Li Chengguo shared a surname with the patriarch of the Li family, but they shared no such kinship in destiny. He was a mere rogue cultivator who, after stumbling into Foundation Establishment, had wasted half his life without a proper inheritance. Desperation had driven him to Zeng Qiang’s banner twenty years ago, and while the dark arts had propelled him to the mid-stage, his luck had finally run dry.

Facing Li Yaozu and Wang Hao, he was a cornered rat.

Li Yaozu snorted coldly, his flying sword tearing through the air. The blade crossed hundreds of zhang in a heartbeat, descending toward the rogue’s skull. Li Chengguo raised a white bone sword in a frantic parry, barely deflecting the lethal strike.

The impact sent the demon cultivator tumbling backward. He managed to stabilize himself after retreating a dozen zhang, vomiting a mouthful of black, corrupt blood. His face was the color of ash.

Before he could recover, the phantom of the golden lion upon Li Yaozu’s banner threw back its head and roared. A visible ripple of sonic force slammed into Li Chengguo. His vision blurred, and a splitting headache shattered his concentration.

Li Yaozu did not hesitate. He manipulated his flying sword to feint, forcing a clumsy dodge from the disoriented rogue. In the same breath, he activated a Golden Sword Talisman. A streak of pure, metallic energy flashed past Li Chengguo’s guard, obliterating his head in a spray of gore.

Li Yaozu snatched the falling storage bag but left the headless corpse drifting in the water. They needed physical proof for the Qingyuan Sect.

“Senior Li’s Daoist techniques are profound,” Wang Hao complimented as the spiritual turbulence settled. “That demon didn’t even have the strength to retaliate.”

“I can hardly compare to you, Young Friend,” Li Yaozu laughed, tucking the loot away. “Truly, each generation surpasses the last. When the Li family moves overseas, I hope you will look after us.”

“That is only natural,” Wang Hao replied smoothly. “The Wang and Li families are kin by marriage and allies by blood. Mutual support is our duty.”

“Then I thank you. Now, let’s see what these wretches were carrying. There might be clues.”

They cracked open the storage bags of the three slain cultivators. Disappointment quickly set in. Aside from a modest pile of Spirit Stones, the bags contained only crude demonic artifacts and gruesome crafting materials—flayed human skin and polished bones.

Wang Hao frowned at the macabre collection. “Senior Li, how should we handle this filth?”

“The Qingyuan Sect made no claim on the storage bags, so the contents are ours,” Li Yaozu reasoned. “The demonic artifacts, however, should be turned over. The sect will want to destroy them publicly.”

“Agreed,” Wang Hao nodded. “But perhaps we shouldn’t turn over everything.”

Li Yaozu caught the implication immediately. “Indeed. One corpse, two demonic artifacts. That seems like a plausible ratio, does it not?”

Capturing a Foundation Establishment demon was already a significant merit; displaying too much wealth would only breed jealousy.

“Those two were loitering around this area,” Wang Hao said, looking down at the small island below. “It’s likely their lair is nearby. Shall we?”

Wang Hao wasn’t satisfied with the meager loot from the bags. Zeng Qiang had carried twenty thousand Spirit Stones—a fortune for a rogue—suggesting he had been hoarding wealth. Wang Hao had developed a taste for larger fortunes and refused to leave potential resources behind.

Li Yaozu agreed, and they descended. The low-level Evil Corpses had already been purged by Wang Hao’s spirit beasts. Li Yaozu produced a Tier 2 High-Grade Earth-Shaking Talisman and activated it.

The island trembled violently.

“There,” Wang Hao pointed as the tremors revealed a fluctuation in the spiritual Qi. “A hidden cave dwelling.”

They erected defensive barriers and used an earth-escape technique to burrow down. Inside, they found a few Qi Refining disciples guarding the lair. Wang Hao and Li Yaozu dispatched them instantly; mercy was a luxury they could not afford for demon practitioners.

The subsequent search proved Wang Hao’s instincts correct. Zeng Qiang had been intercepting Qingyuan Sect disciples and, driven by greed, had skimmed a significant portion of the stolen goods for himself instead of turning it over to his superiors.

