Chapter 817: Try It, Why Not

As Old Ox pondered, the two girls behind him were terrified by the monster before them. They hadn't fully heard the conversation between Old Ox and the other monster and simply assumed they had been left behind to be eaten.

Old Ox only remembered the two young women when he heard a faint whimper behind him. Turning around, he saw them huddled together, covering their mouths and crying profusely.

"Wuh..."

Old Ox's heart ached at the sight of the two pitiful women, and he carefully approached them.

"Oh, don't be scared, don't be scared. I won't eat you, and I won't hurt you. Stop crying, stop crying. I'll get you bathed and changed. I also have food; you must be hungry, right?"

Old Ox's keen sense of smell told him the girls had already soiled themselves from fear, and their demeanor showed they wouldn't cooperate.

"I suggest you bathe first. There's a small room in here with hot water and a bathtub!"

Old Ox pointed to one side, and a beam of light shot from his mouth into the room. The bathtub he mentioned instantly appeared, filled with water that gradually warmed to the perfect temperature. Old Ox always kept such items prepared.

A stone door, with light emanating from within, stood beside the cavern platform, but the two girls remained huddled together, too scared to move.

Old Ox sighed inwardly and put on a stern expression.

"Be obedient, and I won't eat you. But if you keep wailing, you'll have only yourselves to blame!"

Once the two terrified women, clutching the clothes Old Ox had given them, ran into the stone room and were out of sight, Old Ox finally let out a deep sigh.

After a moment's thought, Old Ox went to the adjacent room and began preparing food from his reserves. Humming a tune, he quickly started a fire and used his knife, soon arranging a plate of white-cut chicken, a pot of steaming white rice, two bowls of vegetables, and some fruit.

Old Ox was no longer in a hurry. King Marked Eye's subordinates would undoubtedly pass through here again, so he simply needed to wait for their return. Although King Marked Eye's confidant had promised to take him to the Human-Animal Kingdom, Old Ox wasn't one to rely on just a single plan.

About half an hour later, hearing the sound of water from the stone room, Old Ox called out as kindly as possible.

"Young ladies, the water will get cold soon. Please quickly change and come out; food is ready."

The women inside dared not make any further moves. After changing their clothes and quickly tidying their hair, they cautiously emerged from the stone room. Old Ox was already waiting on the other side, gesturing towards something.

"Young ladies, please look. While it's simple, it's a decent meal. Please help yourselves."

The steaming hot food was irresistibly tempting, especially after having only water and very little else for two or three days. Even with a monster nearby, after a moment's hesitation, they couldn't resist. They sat at the table and began to eat, initially trying to maintain some decorum, but soon they were devouring the food ravenously.

As night fell, another demonic light appeared. Old Ox didn't question it, allowing the newcomer directly into the formation. It was Lu Shan Jun, dressed in yellow.

Old Ox had been waiting for a long time. Lu Shan Jun first glanced at the stone room, then, without much ado, got straight to the point.

"You called me using the Conjoined Heart Gu. Have you found anything?"

As Lu Shan Jun spoke, he gazed into the deep cavern, his nose twitching slightly as he detected lingering auras.

"Indeed, the rumors were true. Many people who disappeared from Tianyu Continent are indeed being sent to the Human-Animal Kingdom, which appears to be newly established. King Marked Eye is one of the participants."

"King Marked Eye? The Poisonous Toad?"

"It's not just him; there are many participants. King Marked Eye's confidant passed through here about two hours ago and made an agreement with me..."

Old Ox clearly explained the previous events to Lu Shan Jun, who, after understanding the details, knew exactly what to do.

"Have you informed Wang Youhong?"

"Not yet. However, besides you informing Mr. Ji, I'll also have Wang Youhong try to contact him. If Mr. Ji doesn't return before those from the Black Wilderness completely depart, then Wang should notify the prominent immortal sects of Tianyu Continent."

Lu Shan Jun grinned.

"Good, that's safer. As for your room..."

"Oh, yes, yes. Could you do me a small favor? There are two girls here. Please take them somewhere safe. A'Yao, Yu Ting, come out now."

Lu Shan Jun looked towards the stone room. The two girls slowly emerged, then cautiously hid behind Old Ox.

"It's alright, this person will take you away."

"Is he... is he a monster?" "He looks..."

Old Ox turned and gently offered reassurance.

"Am I not also a monster? Not all monsters eat people. For example, he... uh... he will take you to a safe place."

Although Lu Shan Jun's expression was stern, his internal reaction was quite amusing.

Shortly after, the two women cautiously approached Lu Shan Jun. As he prepared to leave, Lu Shan Jun, who had been biting his tongue, finally couldn't resist sending a telepathic message to Old Ox.

"Two hours?"

"Hehe, what, Old Lu, are you tempted? I can teach you a thing or two!"

"Hmph!"

Lu Shan Jun scoffed, flicked his sleeve, and a swirling gust of wind gently lifted the two women into the air.

"Hey, hey, they're fragile and scared; be careful with them!"

Old Ox's voice echoed from below, but Lu Shan Jun paid no mind, carrying the two women higher and higher. Still, he unconsciously made his already gentle wind manipulation even softer.

