Gradually, the surging tides of Qi and Blood triggered by the [Blood Jade Mulberry] settled within Wu Yuan’s body.

He snapped his eyes open, a wild excitement dancing within them. “Phew!”

“A single [Blood Jade Mulberry] increased my Qi and Blood by a full ten percent!”

Wu Yuan clenched his fists, feeling the raw power coursing through his veins.

“The [Golden Thread Peach] purifies Spiritual Energy, while this mulberry tempers the physical body. It enhances vitality and deepens my foundation.”

“I really do get stronger just by eating.”

“Truly worthy of being a rare symbiotic spirit plant born of Little Green Mountain!”

Wu Yuan’s heart swelled with anticipation. At this rate, his physical body might evolve faster than his Demon Power cultivation. He could eventually reach a state where his fleshly strength nourished his cultivation base.

However, a sudden wave of heat washed over him. Wu Yuan rubbed his eyes, trying to suppress the restless fire burning in his gut.

“The side effects are a bit much,” he muttered, shifting uncomfortably. “I need to go soak in the bamboo pool. Immediately.”

One month later.

Wu Yuan lay prone in his treehouse, eyes shut tight. Ripples of Demon Power oscillated around his form as he focused entirely on his cultivation.

“Seventy-seven strands of Demon Power!”

Ever since he accidentally discovered Little Huang’s cultivation level, a sense of urgency had taken root in Wu Yuan’s heart.

As the Sect Leader, I can’t let my little brother surpass me, he thought, feeling the pressure. That would be completely humiliating.

Just then, a line of green text materialized before him.

[Green Intelligence: The Barbarian Beast Pangolin will invade the Earth Vein Mine Cave at nightfall.]

Wu Yuan stared at the notification, his brow twitching.

“What is this, a parade?” he grumbled. “All sorts of monsters and demons are showing up. Now even a Barbarian Beast is joining the fun?”

Barbarian Beasts were a unique problem. They were descendants of the ancient demon clans who rejected the path of wisdom and cultivation. Unlike modern Demon Beasts who learned to refine Qi and cast spells, the ancestors of Barbarian Beasts refused to dilute their bloodlines.

They focused solely on the physical body.

As a result, their bloodlines remained incredibly potent, but their intelligence was stunted. They were savage, instinct-driven tanks. Those who reached the peak of physical perfection achieved bodies that “Ten Thousand Methods Cannot Invade”—virtually immune to magic.

In a traditional sense, they were the “true” monsters. Wu Yuan and his crew, who walked the path of cultivation, were the new era’s Demon Cultivators.

Since Bibo was currently in secluded cultivation, Wu Yuan summoned Big Old Black.

The massive rat burrowed out of the ground, shaking dirt from his pitch-black fur.

“An enemy is invading tonight,” Wu Yuan instructed casually. “Notify the rat swarm. Tell them to increase vigilance.”

Big Old Black’s eyes widened into perfect circles. “Sect Leader! Are there still other spirits on Little Green Mountain? I thought that goat spirit ruined everything!”

The rat puffed out his chest, radiating unearned confidence. “Sect Leader, why don’t I just go kill him directly? I feel terrifyingly strong right now!”

Big Old Black had been snacking on the [Blood Jade Mulberries] recently. The boost to his physique had accelerated his cultivation, pushing him to forty strands of Demon Power. The surge in strength had gone straight to his head.

Wu Yuan looked at the smug rat and, without hesitation, kicked him.

“You idiot,” Wu Yuan scolded. “I want you to lure the pangolin in. We’re going to catch a turtle in a jar!”

Big Old Black stumbled back, scratching his head in genuine confusion. “But Sect Leader… isn’t it a pangolin? How did it become a turtle?”

Wu Yuan took a deep breath, fighting the urge to kick him again.

“Just go do your job,” he sighed, waving his hand dismissively. “And don’t screw it up!”

Watching Big Old Black scurry away, Wu Yuan shook his head. “I really need to invest in some basic education for these illiterates.”

Dusk fell, dyeing the horizon in brilliant strokes of orange and crimson.

Wu Yuan was resting his eyes when a tremor ran through his consciousness. The roots of the Spirit Mulberry had been disturbed.

His focus snapped to attention. Through the sensory network of the Spirit Mulberry, he pinpointed the disturbance 200 li away from the valley.

A field rat was transmitting a signal to the roots: Target acquired.

A wave of satisfaction washed over Wu Yuan. His control over Little Green Mountain was absolute. Between the rat swarm and the root network, nothing escaped his gaze.

If the [Blood-Binding Spirit Mulberry] hadn’t reached its maximum growth limit, Wu Yuan would have spread its roots through every inch of the mountain range.

Despite the name “Little” Green Mountain, the territory was vast, spanning hundreds of li. The original Big Green Stone sat at the highest peak in the center, where Wu Yuan used to live before relocating to the underground mine.

Now, sitting in the subterranean depths, he was the master of the underground world.

Of course, the mulberry’s aggressive root expansion defied all natural laws of botany. Without Wu Yuan’s conscious guidance and Spiritual Energy, such a feat would have been impossible.

Wu Yuan transmitted a mental command through the tree:

“The Pangolin is here. Lure it in. Do not let it damage the Spirit Mulberry’s roots.”

Big Old Black received the order and charged toward the target, eager to teach the intruder a lesson.

“Hiss…”

But when Big Old Black actually saw the enemy, he sucked in a cold breath.

“That’s a pangolin?” he muttered, his confidence faltering.

The beast before him was a living siege engine. It stood two meters tall and stretched three meters in length. An aura of savage, ancient brutality radiated from its form, making Big Old Black’s fur stand on end.

It was encased in earth-yellow scales, each the size of a palm, flickering with faint yellow spirit patterns. The armor looked impenetrable.

Its limbs were thick and short, ending in curved claws as large as cattail leaf fans. Cold light glinted off the tips. Tufts of stiff red hair, resembling burning flames, grew along its flanks and tail—a sign of overflowing, violent Qi and Blood.

It was a pure Earth-attribute Barbarian Beast.

As it walked, the soil in front of it parted automatically like water.

[Earth Walk].

For this beast, moving through solid ground was as effortless as a fish swimming in a river.

Big Old Black swallowed hard, trying to muster his courage. “Hey! You dirt rat! You dare trespass on the Sect Leader’s territory? Surrender now!”

The Pangolin didn’t even glance at him.

It simply flicked its mucus-coated tongue, tasting the air, and continued its stubborn march forward.

Big Old Black grit his teeth. “Ignore me? Fine!”

His body swelled with Demon Power. Crimson energy wreathed his claws like flames as he slashed at the intruder.

Screech!

A piercing sound, like metal on metal, rang out. The Pangolin’s scales flashed with yellow light. Not a single scratch appeared.

Instead, a violent force rebounded from the impact.

“Ow!” Big Old Black yelped as the [Counter-Shock] shuddered through his arm, splitting the skin on his paw and drawing blood.

Watching from afar, Wu Yuan narrowed his eyes.

“[Earth Walk] and [Counter-Shock],” he murmured. “This tank won’t be easy to capture.”

Suddenly, a blur of white arrived on the scene.

Little White stood before the hill-sized monster, clutching her carrot Magical Artifact. There was no fear on her face—only battle lust.

“Barbarian Beast!” she cried out. “Eat my carrot!”