivation sect here was the Mount Tai School of Agriculture (Jia). His junior aunt, Wen Lingsu, was still at Mount Longhu and had not returned yet. He had no acquaintances here, so there was no need to formally pay a visit. “See that! The place with those five pine trees—that’s the mountain gate of our Mount Tai Sword Sect!” Liu Yue haughtily leaned out of the carriage window and pointed with his horsewhip. Indeed, amidst five peculiar, towering ancient pines, they saw an archway soaring toward the clouds. On the archway were three large characters. Nantianmen! (South Heaven Gate!)

This was not a name the Mount Tai Sword Sect had arrogantly coined for their gate. Given their status as a mere secondary faction, they wouldn't dare to be so presumptuous. This was an ancient relic left behind during the Qin Emperor's Fengshan Sacrifice, and the three characters of Nantianmen were personally inscribed by the Emperor. Even the five pine trees beside the gate, having once sheltered the Qin Emperor from the rain, were bestowed the title of Grand Master Pines—another famous sight on Mount Tai. The Daoist Qingmu had passed this place long ago and, drawing inspiration from the imperial aura of the Fengshan Sacrifice on Mount Tai, comprehended a set of divine sword techniques—the Fengshan Sword Style—thus establishing the Mount Tai lineage, choosing this very spot as their sect gate. Although the Mount Tai School of Agriculture had occupied the surrounding areas for a long time, their focus was on growing crops, and they preferred flatlands. The mountain peaks were unsuitable for cultivating herbs and grains, making them useless to them. Furthermore, the Sect Master of the School of Agriculture was always an amiable and good-natured person, so he happily ceded Jade Emperor Peak to the Mount Tai Sword Sect. Daoist Qingmu was eternally grateful, and the relationship between the two sects remained excellent.

The mountain path was rugged, and the carriage could go no further. The three dismounted. Liu Yue sneered inwardly when he saw Feng Zikang still looking around with a naive, curious expression, thinking that as long as this fellow entered Mount Tai territory, he wouldn't be able to pull any more tricks! He exchanged a meaningful look with Wang Shang. Wang Shang understood, coughed, and said to Feng Zikang, “Little Brother, we have reached the territory of the Mount Tai Sword Sect. Your matter of raising a demonic beast must naturally be reported to the Sect Master for resolution. You must come up the mountain with us now!” Feng Zikang meekly agreed, his face showing a slight hint of panic. The two felt immensely pleased as they led him up the mountain.

The Nantianmen gate was guarded by disciples. Upon seeing the two arrive, they rushed forward to greet them with eager hospitality.

Feng Zikang observed the disciples; the highest among them was only at the Great Perfection stage of Innate Realm. He quickly assessed the overall strength of the Mount Tai Sword Sect. Liu Yue still had bruises from being thrashed by the little dog last night. The disciples looked surprised but dared not inquire, holding back their strange expressions with difficulty. Liu Yue was aware of the humiliation, so he didn't waste time chatting with them. He led Feng Zikang away from the main hall and towards a side courtyard. He casually selected an empty room, instructing Feng Zikang to wait inside while he and Wang Shang went to report to the Sect Master before summoning him. During this time, Feng Zikang was strictly forbidden to leave. Feng Zikang readily agreed, found a chair in the room, and sat down quite calmly. Liu Yue and Wang Shang exited, locked the bronze latch from the outside, exchanged cold smiles, and a murderous intent flashed in their eyes. If you wish to know what happens next, please log in for more chapters, support the author, and read the genuine version!