The exposed portion of Shiya Mountain rose about a thousand zhang high. Deep beneath the sea, it was rumored to have beds where dragons slept, a testament to the sheer scale of that ancient, tooth-shedding behemoth.

Across the nine hundred zhang ascent, a new type of demon appeared every hundred zhang. By the summit resided ferocious, bloodthirsty, high-tier monsters like the Six-Winged Flying Pythons. Huo Zhongguang, then at the peak of the Qi Condensation stage's Great Perfection, still found the climb treacherous, a journey of near-death experiences through those nine hundred zhang.

Because the vital Li Fire essence radiating from the branches of the Fusang Wood was too fierce and saturated the entire mountain, attempting to fly in from the perimeter was utterly impossible; he had tried several times. He was forced to fly straight up from the mountain's base honestly.

"It was that difficult?" Feng Zikang frowned, looking up at the swarm of demons dancing across the sky.

"How could it not be difficult?" Huo Zhongguang managed a wry smile. "If it weren't difficult, how could it qualify as meritorious service for Foundation Establishment? Mine was the simplest tier. I was focused on establishing my foundation quickly to alleviate the agony in my body, so I couldn't afford to worry about the grade of my Dao Base. Otherwise, I wouldn't have succeeded so fast. Besides, that Luo Lianxin from Shuiyue Pavilion, the one who caught your eye—hasn't she been gone for a year and still hasn't returned?"

"Oh?" Feng Zikang had never inquired about the matter before. He was surprised to hear Huo Zhongguang bring it up so suddenly. "Luo Lianxin's Foundation Establishment mission has been going on for over a year, and she still hasn't completed it?"

"Junior Brother doesn't know?" Huo Zhongguang was accustomed to Feng Zikang knowing everything. The fact that he was ignorant of this topic today surprised and pleased him. He couldn't resist showing off, recounting all the idle gossip he had heard. "I learned about it while establishing my own foundation on the Great Samsara Disk, from Uncle-Master Yun..."

Luo Lianxin was brilliant and exceptionally gifted. Naturally, she wouldn't settle for mere Foundation Establishment like Huo Zhongguang. She placed immense importance on the quality of her Dao Base.

According to Elder Yun, this young woman was overestimating herself, attempting a mission for a 'Divine' tier Dao Base.

Dao Bases were divided into four grades: Divine, Transcendent (Hua), Primordial (Yuan), and Genesis (Sheng).

The mission for a Divine Dao Base was grueling, and its successful completion yielded extraordinary results—truly a process of 'shedding the mortal coil and exchanging the bone.' Future cultivation would be smooth sailing, almost guaranteeing the formation of a Core.

The other grades offered successively lesser impacts on cultivation strength, but they all still resulted in a foundational base. In the short term, the difference compared to the Divine grade was negligible. For instance, both Liang Si'an and Huo Zhongguang had Genesis-grade bases, the lowest tier.

If Luo Lianxin's only goal was Foundation Establishment, it would have been trivially easy for her. But since she had trained for many years, it was clear her ambitions lay elsewhere. To attempt a Divine Foundation mission—even General Lu only managed a Transcendent-grade base in his day.

"Then what was her mission?"

"Uncle-Master Yun naturally didn't say."

Huo Zhongguang shook his head. The missions for advancement merit were considered secrets; if the person in question refused to speak, Elder Yun couldn't just spread rumors wildly.

Feng Zikang nodded, casually slicing through a boneless flying fish. As he chatted with Huo Zhongguang, they ascended to over six hundred zhang.

What mission had Luo Lianxin taken that kept her occupied for over a year? He should really ask Elder Yun about it. Although the old man was tight-lipped, he always had a bit of a childish streak; extracting information from him shouldn't be difficult.

As for his own Foundation Establishment, he hadn't considered the grade of the Dao Base. His original plan was just to establish a foundation haphazardly, without setting any high requirements. After all, possessing the Demon Fetus meant that once he reforged his Demonic Body later, it would all equalize anyway.

But Luo Lianxin went to such lengths to strive for a Divine Dao Base; she must have her reasons. He filed the matter away, waved his sword elegantly, and continued upward.

Huo Zhongguang watched his composed demeanor and the dazzling array of magical treasures he wielded. Compared to his own desperate scramble, the difference was worlds apart, filling Huo Zhongguang with envy.

"Junior Brother, you still need to be cautious. Near the peak, there are two Six-Winged Flying Pythons. Not only are they close to the Foundation Establishment realm in power, but they are innately divine creatures, impervious to blades and spears—incredibly troublesome."

Although the ascent was easy so far, those final two pythons at the very top would be difficult opponents. Huo Zhongguang offered this warning. Feng Zikang responded with a deep affirmation. By this time, he had passed the eight-hundred-zhang mark. Looking up, the dense clusters of demons were gone, replaced only by obscuring black mist. Two pythons coiled within the gloom, their bodies concealed by the miasma, currently engaged in mating. Their roars resonated like thunder.

"This is bad."

Huo Zhongguang’s face crumpled in worry. "These two giant pythons are most ferocious when they mate. The last time, I waited until they finished and were resting before breaking through, and even then, I was injured by their venom. At this hour, if we force our way through, I fear..."

The Six-Winged Pythons possessed an innate lust, mating every five days for a period of three. Judging by the scene, this pair had only just begun. Feng Zikang had no interest in waiting three days to watch this spectacle of passion. With a cold smile, he channeled his sword energy towards his chest, transforming into a streak of light, and soared upwards!

The moment his form entered the black mist, it provoked two furious roars.

The Six-Winged Flying Pythons were enraged!

