Feng Zikang looked up to see a burly man with a simple, broad smile, his face a mix of astonishment and joy, his two white eyebrows trembling as he rushed in.

"Such potent aura!"

Even without the deliberate emanation of intent, Feng Zikang could feel the pressure of the pervasive demonic energy, forcing him to involuntarily take a step back.

The peak of the late Condensing Core stage, the Great Perfection, compared to Mou Canglang's early Condensing Core, the oppressive force was simply worlds apart.

"Tu!"

The White Eagle King's expression was agitated, looking at the Ghost King Tu, who could barely manage to stammer out coherent words.

Feng Zikang sighed. A dignified five-dog Demon King, a Condensing Core master, losing his composure entirely over a matter of affection. He suppressed the urge to activate his Formless Heavenly Demon Heart Method to plant a demon seed in the King.

After all, this was a peak Condensing Core master; if he detected any flaw, the entire plan would be utterly wasted.

The Ghost King Tu’s face, however, remained as calm as still water. She glanced at the White Eagle King but remained silent. The White Eagle King, caught up in his excitement, didn't notice her expression at all. With boundless joy, he rushed toward Ying Zhuo'er and swept her into a fierce embrace.

"This is our daughter? Truly?" The White Eagle King was overjoyed, nodding repeatedly. "She is indeed beautiful, just like you!"

Zhu Jian'er naturally maintained her dazed, foolish smile. Only then did the White Eagle King gather himself. "Little Tu... what exactly is the matter with her?"

Just now, Mou Canglang had reported on Sui Fei'er's injury, but he himself was unclear about the details, so he could only vaguely convey the situation to the White Eagle King. Seeing Zhu Fei'er in her current state, the King quickly pressed for details.

"Hmph."

The Ghost King Tu gave a soft snort. "Stop with the pretense. If our daughter’s primordial spirit hadn't been injured, I wouldn't have come begging you. I only ask that you find a way to heal her, and then we will leave."

"Good, good, good."

The White Eagle King agreed incessantly, taking Zhu Fei'er's hand and placing his other over her forehead. He slowly released his true energy to probe her condition. After a long while, his face twisted into a bizarre expression, growing increasingly grim.

"This... this is so strange. It's as if a piece of her primordial spirit has been violently gouged out. What kind of divine ability is this? How can it be so terrifying?"

As the White Eagle King exclaimed, Feng Zikang scoffed internally. How could a mere Condensing Core demon recognize the technique of this ancient Puppet Art? He had enough confidence in this fact to set up this stratagem.

"So, you are saying you won't treat her?"

The Ghost King Tu’s face changed. The White Eagle King quickly forced a bitter smile. "I will treat her, I will treat her! It's just that the symptoms are so peculiar, it requires a bit more time."

"Are you trying to trick my wife and daughter into staying here longer?" The Ghost King Tu raised an eyebrow, staring at him coldly.

The White Eagle King hurriedly waved his hands. "How could I have such sordid thoughts? Regardless, my daughter’s injury must take precedence. How could I bear to see her like this for long? Where did you two clash with someone to sustain such injuries? And..."

The White Eagle King finally noticed that the Ghost King Tu’s condition was wrong. Upon closer inspection, his face darkened dramatically. "How did you refine yourself into a Ghost Child? What in the world is happening?"

With his keen eyesight, he could naturally discern the change in the Ghost King Tu. She had no intention of hiding it, letting out a cold laugh. "That's right. I refined myself into my daughter’s Ghost Child."

"So what? What business is it of yours?"

The White Eagle King was struck speechless and could only shake his head with a wry smile.

"Then at least tell me how our daughter was injured."

"Hmph." The Ghost King Tu snorted coldly, glancing back at Zhu Fei'er before her expression slowly softened.

"Actually, this is none of your concern, but for the sake of properly treating our daughter, I will tell you. First, understand this: I don't want you helping seek revenge. My daughter and I will handle our own affairs."

"Yes, yes, yes." The White Eagle King knew her stubborn nature and agreed with a bitter smile.

"This so-called injury was, of course, a fabrication agreed upon by the Ghost King Tu and Feng Zikang. We were attacked by that Daoist priest and were only saved by Brother Zhou, which is why we escaped with our lives."

"You were injured by cultivators from the Central Plains?" The White Eagle King’s face suddenly turned grim, sneering. "A fine Central Plains cultivator! Tu, don't be afraid. It won't be long before we turn the Central Plains upside down. Then we’ll naturally have a chance for revenge for our daughter!"

He turned to Feng Zikang and bowed deeply. "Brother Zhou, Your Excellency saved my wife and daughter; you are the great benefactor of White Eagle Island. Please, grace us with a few days' stay so that I may fulfill my duties as host."

"Your Majesty is too kind." Feng Zikang rose and returned the bow, appearing exceedingly modest.

