The Water Lake Mouse continued, "Whatâs even more troublesome is that the noise caused by the two clans fighting over the Deep Sea Strange Flower seems to have attracted the attention of powerful demon beasts from other sea territories."
"The Golden Spirit Mouse clan is now in a difficult position, fearing not only being crushed by the Blood Snake Clan but also the possibility of losing out in a struggle between two parties to a third one."
"Thus, seeking strong external assistance is urgently needed!"
"Hmm."
Xu Ping slightly nodded, looking out at the turbulent sea with a deep gaze that flickered with brilliance.
He had two purposes for joining the two clansâ conflict:
The first was the fourth-rank middle-grade demon beastâs carcass.
Now that the ten tier four lower-grade puppets were already forming an array, it was time to seek higher-grade puppet materials.
And the fourth-rank middle-grade demon beast carcass is hard to find in the outer sea human raceâs territories, but itâs a resource that can be manipulated for those large demon beast clans with deep reserves.
He currently couldnât control a puppet array formed of fourth-rank middle-grade puppets, but once his blood energy and divine sense breakthrough, he would be able to handle it.
This is a long-term foundation, prepared for any contingencies.
The second was the Deep Sea Strange Flower that caused the blood battle between the two clans.
This flower could help demon beasts break through to the fourth-rank upper grade, a heaven-defying ability.
Though he was of the human race and the flowerâs direct effects on him were limited,
But... the Water Lake Mouse had already reached the fourth-rank middle grade.
This spirit pet, with significant potential and baptized by the essence of the Profound Celestial Embryo, might find the flower to be the key to breaking through the fourth-rank upper grade threshold in the future.
Gaining opportunities for his spirit pet was also a way to enhance his own strength.
...
A month later.
An unnamed deserted island.
This island was only a small patch of land, rugged with strange rocks, without a single blade of grass, only the salty sea breeze howling past.
Several flashes of escape light in different colors streaked across the sky in succession and quietly descended.
"This is the clan leader of the Golden Spirit Mouse clan, Jin Yuxuan, Golden Clan Leader!" the Water Lake Mouse introduced.
Xu Pingâs gaze fell on the burly figure that had arrived first.
The newcomer was nearly a zhang tall, with a square face, exuding authority without anger, and his golden eyes emitted bright light as they opened and closed.
Most startling was his aura, solid like a mountain and vast like an ocean, without a trace of the ferocity and characteristics of demon beasts.
Xu Ping felt a slight chill in his heart.
Demon beasts, upon transformation, take a half-human, half-demon form at the fourth-rank middle-grade, and only upon reaching the fourth-rank upper grade can they shed the shackles of a demon body, resembling the human race in both form and spirit.
The clan leader of the Golden Spirit Mouse, Jin Yuxuan, had a cultivation far beyond ordinary fourth-rank middle-grade demon beasts.
"Golden Clan Leader, Iâve long admired your name. I am Xu Ping. Itâs a pleasure to meet you today." Xu Ping maintained a calm demeanor, smiling and cupping his hands, his manner neither servile nor overbearing.
While Xu Ping was assessing Jin Yuxuan, the sharp, lightning-like golden eyes of this Golden Spirit Mouse clan leader also scanned Xu Ping up and down, creating waves of shock in his heart.
Before deciding to meet, heâd already used his clanâs resources to gather nearly complete information on this "Blood Bone Island Master."
Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivation, a sword array that reaches the heavens, unbeaten in battles with three mid-stage Nascent Soul demons, each more incredible than the last.
And seeing now in person, the depth was even more unfathomable.
This person, with an aura refined like a rock and eyes deep like a cold pool, although only at the Early-Stage Nascent Soul, gave him an indefinable sense of pressure similar to facing a formidable foe of the same rank!
What made Jin Yuxuan nearly lose composure wasâLong Wei.
A pure, magnificent dragon aura with the breath of a primeval overlord faintly emanated from Xu Pingâs body.
The purity and intensity of it were almost even with the Water Lake Mouse, which possessed Flood Dragon lineage, beside him.
How could a human cultivator possess such a pure Long Wei?!
This was completely beyond Jin Yuxuanâs understanding over the millennia.
"The name of Fellow Daoist Xu shakes the outer sea, and I have indeed heard much about it as well."
Jin Yuxuan suppressed the storm surging in his heart, speaking calmly but with a hint of probing, "But I wonder for what reason Fellow Daoist Xu sought a meeting with me this time?"
Xu Ping smiled slightly, getting straight to the point, without any detours:
"The Golden Clan Leader speaks frankly; I am here for the conflict between your clan and the Blood Snake Clan."
"If your noble clan desires, I am willing to lend a hand to end this dispute sooner."
Despite having speculated earlier, Jin Yuxuanâs brows quickly furrowed in response.
His face darkened, and his voice turned cold, "Fellow Daoist Xuâs words are mistaken."
"This is an internal matter of our Demon Race, naturally bound by the rules of the True Dragon Hall."
"Inviting a human cultivatorâs involvement will, once detected by the True Dragon Hall, be seen as collusion with outsiders, interfering in demon race matters, bringing down their wrath..."
"Not only would my Golden Spirit Mouse clan be unable to bear it, but even you, Fellow Daoist, would also find it hard to escape its consequences."
"This is a path of disaster, absolutely inadvisable."
"I am, of course, aware of the rules of the True Dragon Hall."
Xu Pingâs expression remained unchanged, with an even broader smile, "Only that... it wouldnât hurt the Golden Clan Leader to look again before making a conclusion."
Before his words fell entirely, Xu Ping subtly moved his mind.
Buzz!
A layer of misty blue light glowed quietly from within him, instantly enveloping his whole body.
As the light swirled, his tall human form rippled, twisted, and was reshaped like water waves.
In a blink of an eye, where was Xu Pingâs original appearance?
In its place was a Rat Demon, slightly smaller than the Water Lake Mouse, with blood-red eyes like rubies, slightly exposed fangs, and imbued with pure Flood Dragon pressure.
"This..."
Jin Yuxuan was visibly surprised.
His vast divine sense swept repeatedly over the "Dark Gold Mouse Demon" before him, attempting to detect even the smallest flaw.
Yet, no matter how he probed, its form, aura, and demonic power fluctuations were indistinguishable from those of a genuine high-rank Water Lake Mouse.
If Jin Yuxuan hadnât personally witnessed Xu Pingâs transformation, he would have definitely considered this a pure-blooded, powerful Rat Demon Monarch.
What kind of secret treasure could conceal even from his divine sense?