Nine days after Old Ox and Lu Shan Jun had finalized their plans, Ji Yuan finally returned to Tianyu Continent. He found a secluded mountain spot that felt not too far from Old Ox. After meditating and regulating his breath for a while, Ji Yuan pulled a vibrant peach blossom branch directly from his sleeve.

This peach blossom branch was the one Wang Youhong had left behind when she sacrificed a pawn to save the king. Ji Yuan reached out and caressed the branch, causing the seals he had placed on it to instantly vanish. Then, he casually thrust the peach branch into the ground.

The next moment, the peach branch began to stretch, transforming into a sturdy old peach tree within a dozen breaths. Due to the unusual weather, Tianyu Continent was only just experiencing spring-like conditions, the very season for peach blossoms. The tree had few green leaves; instead, it was completely covered in vibrant red blossoms.

"Buzz..."

The Green Vine Sword on Ji Yuan's back vibrated, and many peach blossoms from the tree beside him were shaken off by the sword's energy, falling like a shower of petals.

"Hmm, this tree is indeed ominous, but it's still useful for now. Later, we'll find the main tree this branch came from."

The Green Vine Sword, embodying spring and vitality, had always disliked the deathly aura of this peach branch. If Ji Yuan hadn't held it back, it would have shattered the branch. However, Ji Yuan was more interested in locating the main tree from which this branch had fallen.

Although Wang Youhong swore it was merely a blood peach she had cultivated herself, Ji Yuan remained skeptical.

As Ji Yuan meditated under the peach tree, his own pure aura purified the death qi from the tree, making it appear highly spiritual. With the peach blossoms fluttering down, it presented a beautiful scene from a distance.

In less than a day, Wang Youhong, sensing her peach branch, rushed without delay to the desolate mountain where Ji Yuan was. From a distance, the peach tree on the mountain slope was especially striking.

With a trace of apprehension, Wang Youhong slowly descended. As expected, she saw Ji Yuan meditating with closed eyes beneath the tree, and she quickly stepped forward to bow.

"Greetings, Mr. Ji!"

Ji Yuan opened his eyes and surveyed Wang Youhong.

"Any progress?"

"To answer you, sir, we have confirmed that a Human-Animal Kingdom has indeed been newly established in the Black Wilderness. It is primarily owned by King Marked Eye and several other demon kings. Most of the millions of mortals abducted from Tianyu Continent are likely there."

Ji Yuan nodded, understanding, and calmly inquired.

"Do you know its location?"

Wang Youhong dared not delay and quickly replied.

"Yes. Ox Balian has already befriended one of King Marked Eye's confidants. That individual has even promised to invite Ox Balian and a few other demons to enjoy themselves in the Human-Animal Kingdom. By the way, King Marked Eye is a formidable, one-eyed giant poisonous toad that has cultivated for an unknown number of years. Additionally, other known demon kings include at least King Hundred-Legged Heavenly Dragon and Three-Spirited Holy Venerable, who are an old centipede and a three-headed monstrous bird respectively."

Wang Youhong's information was more detailed than Ji Yuan had anticipated. As he listened, Ji Yuan pondered how to proceed. While he alone could handle those demon kings, the situation there was unclear, and the safety of the mortals remained a significant concern.

"Oh, and Mr. Ji, there's another demon named Lu Wu. Although he's unaware, he's been assisting Old Ox. Uh, that brute ox asked me to convey a message: he requests that if you encounter Lu Wu, you spare his life."

Ji Yuan smiled.

"Alright, we'll discuss that later. For now, you should go back and prepare. I'll consider it. If the Revelation Alliance needs anything, don't refuse, lest you give them leverage."

Wang Youhong offered a fawning smile and said.

"Sir, your divine powers are vast and boundless. With Tu Siyan's death, the Revelation Alliance is in chaos and might eventually splinter. For now, everyone is looking out for themselves or fleeing, and no one is bothering us."

"Good, then. You may go."

Wang Youhong cast a lingering glance at the peach tree behind Ji Yuan, then, after saying "Yes," ascended into the air and departed. He had expected Ji Yuan to return it, but Ji Yuan didn't mention it at all.

Ji Yuan watched Wang Youhong depart, then immediately put away the peach tree. Simultaneously, he felt a slight jolt of surprise, realizing some of his "chess pieces"—namely Zuo Wuji and Yan Fei—were moving at a rapid pace, seemingly already crossing the ocean.

Ji Yuan's brows furrowed deeply. After repeated divination, he could only conclude that these "pieces" would encounter both fortune and misfortune. However, since all his "pieces" invariably showed this combination, it was effectively no result at all.

"First, find help!"

The chaos in Tianyu Continent had devastated lives, and the righteous cultivators on the continent were undoubtedly seething with anger. If the demons could wreak havoc across the land, Ji Yuan intended to unleash an immortal slaughter upon the Black Wilderness!

This might be the first time in history that the combined power of an entire continent's immortal sects would unite to eradicate evil. Unlike the disarray of the previous Tianyu Continent chaos, this time the objective would be exceptionally clear.

Such a task might be impossible for anyone to coordinate, but Ji Yuan was determined to try.