The night wind howled, whipping Li Youci’s robes around her frame. The fury that had threatened to scorch the heavens and boil the seas just moments ago began to dissipate, replaced by a rising tide of panic and regret.

Had she spoken too harshly?

Although Zhou Kai’s actions were sometimes… less than honorable, his treatment of her had always been impeccable. Whenever he obtained high-quality pills or treasures, didn’t he eagerly rush to offer them to her first?

A clear, cold sword light pierced the air.

Shen Hanyi appeared, her gaze quiet and still. “He is gone.”

Li Youci whipped her head around. The fire in her beautiful eyes reignited, but now it was mixed with an indescribable grievance.

“He ran away! If he had any guts, he would have marched openly to my elder brother and explained everything! Instead, he fled with his tail between his legs like a coward!”

Shen Hanyi’s gaze rested on Li Youci’s reddened rims. “If you truly believe that, why did you hold back just now? Not a single flame touched him.”

“I… I was…”

Li Youci was momentarily speechless.

She indeed hadn’t used lethal force. She hadn’t even used a heavy hand. It had been an emotional venting, nothing more.

She had expected Zhou Kai to act as he always did—to approach with a cheeky grin or feign righteousness. She expected them to spar, giving her a chance to “discipline” him, to beat some sense into him so he understood what she needed.

Who could have guessed he would just leave?

No harsh retort. No soft plea. Just a simple “I understand,” and he walked away without looking back!

He had even reverted to calling her “Young Miss.” The distance in that title stung worse than a slap.

What did he mean by this? Was he planning to wipe his mouth clean and refuse to acknowledge the debt?

Was he running because she poked his sore spot and humiliated him? Or did he think she was being unreasonable and couldn’t be bothered to deal with her tantrums?

The more she thought, the angrier she became. The more she thought, the more wronged she felt.

Li Youci’s chest heaved violently. “I held back because I was afraid of dirtying my hands! Is someone like him even worthy of me going all out?”

Li Youci’s heart-piercing words echoed endlessly in Zhou Kai’s mind.

“Despicable and base!”

“Runs faster than anyone!”

“Am I, Li Youci, something that can’t see the light?”

“Where is there even a trace of the pride a Heaven’s Pride should have?”

“Just based on this… are you worthy of marrying me?”

This was his first attempt at conquering a true “Heavenly Pride” woman. He thought it would be easily accomplished. He never expected that laying his cards on the table would result in such a disastrous crash.

A bitter, self-mocking smile tugged at the corner of Zhou Kai’s mouth.

He thought of Shen Hanyi back in Red Cliff Town.

If not for the Mysterious Nether Sub-Mirror disturbing her mind, and if the System hadn’t locked her Affection, Shen Hanyi likely would have fulfilled her “Cultivation Vessel promise” and left without a backward glance.

What exactly did these women want?

To stand shoulder to shoulder, looking down upon the world?

Zhou Kai’s gaze gradually sharpened.

Yes. They were all daughters favored by the Heavens—proud, aloof, and possessed of extraordinary vision.

What they needed was a man who could truly make them submit. A man they could stand beside, or even look up to. A man who could lead them to the peak of the world to look down upon all living beings!

They did not need a guy who only knew how to use “petty cleverness” and special physiques to take advantage of them while mingling among women.

He slapped his Storage Bag, and a map appeared in his hand.

This was given to him by Chen Heming. It was said to be a Foundation Establishment Fated Chance left by a Chen family ancestor.

Zhou Kai hadn’t paid much attention to it before. How remarkable could a Foundation Establishment opportunity be in the eyes of a mere Qi Condensation family?

But now, he had changed his mind!

He could not let a single opportunity to improve his strength slip by. Didn’t the Cicada Raiment Art come from Fang Lizhe?

Who could say for sure that this seemingly insignificant Fated Chance wouldn’t be the first cornerstone for him to recast his pride?

“First, I take this Fated Chance. Then, I go to the Lin family ancestral land at Golden Copper Dock!” A sharp light flashed in Zhou Kai’s eyes. “Cicada Cry Art… and Li Youci’s Ghost Body…”

Several days later.

A ravaged mountain forest appeared before Zhou Kai.

Giant boulders were overturned, ancient trees had been snapped in half, and the ground was scarred with massive claw marks and scorched earth. Clearly, one or several major battles had taken place here.

The location marked on the map was nearby.

Chen Heming had mentioned that a Great Demon resided here. From the perspective of a Qi Condensation cultivator, a “Great Demon” would likely be at most a Late Second Rank beast—equivalent to Late Foundation Establishment.

Zhou Kai stowed his Spirit Boat and carefully extended his Divine Sense to probe the area.

“Hmm?”

He raised an eyebrow. Several miles ahead, people were fighting. And they were all Bone Forging stage body cultivators.

Heavenly Demon Ridge?

He flew forward immediately, taking in the battlefield at a glance.

Five or six cultivators clad in black, radiating fierce auras, were besieging a lone woman.

The woman wore neat, form-fitting martial attire and wielded a silver long spear. Her movements were like a dragon, every swing carrying the sound of splitting wind. She was a Bone Forging Seventh Layer body cultivator!