He gave the Ghost King Tu a meaningful look, urging her to pay attention to the White Eagle King's words. The Ghost King Tu naturally understood and nodded slightly.

However, this could not be accomplished overnight, so Feng Zikang and the Ghost King Tu and her daughter temporarily resided on White Eagle Island.

Every day, the White Eagle King racked his brain trying to treat Zhu Fei'er but could never find a solution.

Feng Zikang was not anxious. He spent his days touring White Eagle Island, taking no effort to pry for news, maintaining the demeanor of an utterly innocent passerby.

Several days passed this way.

"Still no news?"

Feng Zikang sat calmly in his chamber while Zhu Fei'er sat staring blankly. The Ghost King Tu was deeply troubled.

"Our meeting was always predicated on Fei'er coming to see Brother Zhou. The Ghost King Tu and her daughter are inseparable, so they naturally had to stick to this excuse. No one suspected anything."

"This old eagle’s mouth is too tight. After all this time, he won't reveal anything. I tried probing him subtly, but I still couldn't get any useful information," the Ghost King Tu replied to Cui Yi, worried about causing Feng Zikang any displeasure.

"However, the demons of the Dead Sea are indeed planning to take action against the Central Plains in the near future, but I truly couldn't find out the specifics."

Feng Zikang nodded. The White Eagle King was rough on the outside but meticulous inside; he wasn't a man who spoke carelessly, otherwise, he wouldn't have achieved the position of one of the five Great Demon Kings.

"But..." The Ghost King Tu hesitated, something left unsaid.

"Say it, it's fine," Feng Zikang nodded, seeing she seemed to have something more to share and signaling that she could speak.

"But this operation by the Dead Sea demons doesn't seem to be their own initiative. It appears there is another force within the Central Plains making moves, and the Demon Kings are merely cooperating."

"What?"

Feng Zikang’s expression changed drastically; his heart was filled with shock and uncertainty.

This piece of news was far more critical than the specific movements of the Dead Sea demons that the Ghost King Tu had inquired about.

If it were just the Dead Sea demons intending to turn against the Central Plains, then the cultivation world—with its accumulated might of the Nine Sects, Seventy-two Upper Schools, One Hundred and Sixty Middle Schools, and countless Lower Sects—would not fear them.

What about a Divine Transformation old monster like the Netherworld Daoist? The Central Plains certainly had their own old acquaintances—monks, Daoists, and other Divine Transformation experts capable of matching them.

But if the Dead Sea demons were only cooperating with a certain Central Plains faction, then it truly might trigger a heavenly tribulation!

For the past year, rumors of this heavenly tribulation had filled his ears.

But he had always been skeptical about the trigger for the tribulation. From this single sentence, Feng Zikang sensed something: perhaps the so-called Heavenly Great Tribulation truly originated from within the Central Plains itself.

It seemed he absolutely had to figure out the root of the matter, otherwise, it would truly be returning empty-handed from a mountain of treasures.

Feng Zikang smiled mysteriously, his face showing a look of grim resolve.

"Hmph."

The next day, Feng Zikang continued to wander the island. He let the fox out, and it happily scurried around.

Perhaps because the island was filled with demonic energy, its natural wildness was unleashed, making it even more active.

The fox, after all, was descended from the Nine-Tailed Fox, possessing the bloodline of a great demon. It was only natural for it to feel a sense of closeness here.

Feng Zikang recalled its mother, the Nine-Tailed Fox, and the words spoken back then—she, too, seemed to have perished as the first victim of this so-called heavenly tribulation. The entanglement was complex, impossible to unravel at the moment.

The latter half of Eagle Wing Island was dedicated to cultivating rare flowers and strange herbs used in alchemy. Feng Zikang deliberately guided the fox toward the rear of the island. The little fox caught the scent of exotic fragrances and darted ahead with a chiliu sound.

Feng Zikang smiled faintly and followed slowly behind.

Not long after, he heard shouts and angry curses coming from ahead.

"Hurry and catch that beast!"

"Ah! It bit through the Seven Star Fruit! What are we going to do now?"

A clamor of chaos erupted, exactly as Feng Zikang had anticipated. He walked over leisurely and indeed saw the fox darting about with its tail shaking, pursued by a large group of pursuers yelling loudly.

Seeing Feng Zikang approach, the fox immediately stopped, turned, and flew toward him, burrowing into his arms, trembling and feigning a pitiable appearance.

Feng Zikang smiled faintly. The group of pursuers rushed up. The leader, holding a wooden staff and covered in bird feathers—clearly a bird spirit that had transformed—saw Feng Zikang protecting the fox and became furious. He pointed at Feng Zikang's nose menacingly and demanded, "Is this fox yours?"

Feng Zikang glanced at him and the others behind him, noting they were all only disciples in the Condensing Qi stage, so he was unconcerned. He nodded.

