Chapter 79
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Chapter 79: Setting Off Again
The Small Tree King was indeed extraordinarily powerful, this much was beyond doubt. Yuan Tong had even secretly told Zhang Yang that the Small Tree King had once boasted to him, claiming that aside from sleeping and cultivating, he was unlocking some unknown forbidden laws within the Vast Forest. Once fully released, he claimed, he could draw upon the power of a billion phoenix trees and unleash saintly strength.
Although Yuan Tong suspected this was just boasting, witnessing the Small Tree King slaughter sixty to seventy thousand elite members of the Demon Slayer Team made it seem at least somewhat believable.
It was important to remember that the Demon Slayer Team’s one hundred thousand troops were all elite fighters.
Zhang Yang, too, looked forward to the Small Tree King delivering an even greater surprise. He knew the enemies they would face in the future would be stronger, and the Demon Slayer Team’s return was almost certain—unless the Seventh Prince was killed.
Moreover, Zhang Yang’s desire to kill the Seventh Prince had reached an unprecedented level. He longed to pursue him immediately.
In the following two days, Zhang Yang had been busy with matters that only he could handle.
For example, he coordinated the true unification of the Ice and Snow Divine Palace, Divine Forbidden Gate, Howling Wolf Palace, Snow Guards, golden ape tribes, purple-eyed spirit bird tribes, and Ironback Blue Bull tribes, establishing a new base centered around Howling Wolf Palace.
He also distributed the so-called opportunities and resources revealed by the Small Tree King.
These tasks could only be completed by Zhang Yang.
Whether they were people or beasts, they had all gathered because of him. His overwhelming performance and extraordinary potential had naturally made him the core of this large team without anyone needing to say it out loud.
Even proud individuals like Bing Yuyan, who normally showed no mercy to anyone, acted like a mouse before a cat in his presence. Her pride disappeared completely whenever Zhang Yang was around.
Many were curious as to how Zhang Yang had managed this, to the point where Bing Yuyan became worried about certain secrets being exposed. She specifically sought out Zhang Yang in private to remind him not to reveal her vow, even threatening that she would rather die before him if he did.
As a precaution, she ended up calling him “Master” a hundred times.
If Zhang Yang had been absent, this first beauty from five hundred years ago would have been as haughty and aloof as ever. Even Li Kunhai and Shang Zhu had to admit her strength, background, and abilities, leaving them with no objections—especially considering she was recognized as the number one beauty in the Southern Region.
After settling these matters, Zhang Yang once again climbed Wolf God Mountain.
As he ascended, he intended to meet Chi Zhenyi.
Having personally experienced such a brutal battle, he deeply understood the immense advantage of having a saint as support. With a saint present, ordering a retreat from a hundred thousand enemies would have been possible without sustaining such heavy losses.
Though they had secured victory, it was difficult for Zhang Yang to feel any joy when faced with the losses they had suffered and the countless brothers who had once laughed and fought alongside him, now gone.
At the peak of Wolf God Mountain, at the Heavenly Sacrifice Altar, Zhang Yang witnessed a shocking sight.
A thick, suffocating wave of life energy surged above the altar.
A beam of light enveloped him, adorned with the sun, moon, and stars, perfectly corresponding to the celestial bodies of the universe. They spun steadily, while the earth and mountains below resembled the Vast Forest, as if the entire Southern Region were contained within this scene.
Chi Zhenyi’s soul sometimes scattered into sparkling points of light, sometimes coalesced into a human form with a pulsing aura, and at other times appeared as a hazy semblance of a physical body.
He was reshaping his true form.
“With this king here, he is safe,” a strong, clear voice suddenly echoed. A phoenix tree rose beside him, carrying the voice of the Small Tree King.
Zhang Yang felt somewhat surprised, though it also made sense—after all, the Small Tree King truly seemed like the ruler of the Vast Forest. The phoenix trees damaged during the battle had fully revived and regrown, all thanks to the Small Tree King.
“You know everything?” Zhang Yang asked.
“There is no place here unknown to this king,” the Small Tree King replied, his pride evident.
Zhang Yang casually drove the Thousand Wolves Pillar into the ground.
The Small Tree King snorted, “Fine, you’re impressive. Just wait until I finish unlocking some forbidden laws. We’ll see who’s stronger then.”
“Oh? You’re planning to deal with me? Shouldn’t I take care of you first?” Zhang Yang replied.
