Fish Baibai’s face was plastered with a wide, cheeky grin.

The Young Miss had personally brought this person back. He possessed a Heaven-grade Spirit Root. His future was limitless.

Fish Baibai wasn’t stupid. Of course she would be happy to befriend such a future big shot.

Moreover, the Miss had explicitly ordered Zhou Kai to cultivate the Lawless No Word Heavenly Scripture right in front of her. Even a blind person could see the weight of that gesture.

And that voice transmission just now? It was clearly the Miss playing matchmaker, practically tossing Zhou Kai at her with a vibe of, “You’re getting a bargain.”

Since the Miss had spoken, what choice did she have?

If she ungratefully refused, she would offend the Miss—the current boss—and miss out on Zhou Kai—the future titan. Fish Baibai didn’t do losing deals!

Right now, Zhou Kai hadn’t fully matured. At Bone Forging Layer Three, she could still suppress him. But later? That was hard to say.

So, for now, she gained immediate benefits and secured a “long-term meal ticket.” Everyone wins!

“The nourishment of the Rainbow Mist Spirit Spring… hehe, this young lady remembers every word! And that Dual-Polarity Essence-Gathering Spirit Array—if you dare short me even a single hair, I’ll beat you up while I still can!”

The more Fish Baibai thought about it, the sweeter life seemed. Her steps became lighter, practically skipping along the path.

Zhou Kai summoned his system interface.

[Zhou Kai] [Cultivation: Qi Condensation Layer Seven (93/100)] [Vitality: Bone Forging Layer One (1150/–)] [Divine Sense: 3510] [Comprehension: 805] [Spirit Root: … Wood (Heaven-grade 600/–)…]

Zhou Kai pondered silently.

Realms don’t fully represent strength.

Cultivation Arts, spells, external martial forms, arrays, talismans, magical artifacts, puppets, and Spirit Pets—all of these determine actual combat power.

Otherwise, why would Sect disciples usually crush Loose Cultivators of the same rank? How could prodigies like Li Youci fight Golden Core experts and retreat unscathed?

He stopped overthinking. With a flip of his wrist, several pitch-black pouches appeared in his palm—Spirit Pet Bags.

He channeled a trace of Mana. The mouths of the bags flashed with multicolored light, and dozens of streaks shot out, landing in various corners of the cave abode.

These were the hatchlings from the insect eggs he had seized from Chen Xingze.

Chen Xingze was an arrogant man; anything he painstakingly nurtured was naturally no ordinary trash. Relying on the True Explanation of Spirit Controlling he had also looted from the Chen family, Zhou Kai had carefully raised them for some time.

He focused on the two species with the highest potential.

The first was the Jade Arm Mantis. There were only three of them, each about the size of a palm. Their bodies were emerald green, but their forelimbs—sharp, scythe-like blades—gleamed with a translucent, jadeite luster.

They were incredibly fast, capable of tearing through the protective spiritual light of ordinary cultivators with ease. Their attack patterns were bizarre and unpredictable, making them a nightmare to defend against.

The second was a large swarm known as Quenching Spirit Bees.

These Spirit Insects were extremely special. Depending on the Spirit Medicine fed to them, they could produce peculiar honey imbued with specific medicinal properties. This honey, whether consumed directly or used in alchemy, was a top-tier cultivation resource.

Zhou Kai’s Spirit Pet Bags were low-grade goods purchased back in Gazing River City. If these insects stayed inside for more than ten days, they would become listless. They needed air.

He estimated his seclusion would last at least a month.

He took out some specially prepared Spirit Medicine and distributed it among the insects, commanding them to stay strictly within the confines of Taiji Peak and not to disturb anyone.

Once finished, Zhou Kai sat cross-legged, took a deep breath, and began circulating the Azure Spirit Qi Gathering Art.

It was time to go all out for Foundation Establishment.

Yantian Peak, Li Qiwen’s Cave Abode.

Dense Spirit Qi swirled within the cave.

Li Qiwen sat with a furrowed brow. Li Youci stood to the side, her expression unreadable.

Opposite them sat a young man dressed in an outrageously flamboyant robe. On the back of his cape, shimmering magical text boldly proclaimed: “Calamity Abyss Valley Expert, Qi Condensation Great Perfection.”

It was Gao Feiyang.

After discovering the “uncut gem” that was Zhou Kai, Li Youci had recalled Gao Feiyang from Broken Wood Bay.

“So,” Li Qiwen asked in a deep voice after listening to the report, “when you passed through Gazing River City, you encountered the Yin Ruins Sect and the Fu Family of Golden Copper Dock?”

Gao Feiyang immediately straightened his posture, wiping the spittle from his mouth.

