Liu Tu laughed heartily, mocking his presumption.

"Who said I planned to fight all four of you?"

Feng Zikang smiled faintly, lightly patted Long Que, who roared, and shot out.

"Long Que, you go deal with the one with the fan."

He flicked his fingers again, releasing Zhu Li'er and the Ghost King Tu from the rouge box. "You two go take care of that old man spewing disgusting insects."

Liu Tu roared and drew his saber to strike. Feng Zikang chuckled, "No rush. You are mine to handle personally. Don't rush to your death."

He retreated a few steps, unleashing a storm of sword light to block Liu Tu's path.

Just then, Fang Mu gave a chilling, sinister laugh. "Boy, you were indeed prepared. I just wonder who else you've arranged to entertain this old man?"

Feng Zikang clapped his hands together and laughed heartily, "Mr. Fang's Lotus Crown possesses infinite power; I certainly wouldn't dare underestimate it. The Four Symbols Divine Demons, appear!"

Four Divine Demons roared into existence, surrounding Fang Mu completely.

The situation instantly reversed.

It had just been four against one attacking Feng Zikang; now the tables were turned. The Iron Fan Daoist was the most miserable; he frantically waved his Brain-Shattering Fan at Long Que, fanning desperately. Yet, Long Que, having no brain to begin with, was immune to such treasures and relentlessly pursued, beating the Iron Fan Daoist until his limbs went soft and his body weak, forcing him into a humiliating retreat.

Although Chong Er's Heart-Gnawing Insects were potent, they could not advance a single step past the dozen Styx defenses erected by Zhu Li'er and the Ghost King Tu.

As for Liu Tu, under the suppression of Feng Zikang's Starlight Great Extinction Sword Art, he was already incapable of fighting back. Although his Ox-Unbinding Saber was a treasure, he was bound hand and foot and couldn't unleash its power.

Only Fang Mu, with his Lotus Crown illuminating all directions, seemed relatively composed despite being fully entangled by the Four Symbols Divine Demons. He constantly monitored his brothers' plight, feeling immense anxiety in his heart.

However, he hadn't anticipated that this unremarkable-looking youth would carry so many helpers with him.

Mechanical beasts. Puppets. Guizi Mu, and these inexplicable Divine Demons. Where on earth did he acquire them?

"Relying on superior numbers is not the mark of a true hero!"

Seeing his brothers being overwhelmed, Liu Tu shouted abuse without thinking.

Feng Zikang burst into loud laughter. "If I rely on superior numbers now, what was it when you four were attacking me?"

Liu Tu's face flushed, and his movements faltered. Feng Zikang seized the opportunity, sending a streak of sword light that severed his head. His Ox-Unbinding Saber flailed uselessly for a moment before he collapsed, dead or alive.

"Besides, even if I rely on superior numbers, what can you do about it?" Feng Zikang kicked him away and laughed coldly.

"Brother One!"

The Iron Fan Daoist cried out in sorrow. He was already in a precarious situation; he couldn't afford to be distracted. In an instant, Long Que's giant claw seized him and tore him to shreds.

Chong Er, seeing the situation turn dire, scattered a swarm of insects and prepared to flee. Feng Zikang had already calculated his escape route, intercepting him with a single sword strike, then waving his hand to capture the swarm of Heart-Gnawing Insects in a King's Vial.

In the blink of an eye, the four demons were annihilated. Fang Mu, trapped within the Four Symbols Divine Demon formation, felt a crushing pain, his eyes splitting wide with rage, spitting blood. The light of the Lotus Crown intensified, actually forcing the Four Symbols Divine Demons to retreat step by step.

"Fight desperately!"

Feng Zikang smiled coldly, unconcerned. He collected the treasures of the fallen—he unhesitatingly allowed the Heaven-Devouring Ancient Brush to swallow the Ox-Unbinding Saber; at least it could mend some of his spiritual fissures. The Brain-Shattering Fan, with its uniquely effective divine abilities, was also useful; Feng Zikang pocketed it and looked back at Fang Mu's dying struggle.

Long Que and the others stopped attacking and merely watched from the sidelines.

Although these four Divine Demons could not speak, seeing that their counterparts had already finished off their enemies while they alone were still brawling with one person, they felt a flush of shame and began to exert themselves. The hairless giant beast, which had not regrown its fur since being burned off, had been timid and hesitant. Now, it charged forward in desperation, wrapping its arms around Fang Mu's waist and refusing to let go. The Heavenly King seized the opening, swinging his pagoda down fiercely onto Fang Mu's head.

Clang!

A tremendous crash erupted, scattering sparks. Although Fang Mu was powerful, he couldn't withstand this full-force impact. His head instantly became half-flattened, and he died, breath gone.

"The four great disciples under the Southern Heaven Boundless Master are nothing more than this," Feng Zikang sneered, collecting the Lotus Crown. Indeed, it was a marvelous artifact, capable of emitting divine light to blind enemies and protect the wearer. He immediately placed it on his head without hesitation.

The spoils of slaying demons could finally be used openly. Compared to other good items that had to be kept hidden or even sold, this was far better.

"Indeed, slaying demons is the true path to prosperity," he thought, not bothering to consider that he himself was a Transcendent Celestial Demon manifestation.

Feng Zikang took the four demon heads back to Shuzhou City and hung them on the city gates for public display. The populace was overjoyed and admired his strength even more, submitting to him completely.