Anyone whose intimate moment is suddenly disturbed is bound to have a torrent of ire with nowhere to vent. Seeing a tiny crawling insect interrupting their coupling only fueled the pythons' fury. They unfurled their massive bodies and lunged viciously toward Feng Zikang!

Long Que, loyal to his master, bravely blocked the way despite being significantly smaller than the opponent.

He wildly flailed his five massive claws, spitting out five streams of golden light that ripped through the black mist to strike the male python. However, the male python, currently consumed by rage, paid them no mind. Its colossal body merely flicked, scattering the five golden beams. Its tail then swept Long Que dozens of zhang away.

Long Que was furious. His current Dragon-Man form was much smaller than before, making fights unsatisfying. Fuming, he pounced again, tearing and biting, managing to barely hold the male python in check...

The female python also glared menacingly at Feng Zikang. Unflustered, Feng Zikang swung his sword, unleashing six beams of light that struck precisely at the female python's six wings. These sword lights were sharp and fierce, leaving the python with no way to evade. All six swords hit home with resounding clangs!

The female python shrieked in pain. Its thin wings were its most tender spot. Though still harder than refined steel, the six swords striking still caused agonizing pain, forcing a cry from it, even if no blood was drawn.

The female python erupted in fury, its eyes widening to the size of bronze bells. Lethal white light shot from its gaze, and it spat black gas, launching a two-pronged assault.

Feng Zikang, recalling Huo Zhongguang's warning, knew both the white light and the black gas were highly toxic. He channeled his sword light to intercept the attack, feeling numbness spread through his hand. Even this intangible substance carried such kinetic force; the Six-Winged Pythons were indeed extraordinary.

He stopped holding back. With a wave of his sword, four Divine Demons appeared. The Vajra, which had subdued the Flood Dragon previously, was the most aggressive, immediately grabbing the female python's tail and dragging with all its might backward. The female python, agitated and angry, turned to bite, forcing the Vajra to let go and retreat. At that moment, the insidious Dark Demon King darted out from the side, slamming a palm strike onto its vital seventh inch.

The female python was staggered, seeing stars. Before it could clear its head, the Hairy Great Beast rushed forward and clamped down on its throat. In pain, the python whipped its tail, wrapping tightly around the Great Beast. Just then, the Heavenly King raised his pagoda, releasing its exquisite divine light, preparing to suppress it.

"Junior Brother, your Four Symbols Divine Demon Array is becoming more coordinated," Huo Zhongguang praised from the sidelines. Early on, Feng Zikang's four Divine Demons mostly fought independently. Now, operating in formation, their cooperation had clearly improved. Moreover, though these demons were taciturn, they were cunning fighters, each more ruthless than the last.

Pulled and tugged, the female python felt deep resentment but knew it was outmatched. It cried out loudly, demanding its mate's assistance.

Meanwhile, Long Que clung on tenaciously, refusing to let go. Even when brutally thrashed, he stubbornly blocked the male python from disengaging.

"Long Que is truly loyal. With these two assets, Junior Brother, what is there to fear in the future..."

Both the Four Symbols Divine Demon Array and the mechanical beasts were rare treasures. Feng Zikang possessed so much fortuitous luck that he commanded such formidable artifacts even before reaching Foundation Establishment; it was truly something to inspire uncontainable envy.

The female python, growing frantic from being restrained, flickered its face, transforming it into a feminine visage. It spoke in a human voice, "Who are you people? It's one thing to peek at a couple's intimacy! Why be so brutally violent? Are you trying to use force? Come on! This old lady isn't afraid of you!"

The male python heard this and panicked, instantly forming a human head as well. It roared with its giant mouth, "Wife, don't let them bully you! Anyone who dares touch my wife, I’ll slaughter their entire family!"

Huo Zhongguang stared dumbfounded. He never expected the powerful Six-Winged Flying Snakes, which he feared deeply, to be forced into such petty bickering by Feng Zikang. This was clearly a sign of weakness—fear masking their desire to fight. "Take it easy, honored couple," Feng Zikang smiled faintly. "We are merely passing through and have no intention of disturbing you. If you let us pass to the mountaintop, we will naturally leave you be to continue your activities."

"Really?"

The male python released Long Que. Seeing his wife still entangled by four robust figures, he felt a surge of frustration. "We are only ordered to guard the Fusang Wood on the summit. If you promise not to touch the branches, perhaps we can negotiate," the male python glanced sideways at his wife. She was still being held by the tail of the Hairy Great Beast, her face a mixture of shame and fury, yet her eyes were filled with seductive allure. He grew anxious, knowing his wife had a naturally wanton disposition. Their mating had only just begun, and she might lose control, which would be disastrous.

Fearing his status as a cuckold and neglecting his duty as a guard, he relented. "Fine, fine! Quickly release my wife! I don't care what you want to do on the summit, as long as you don't chop down the Fusang Wood!"

Feng Zikang laughed heartily at his haste. "Then please, honored couple, disperse this sky-filling black mist."

This black mist was the dual pythons' potent, lust-fueled essence gas, thick enough to blot out the sun—a real nuisance for others. For them, however, it was merely something to hide their nakedness and heighten the erotic atmosphere. The male python, eager to proceed, opened its mouth and inhaled, swallowing the entire expanse of black mist. The golden Fusang Wood, like a giant sun, hung clearly visible overhead.

"Then we thank our honored couple for allowing passage!"

Feng Zikang cupped his hands and shot upward. Long Que followed. The four Divine Demons also released the female python and ascended together. As the Great Beast flew up, it didn't forget to cast a suggestive glance back at the female python. The female python’s heart fluttered uncontrollably. The male python, sensing the danger, quickly pulled her back, exhaled a fresh layer of black mist to cover them, and resumed their intimate union.

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