“Reporting to the Young Master, it is absolutely true! The situation was critical; this subordinate only escaped by sheer luck. Based on my observations, the Yin Ruins Sect and the Fu Family seemed to have deployed Golden Core cultivators. Demonic Qi soared to the heavens within the city. It was clearly a massacre. The Foundation Establishment cultivators inside Gazing River City… are likely doomed.”

Li Qiwen lightly tapped his knuckles against the table, his eyes grave.

“The Demonic Sects are making big moves. Regarding the ruins at Crouching Tiger Mountain… although we, along with the Heavenly Spring Sect and Lone Goose Palace, tried to seal the information—even deliberately letting some Loose Cultivators in to create a smokescreen—rumors have inevitably leaked. The origins of that ruin likely involve secrets above the Soul Formation realm.”

He paused, then continued, “Their interest in Crouching Tiger Mountain is a given, but previously, they made no substantive moves. Now, suddenly appearing in Gazing River City, so close to our sect… I fear they come with ill intent.”

Li Youci spoke calmly. “Elder Brother, do you know the current situation at Lone Goose Palace?”

Lone Goose Palace was one of the eleven major sects of the Eastern Region. They were unique—few disciples, but every single one was a Sword Cultivator. Their combat power was terrifying, earning them the reputation: “One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Techniques.”

Their mountain gate was located in the Southern Borderlands, dangerously close to the territory of the Yin Ruins Sect, one of the Five Great Demonic Sects. Friction between them was constant.

Li Qiwen’s frown deepened. “I don’t. I sent people to investigate secretly a long time ago, but it has been a full month without a word. The disciples I sent are like stones sinking into the sea.”

A shadow of worry passed through his eyes. “The Li family was responsible for concealing the intelligence on Crouching Tiger Mountain. Now that exposure is likely and the Demonic Sects are acting strangely, this must be reported to the Sect Master immediately.”

Li Youci took over the thought. “The Yin Ruins Sect and Lone Goose Palace have old grudges. If the Demonic Path is truly making a move, Lone Goose Palace will bear the brunt of it. And if Lone Goose Palace falls… the next target will be either us or the Heavenly Spring Sect.”

Outskirts of the Lone Goose Palace Mountain Range.

A sharp sword light, like a rainbow, tore through the clouds and slashed across the sky.

Shen Hanyi stood upon her flying sword. She had been away for two years.

As she neared the mountain range that housed her sect, the inexplicable palpitations in her heart grew violent. It wasn’t the nervousness of returning home; it was a suffocating dread, as if a nightmare were waiting to be unveiled.

Her flying sword accelerated abruptly, shooting straight toward the Lone Goose Palace mountain gate.

In the past, patrolling disciples would be weaving through the sky, Sword Qi soaring to the heavens.

But today… it was too quiet.

A deathly silence. Even the wind sounded like a sobbing ghost.

When the familiar yet alien scene finally entered her vision, Shen Hanyi’s mind went blank. The word “Impossible” echoed endlessly in the void of her thoughts.

The once-majestic mountain gate archway was shattered into segments, the charred wreckage scattered across the ground. The Mountain Protecting Grand Array was gone, leaving only deep, blast-scorched craters where the array foundations used to be.

A thick, suffocating stench of burnt flesh and decay slammed into her face.

Within the gates, every place she knew and loved had been reduced to scorched earth.

Piles of incomplete corpses littered the ruins. Most were shriveled and dry, as if their Essence Blood and souls had been forcibly drained. Others were nothing but tattered robes and fragments of broken swords.

There was not a single intact body. The complete ones had clearly been harvested.

Her knees gave way. Thud.

She collapsed onto the scorched, still-hot earth. She pressed her forehead against the dirt, her body trembling in silent, agonizing sobs.

A long time passed.

Shen Hanyi slowly raised her head. She stood up.

Her eyes scanned the devastation, reading the signatures of the killers.

She found a scrap of cloth embroidered with a twisted ghost face using soul thread—Yin Ruins Sect.

On a collapsed wall, she found dark red, bizarre runes—Blood Fiend Sect.

Not far away, a broken magical artifact was entangled with nearly invisible black threads that stung her Divine Sense upon touch—Heart Corroding Gate.

Several corpses had massive holes in their chests, with faint traces of Demonic Qi lingering—Heavenly Demon Ridge.

And finally, the faint, sickly sweet fragrance lingering in the air, combined with the tragic, humiliated state of her fellow female disciples—Desire Wonder Palace.

“Yin Ruins Sect.”

“Blood Fiend Sect.”

“Heart Corroding Gate.”

“Heavenly Demon Ridge.”

“Desire Wonder Palace.”

Her voice was cold, devoid of humanity.

“I, Shen Hanyi, will have my revenge.”

She wiped the tear stains from her face. Sword light erupted once more, carrying her toward the northwest.

Toward Calamity Abyss Valley.