He, however, was pondering the words of the four demons: this batch was the final contingent from the Sea of No Return. After slaying them, there should be no new demons coming for a while.

After waiting several days, this proved true. Reinforcements arriving from various places—True Person Xiao Shiyue and others—were fewer and fewer; the demons' reinforcements had indeed been cut off. Feng Zikang, along with his allies, had broken the demon army formations dozens of times, achieving a great victory and finally driving all the monsters out of the Central Plains region.

This secured his fame even further.

The first time Feng Zikang slew Wuduyai, the world had buzzed with debate and controversy. The second time he massacred the demons of Mangcang Mountain, his reputation was mixed. But this first time, Feng Zikang leading the army to decisively crush the allied demon forces and completely winning the Southwestern campaign, earned him nothing but universal praise.

"The Longhu Mountain School sent out General Lu, and now they have sent Feng Zikang!"

This phrase spread everywhere in the world.

However, the protagonist of this saying had left the main army and was sitting alone in a small tea pavilion along a mountain road in the Southwest, sipping tea.

It wasn't that Feng Zikang was abandoning his orders to wipe out the remaining demons; those orders had already been given, and he wasn't worried. It was the conversation he overheard the four demons having that night that kept nagging at him.

"The target was never the Southwest, but somewhere else..."

This phrase made Feng Zikang deeply suspicious, and for some unknown reason, a persistent feeling of unease settled in his heart.

The world was about to change.

And this change was deeply connected to him.

Perhaps this was a slight sensitivity to worldly shifts after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, but he couldn't pinpoint where this variable lay.

The military strategy Feng Zikang cultivated—the art of meticulous planning and winning victories a thousand miles away—detested variables the most. He felt most at ease when everything was clear, calculable, and within his grasp. Especially after establishing his Foundation, Feng Zikang became extremely cautious, refusing to take unnecessary risks, always acting only after thorough planning.

This variable made him restless, compelling him to leave Shuzhou personally and investigate the border area of the Southern Wilderness, hoping to find clues.

He sat resting by the roadside and called out Zhu Qian'er to serve as his maid, fetching him tea and water. Watching this woman, once majestic and enchantingly alluring in the Foundation Establishment stage, now stand there dazed, obeying only commands, was rather amusing.

The teahouse owner recognized them as immortals who had descended from above and dared not disturb them, watching from a distance.

Just then, dark mist permeated the air, and several strangely shaped figures emerged from it. Feng Zikang initially thought they were demons and prepared to strike with his sword, but upon closer inspection, they were human.

He presumed they belonged to some unorthodox sect but decided not to concern himself since they were human, continuing to drink his tea.

The group landed from the clouds and also stopped at this teahouse to rest.

They saw the beauty of Mo Li'er beside Feng Zikang, and their eyes lit up. The leader, drooling slightly, couldn't take his lecherous eyes off her.

Feng Zikang swept them with a cold glance, causing them to restrain themselves slightly. They sat down, ordered tea, and spoke loudly.

"Young Sect Master, if you can achieve great merit in Shuzhou City this time, your fame will spread throughout the world!"

"Naturally. What cultivation does the Young Sect Master possess? With just a casual move, defeating those demons and monsters will be as easy as turning over a hand!"

The leader was their Young Sect Master. He chuckled, "Everyone, don't exaggerate too much. I still need everyone's support this time to display the might of our Pailan Sect."

"That's right! Our Pailan Sect is one of the Seventy-Two Upper Sects, not much inferior to the Feng family of Longhu Mountain. If the Young Sect Master achieves merit, the world will know that Feng Zikang is not the only young hero!"

Feng Zikang slightly nodded his head. This group was from the Pailan Sect in the Southwest. Although the Pailan Sect was situated on the frontier, it had deep ties with the Central Plains. Several elders had high cultivation levels and were listed among the Seventy-Two Upper Sects of the Central Plains cultivation world.

However, this Young Sect Master was only at the late stage of the Qi Condensation realm and had not yet established his Foundation. His arrogance was quite entertaining.

Listening to their boastful conversation, Zhu Li'er couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

Although she was now a mere puppet obeying orders, her own intelligence was roughly equivalent to that of an eight or nine-year-old girl. Hearing these men boast foolishly while Feng Zikang sat beside her, she naturally felt contempt.

Though her voice was soft, it was heard by those with keen attention.

The Pailan Sect's Young Sect Master had been closely watching this beauty. Suddenly seeing her let out a slight, seemingly mocking chuckle, he became furious, finding an excuse to press the matter.

He signaled to a lackey beside him, who understood immediately and roared, "Hey, you little lass! We are having tea here with the Young Sect Master. How dare you scoff and mock the skills of our Pailan Sect? Are you looking for trouble?"

Feng Zikang frowned, unwilling to engage with them. He had rested enough anyway. He pulled Zhu Li'er up and turned to leave.

"Trying to leave?"

The big man, seeing that his shout had no effect and fearing the Young Sect Master's reprimand for incompetence, leaped forward and blocked Feng Zikang. His nose pointed skyward, coldly expelling two streams of cold air, his eyes filled with disdain and contempt.

"If you want to leave, first have this little lady serve tea and apologize to our Young Sect Master!" If you wish to know what happens next, please log on to [Deleted Website Name]. More chapters supported.