Her spear technique was exquisite, her offense and defense orderly. However, her opponents were numerous. Two of them were Bone Forging Eighth Layer. She fought while retreating, her situation in constant peril.

“Scum of Heavenly Demon Ridge! Do you have the guts to fight this lady one-on-one?!”

The woman shouted sharply, sweeping her spear to force one attacker back. However, she was grazed on the shoulder blade by another’s Heavenly Demon Qi. She grunted, staggering slightly.

Catching sight of an approaching figure from the corner of her eye, she immediately recognized him. Her spirits lifted, and she shouted:

“Fellow Daoist Zhou! Come quickly and lend a hand!”

Zhou Kai’s brow twitched. This person knows me?

Now wasn’t the time to delve into details. His figure flashed as he charged directly into the fray.

“Courting death!”

A Bone Forging Eighth Layer cultivator from Heavenly Demon Ridge roared angrily at the interruption. Abandoning the woman, he threw a punch wrapped in dense Heavenly Demon Vitality, aiming straight for Zhou Kai’s face.

Zhou Kai snorted coldly.

He didn’t dodge. He didn’t evade.

His Vitality erupted, and the phantoms of the Five Emperors manifested behind him. With a wave of his right hand, a black light flashed—the Chaotic Sky Hammer was already in his grip.

He met the demonic cultivator’s fist head-on.

SPLAT!

The demonic cultivator sprayed a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of his internal organs. The bones in his arm shattered inch by inch. He was sent flying, his eyes filled with absolute terror.

The power of a single strike… was actually this terrifying?

Is this person really Second Realm Sixth Layer? What kind of monster is this?!

The other Heavenly Demon Ridge cultivators froze, stunned by this sudden turn of events.

Seeing this, the spear-wielding woman’s beautiful eyes shone with brilliance. Reassured, she seized the opportunity. With a flick of her wrists, silver light burst forth, instantly piercing the throat of a Bone Forging Seventh Layer enemy.

“Good!”

Zhou Kai praised. He didn’t stop moving. His figure blurred as he actively attacked the other Bone Forging Eighth Layer cultivator.

That demonic cultivator, having witnessed his companion’s miserable state, dared not be arrogant. Heavenly Demon Qi surged into his entire body. His muscles swelled section by section, his skin turning pitch black.

In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a ten-zhang-tall demonic body with blue horns, his imposing manner terrifying.

Li Youci’s insults still echoed in Zhou Kai’s ears.

During the previous confrontation, his Five Emperors True Body had wilted before he could even fight. He was currently holding a bellyful of pent-up anger with nowhere to vent!

“Only a ten-zhang transformation at Late Bone Forging? Trash!”

Zhou Kai roared. The Five Elements Vitality within his body detonated.

BOOM!

His figure swelled instantly, transforming in the blink of an eye into a titan matching the demon in height—ten zhang tall!

Five-colored flowing light rotated continuously across his skin. Behind him, five towering, indistinct Emperor Phantoms slowly materialized, suppressing the very air.

The Chaotic Sky Hammer, carrying the force of a falling star, smashed down fiercely toward the demonic body!

A moment later, the battle ended.

Several mutilated corpses of demonic cultivators littered the ground.

Zhou Kai dispersed the Five Emperors True Body, returning to his original appearance. He turned to the woman.

“Fellow Daoist, do we know each other?”

The woman straightened her spear and wiped a smear of blood from the corner of her mouth. She smiled with heroic grace.

“Qionghua Palace, Wu Hongxiao. Fellow Daoist Zhou’s fame shook the Exploring Spring Flower Boat. That ‘shameless’ demeanor of yours… I observed it from start to finish. It left quite a deep impression!”

Zhou Kai’s mouth twitched.

Great. Another one who enjoys watching the show without worrying about the size of the trouble. This “shameless” reputation just wouldn’t go away, would it?

“So it is Fellow Daoist Wu.” Zhou Kai coughed dryly, not wanting to dwell on the topic. “Why are you alone here?”

Wu Hongxiao’s pretty face darkened with anger. “A lecher from Heavenly Demon Ridge kidnapped my Junior Sister! I chased him all the way here, never expecting they had an ambush prepared!”

“Yun Kang?!”

Upon hearing the name, Zhou Kai’s eyes suddenly turned fierce.

Wu Hongxiao was startled by his sudden burst of killing intent, instinctively taking a half-step back. “You know him?”

“Which direction did Yun Kang go?” Zhou Kai demanded.

Wu Hongxiao snapped back to reality and quickly pointed. “That way! Fellow Daoist Zhou, Yun Kang has several Late Bone Forging subordinates with him, and two at Grand Perfection! My Senior Sister is already on her way. We should wait for her…”

“No need.” Zhou Kai interrupted her, his tone grim. “I have a great enmity with him!”

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, you…” Wu Hongxiao started to protest.

But Zhou Kai had already transformed into a streak of light, speeding toward the direction she pointed. Only a single sentence drifted back in the wind:

“Fellow Daoist Wu, this place is not safe. You should leave on your own first!”