Now, it all belonged to Wang Hao.

They ignored the demonic cultivation manuals. The real prize was the stockpile: over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, two Foundation Establishment Pills, a dozen Tier 1 and Tier 2 artifacts, and hundreds of talismans.

There were also rare herbs. Wang Hao identified Luo Yang Grass, used for potent detoxification, and the Jade Moon Flower, a herb brimming with pure spiritual energy. Next to the flowers, he found a bottle labeled “Mystic Jade Pills.”

Wang Hao realized the connection immediately. The Jade Moon Flower was the primary ingredient for these pills, which acted as a superior version of the Qi Gathering Pill, specifically tailored for mid-to-late Foundation Establishment cultivators.

In the Qian Yuan Continent, with its hundreds of thousands of years of alchemical history, such specialized pills were common. For Wang Hao, currently in the mid-stage, these were far more valuable than standard resources. Unfortunately, without the specific formula, he couldn’t replicate them yet.

However, the crown jewel of the hoard was a sleek black vessel—a Flying Boat.

It was a High-Grade Spirit Weapon, originally property of the Qingyuan Sect. Crucially, it was engraved with a sophisticated Concealment Formation. This was the key to crossing the perilous Severed Origin Mountains undetected. The demons likely hadn’t found a buyer for such a hot item yet.

“It seems this group was responsible for the missing sect disciples,” Li Yaozu analyzed, eyeing the loot. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t possess such orthodox pills and artifacts.”

“Their origins don’t matter now,” Wang Hao said, his eyes scanning the goods. “The dead hold no property rights.”

“Young Friend Wang, how shall we divide this?” Li Yaozu’s gaze was fixed on the jade bottle containing the two Foundation Establishment Pills.

Although Li Derong had brought two back previously, the Li clan had a deep bench of Qi Refining disciples waiting for their chance. They were perpetually short on these pills.

The Wang family was in a different position. Their eligible disciples were few, and with Wang Hao’s alchemical prowess, they had actually reached a point of redundancy. He could brew more whenever the ingredients were available.

“We split the Spirit Stones and sundries equally,” Wang Hao proposed. “I will take the Flying Boat. The Foundation Establishment Pills go to you, Senior. Is that acceptable?”

The Flying Boat and the pills were roughly equal in market value, though the pills were harder to buy with mere money. Li Yaozu was technically getting the better end of the deal, but the boat offered Wang Hao something money couldn’t buy: strategic mobility and stealth.

“Young Friend is most righteous,” Li Yaozu smiled, relieved. “However, I cannot let you suffer a loss. My family has little use for these talismans. We will take two Tier 2 Formation-Breaking Talismans, and the rest of the talismans shall go to you.”

It was a fair adjustment. Wang Hao nodded, sealing the deal.

They swept the cave clean, then collapsed the tunnels to erase any trace of their looting. Satisfied, they flew back toward Sharp Sand Island.

As they neared the island’s airspace, a black flying boat intercepted them. On deck stood a male and female cultivator from the Qingyuan Sect patrol. Wang Hao recognized the woman—Lan Yun.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, Fellow Daoist Li,” Lan Yun called out, her expression guarded. “You’ve returned? What of the demon cultivator?”

Li Yaozu chuckled, maintaining the demeanor of a weary but victorious elder. He retrieved the headless corpse of the elderly demon from his storage bag.

“We did not fail your trust. We pursued the villain for over a thousand li and finally delivered justice. Here is his storage bag.”

The male Qingyuan disciple nodded, his expression softening. “Hand over the corpse; we will register the merit for you. The storage bag is your spoil of war. However, per sect rules, any demonic artifacts must be destroyed.”

Li Yaozu and Wang Hao exchanged a look of perfect understanding.

“Naturally,” Li Yaozu said.

He upended the bag, dumping out a small pile of spirit stones and low-grade materials. Then, with a theatrical flair, he crushed several white-bone artifacts into dust right before their eyes.