The Rat Cultivator

Chapter 163: A Turn of Events

Wu Yuan stood quietly atop the ruins of the Beaver Water Fortress, watching as the Black Water Flood Dragon Snake was sent away by the combined efforts of the demons until its figure completely vanished from sight.

The surrounding demons, having completed their respective tasks, dispersed one after another, returning to their daily work—repairing what needed fixing, occupying what needed claiming, and restoring the fortress surroundings to their usual bustling and noisy state.

However, Wu Yuan did not leave with them. Instead, he stood on the shore, vigilant and waiting quietly.

[Blue Intelligence: Princess Peacock is displeased that you, as a subordinate of the Cat King, broke the rules by killing the Black Water Flood Dragon Snake. But since you did not join the initial alliance and are not bound by its rules, she has dispatched the Golden Armor Lion to teach you a lesson while also recruiting you into the alliance.]

His eyes flickered with an obscure light, filled with caution.

Soon, a soul-shaking, majestic lion roar came from the horizon, shaking the clouds.

Following this roar, a small golden sun slowly rose from the horizon, its light gradually expanding until it transformed into a male lion clad in golden armor, charging toward Wu Yuan with the momentum of a thunderbolt.

This Golden Armor Lion, its golden fur shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight like burning golden flames, seemed to ignite the air with every movement.

Its steps were heavy and powerful, each footfall shaking the earth like thunder, its imposing presence akin to a thousand troops galloping.

Simultaneously, an intangible demon sense quietly locked onto Wu Yuan, the hostility within it undisguised.

Wu Yuan frowned, thinking to himself, “This Princess Peacock is too domineering.”

“Does she think she can control all the demons in the Azure Spirit Mountain Range by herself?”

A flash of disdain appeared in Wu Yuan’s eyes.

“And this Golden Armor Lion, how dare it look down on me like this!”

As he pondered, the Golden Armor Lion pounced like a golden lightning bolt, its massive paw, several times larger than Wu Yuan, sweeping down, stirring up gusts of wind.

Wu Yuan showed no fear. He raised his own blood-red claw, brimming with Demon Power and vitality, and swung it fiercely, colliding with the Golden Armor Lion’s giant paw.

With a “clang,” the sound of metal clashing rang out, vibrating the surrounding air.

Crimson light swirled around Wu Yuan. With a sudden burst of strength, he actually flipped the massive Golden Armor Lion onto the ground.

The Golden Armor Lion reacted swiftly, skillfully rolling on the ground once to stabilize itself, then turning its head to spew a mouthful of scorching golden flames at Wu Yuan.

Wu Yuan was prepared. Transforming into a wisp of breeze, he instantly vanished from the spot, avoiding this fatal blow.

Then, he reappeared on the shore, quietly watching the Golden Armor Lion without continuing the attack.

The Golden Armor Lion stood up from the ground, shook its fur, and when it looked at Wu Yuan again, the contempt was gone, replaced by deep seriousness.

However, its tone remained disdainful: “That Black Water Flood Dragon Snake is useless, losing to a rat. What a waste of Polong Lake, such a good place!”

Wu Yuan returned the disdainful look: “You’re not much stronger either. If you have something to say, just say it!”

The Golden Armor Lion narrowed its eyes, staring intently at Wu Yuan, golden flames dripping from its mouth, melting the stones on the ground, its aura pressing aggressively.

Yet, Wu Yuan showed no fear, meeting the lion’s gaze with eyes full of ferocity, his momentum not falling behind.

Even with the confidence from defeating the Black Water Flood Dragon Snake, his aura grew stronger, demonic energy billowing as he slowly pressed toward the Golden Armor Lion.

Finally, the Golden Armor Lion retracted its flames, took a step back, and said to Wu Yuan,

“Since you are the Cat King’s subordinate, you are qualified to join our alliance.”

“You didn’t know the rules before, killing the Black Water Flood Dragon Snake, so Princess Peacock has decided to spare you this once.”

“But from now on, you must follow the rules.”

Wu Yuan did not refuse. Instead, he asked, “What exactly is this alliance, and what are the rules?”

The Golden Armor Lion looked at Wu Yuan with pride: “Our alliance leader is Princess Peacock, a noble of the highest status.”

“Her Highness demands that powerful demons like us not fight among ourselves. Each demon is assigned a certain area as territory, and only after breaking through to the late stage of Qi Condensation can we compete for the position of Grotto-Heaven Master.”

“However, for demons who have not joined the alliance, we can kill them at will.”

“Your situation is special. Princess Peacock has decided you will replace the Black Water Flood Dragon Snake and assign Polong Lake to you.”

Wu Yuan’s heart stirred, thinking to himself: “This Princess Peacock must be that Five Spirit Peacock.”

“I didn’t expect her to have such prestige, making this Golden Armor Lion so convinced.”

“I thought I’d be besieged afterward, but there’s actually a turn of events!”

“But I’ll drag it out as long as possible. Later, I need to probe this Princess’s background.”

Thinking this, he immediately put on a smiling face, pulled out a handful of Spirit Stones, stuffed them into the Golden Armor Lion’s embrace, and asked in a familiar tone,

“Tell me, which demons are in our alliance?”

The Golden Armor Lion hesitated, looking at the Spirit Stones, but ultimately put them into its Storage Bag.

Its dissatisfaction with Wu Yuan immediately dissipated quite a bit, and its expression improved significantly.

After all, you don’t hit a smiling demon, especially one whose strength is not weak.

“Our alliance leader is Lady Peacock. The others are just me and the Green Wood Spirit Deer,” the Golden Armor Lion said.

Wu Yuan raised an eyebrow: “No others? Just the four of us?”

“Aren’t there many mid-stage Qi Condensation demons in the Azure Spirit Mountain Range?”

Hearing Wu Yuan’s words, the Golden Armor Lion sneered disdainfully.

“How can those miscellaneous demons compare to us with our extraordinary bloodlines!”

“If not for the Cat King’s patronage, a demon with a Second-Grade bloodline like you wouldn’t even be qualified to join our alliance.”

“Although there’s only one grade difference between a Second-Grade Top-Grade and a Third-Grade bloodline, it’s a world apart! Only a Third-Grade bloodline has a sliver of hope to break through to Core Formation.”

“Second-Grade bloodline… hmph…”

The Golden Armor Lion glanced at Wu Yuan, its tone ambiguous, but then it didn’t continue, just revealing a faint smile.

Wu Yuan understood the hidden meaning in the Golden Armor Lion’s words, but he also felt great disdain for the lion.

“I have the Bloodline Spirit Rune, and my bloodline can continuously improve in the end. What’s your Third-Grade Low-Grade bloodline worth?”

So he paid no mind to the Golden Armor Lion’s words, just mentally noting it down.

“When have I, Wu Yuan, ever suffered such contempt? You, Golden Armor Lion, just wait!”

Thinking this, Wu Yuan maintained a normal expression and exchanged smiles with the Golden Armor Lion, as if nothing had just happened.