"This fox is indeed mine. I apologize if it caused any disturbance."

"Apologize? Damn it!" The bird-man roared. "It ran into the medicinal garden, ruined countless spirit herbs, and stole the Seven Star Fruit! How do you propose to settle this debt?"

Feng Zikang feigned a look of terror. "Oh dear, I never intended to cause so much trouble for you all. My apologies. In that case, I shall compensate you."

He reached into his storage pouch, pulled out four Spirit Stones, and offered them to the bird-man. "I wonder if this is enough?"

"Nonsense!"

The bird-man exploded in rage. "Are you trying to mock me? Brothers, beat him soundly!"

A single Seven Star Fruit was worth several thousand Spirit Stones. The bird-man was filled with resentment, believing the visitor was deliberately asking for a beating. He led the group to pounce, but Feng Zikang did not fight back, only dodging and weaving, while continuously chattering apologies.

The bird-man grew increasingly enraged, but he couldn't even touch Feng Zikang’s clothing.

"What are you doing?"

A sharp reprimand echoed from the direction of the medicinal garden. A young girl in crimson robes stood with her hands on her hips, emanating authority, and questioned loudly, "What are you doing?"

The bird-man saw her and immediately stopped, crying out, "Second Senior Sister! You arrived just in time! This fellow's fox stole the Seven Star Fruit Master needed! You must judge us fairly!"

"Oh?" The woman's expression changed upon hearing this. She flew to the front, coldly sizing up Feng Zikang.

"It's this fellow."

"Yes, yes!" The bird-man nodded frantically. The woman let out a cold snort and was just about to act when she noticed the fox in Feng Zikang’s arms. Her eyes lit up, and she broke into a wide smile.

"Wow! A Spirit Fox seed!"

She flew forward, attempting to snatch the little fox for inspection, but Feng Zikang subtly shifted to avoid her.

The woman's expression darkened. "Hey, fellow! Your fox ate a Seven Star Fruit. I won't ask for compensation, just hand over that fox, and we’ll call it even. Otherwise, I'll teach you a lesson!"

The little fox was enraged, baring its fangs, claws, and shrieking strangely.

Feng Zikang shook his head. "Miss, that won't do. This little fox is the descendant of an old friend. I cannot simply give it to you."

"What?"

The woman's delicate eyebrows shot up, her eyes wide with fury. A flush rose on her cheeks, and in a swift motion, a silver, shimmering whip materialized in her hand.

The bird-man quickly scurried over to chime in. "Hey, fellow! Don't mistake kindness for weakness! This is our Second Senior Sister, the direct disciple of Island Master Ren Jiao! She's offering to let you off the hook for one fox without demanding compensation—that's a huge opportunity! Hurry up and hand it over!"

This woman was, in fact, the White Eagle King's second disciple, also a demon at the early Condensing Core stage. Her cultivation was similar to Mou Canglang's, and she was the White Eagle King's favored student, highly anticipated to inherit his mantle.

However, she had a volatile temper and was the fiercest among them. On Eagle Wing Island, perhaps everyone feared her except the White Eagle King himself; even the Eldest Senior Brother had to yield to her.

She managed the medicinal garden and spent most of her time cultivating amidst the dense medicinal energies there. Any disturbance in this area would certainly bring her out first.

Feng Zikang had already gathered all this information before stepping out.

Having known this since her appearance, Feng Zikang maintained an air of innocent confusion. "Oh, so you are Miss Ren Jiao. I am truly sorry, but this fox really cannot be given to you."

Ren Jiao was furious, tugging the whip violently, causing sharp cracking sounds.

"You impudent fellow! I must ask you who you are, to dare trespass in the medicinal garden!"

The bird-man suddenly remembered that he didn't know where this man came from. Seeing him intrude into the garden, the visitor's face was unfamiliar, and he shouted along: "That's right, who are you? Trespassing in the medicinal garden is a crime punishable by annihilation of body and spirit!"

Feng Zikang put on a startled expression. "Two sirs, please forgive me. I am merely a guest on the island and happened to pass by. Please do not take offense; I shall leave immediately."

"Hold it!"

Ren Jiao was suspicious. She had been in seclusion cultivating these past few days and had only heard that the Mistress and Junior Sister had arrived; she hadn't heard about any guest staying on the island. Furthermore, outsiders were never kept on Eagle Wing Island. Where exactly did this fellow come from?

"Who exactly are you? State your name quickly, or don't blame me if my whip shows no mercy!"

Feng Zikang stopped, stammering fearfully. "Miss Ren Jiao, my surname is Zhou, and my given name is Ping'an. I am a rogue cultivator disciple from the East Sea, merely a guest on Eagle Wing Island. I am sixteen years old and unmarried."

His words carried a distinct note of teasing.

"Courting death!"

Ren Jiao was enraged and lashed out with her whip directly toward his head.