In an instant, the phoenix tree vanished without a trace.
Zhang Yang lightly tapped the ground with the Thousand Wolves Pillar and said, “Come back and tell me about the Cangmang Sacred Land.”
“I won’t say,” the Small Tree King huffed.
“I possess Baxiang Power and can unleash Baxiang Divine Fire,” Zhang Yang stated calmly.
After a brief pause, the Small Tree King said, “Actually, I’m usually easy to talk to. I never bully trees like some people do.”
The phoenix tree reappeared, this time on the opposite side of the Heavenly Sacrifice Altar.
The Small Tree King continued, “I don’t know much about the Cangmang Sacred Land. I can only confirm that once I finish unlocking all the forbidden laws, not only will I know everything, but I will also be able to transfer the power left behind by the Cangmang Sacred Land to Chi Sheng, helping him reshape his true form faster. I may not be a sacred tree, but I will wield the power of one.”
“I’m quite impressive, really. I just haven’t sorted out a few things yet,” he added, unconsciously beginning to boast.
Zhang Yang asked, “Are there still people from the Cangmang Sacred Land alive in the Vast Forest?”
The Small Tree King fell silent for a long moment before replying, “There should be.”
“Be clearer.”
“I vaguely sense life within the Cangmang Sacred Land. It’s vibrant and surging. But that place is a forbidden zone—my power cannot reach it. Perhaps, once Chi Sheng is revived, he can uncover its secrets.”
“When will you reach your peak?”
“In two or three months. Let me tell you, I’m quite powerful. Even while I sleep, I cultivate and break forbidden laws. I do this day and night. If it were someone else, it might take two or three years—no, even ten or eight years to accomplish what I do.”
“You said you could help Chi Sheng accelerate the reshaping of his true form. How fast would that be?”
“For safety, we’ll proceed step by step. It’ll take about two to three years. If we push to the limit, it might happen all at once, but the risk would be extremely high.”
“Then let’s proceed step by step.”
“Fine, no problem. Hmph! But why should I listen to you?” the Small Tree King shouted. “I’m the king of the Vast Forest! If I weren’t always so sleepy, I’d be unstoppable. Speaking of sleep, I’m feeling tired again. I’m going to sleep now.”
Zhang Yang stood there quietly for a long time before leaving.
He had decided to leave the Vast Forest.
He had two reasons.
First, he needed to break through. There was a certain darkness he had yet to identify, and it was definitely not the darkness of night. To find it, he had to venture outside.
Second, he wanted to kill the Seventh Prince. This desire came from the depths of his soul—an unexplainable, burning need. Unless he killed him, Zhang Yang knew he would never find peace.
These two reasons compelled him to set out.
As for where to go, it was Shang Zhu who provided the answer.
As the master of the Divine Forbidden Gate in the Vast Forest and a former high-ranking elder at its headquarters, Shang Zhu possessed considerable knowledge.
He specifically pointed out that the Seventh Prince was unlikely to return to the Daxia Imperial Capital and had probably headed to Mo City.
In this generation of the Great Xia Empire, four contenders vied for the throne—including a princess. Each had powerful supporters and exceptional talents. If the Seventh Prince returned, he would face strong opposition, especially since he had forcefully seized leadership of the Demon Slayer Team from them.
Mo City was the hometown of the Seventh Prince’s mother, Madame Mo. The Mo family dominated the city and was one of the most powerful families in the Great Xia Empire. With a double title holder and the emperor’s favored concubine among their ranks, they possessed wealth beyond description.
Moreover, within the Demon Slayer Team, the Seventh Prince had established a foundation of support from the Mo family.
Therefore, Shang Zhu believed that the Seventh Prince had returned to Mo City to regroup.
There was another factor as well: the Mo family’s rapid rise to power. Rumor had it that their success was supported by a unique Nightstone mine located in the Southern Region. This mine was said to harbor dark power, which intrigued Zhang Yang.
Could the darkness he sought originate from the Nightstone mine?
So, he decided to head to Mo City.
Only two people accompanied him.
In the shadows was Xue Feishuang.
In the open was Yuluan.
They traveled on the purple-eyed thunder bird instead of the Ironback Blue Bull, mainly because the Ironback Blue Bull was too conspicuous. Who didn’t know that the boy riding the bull was Zhang Yang?
That day, the three of them and one bird set out.
