After that, Zhou Sheng and Zhou Yunqiao had been secretly contacting the many Zhou Clan Members who were scattered outside.
They were trying to gather external forces to fight their way back to the Zhou Family estate and reclaim it from the Demon Beasts.
Upon hearing this, Li Changâan asked, "The Zhou Family has two Tier Three Demon Beasts inside. How do you plan to deal with them?"
Zhou Yunqiao replied, "The Old Demon King has lived with the Zhou Family for nearly a thousand years. We raised it from a young age. Its body is filled with numerous restrictions, and the Spirit Contract that controls those restrictions was split in two. One half is with the current Patriarch in the clanâs territory, and the other is with the former Patriarch."
"Could it be that the Zhou Familyâs former Patriarch isnât in the territory?"
"Yes."
Zhou Yunqiao nodded, holding nothing back.
After stepping down, the old Patriarch spent his years wandering the Mortal Realm, enjoying a secular life.
The half of the Spirit Contract in his possession, which controls the Old Demon King, is the Zhou Familyâs only hope of turning the tables.
For years, Zhou Sheng and the other Zhou family disciples who had not yet been controlled by the Demon Beasts had been searching for the old Patriarchâs whereabouts.
Not long ago, they finally found some clues.
However, those clues turned out to be a trap deliberately set by the Demon Beasts!
Zhou Sheng and the others fell into the trap and suffered heavy casualties, forcing them to split up and flee.
Zhou Yunqiao, severely injured, desperately fled back to their previous hiding place, only to find it had already been occupied by Demon Beasts. She had no choice but to flee again.
In recent days, she had exhausted almost all of her treasures just to escape with her life, and she was now at the end of her rope.
If this continued, she would surely die.
Therefore, Zhou Yunqiao chose to take a gamble and come to Changqing Mountain for help.
"Elder Li, please, just give me three days to recover. Once Iâm healed, I will leave immediately. I absolutely will not drag you into this!"
Zhou Yunqiaoâs face was pale, and her eyes held a pleading look.
Li Changâan smiled. "Since youâre already here, you might as well stay a few more days. Youâve already dragged me into it, anyway."
"What?"
Startled, Zhou Yunqiao immediately looked into the distance.
But she didnât see any pursuers.
Li Changâan looked toward an empty spot in the air and said calmly, "Spirit Rock Rat King, that little concealment trick of yours canât fool the Changqing Mountain Array."
"Heh heh, Li Changâan, this Changqing Mountain of yours really is a turtleâs shell!"
A cold, sinister voice echoed.
Immediately after, a rat demon about half a manâs height, covered in earthy-yellow fur, appeared.
It was none other than the Tier Three Demon King, the Spirit Rock Rat!
The moment she saw him, Zhou Yunqiaoâs pretty face turned deathly pale.
A Tier Three Demon King was on par with a Human Race Golden Core Cultivator. How could this tiny Changqing Mountain possibly withstand him?
Her eyes were bloodshot, and tears welled up. Grieving and desperate, she couldnât see a single sliver of hope.
"Elder Li, Iâm so sorry. Iâve dragged you into this."
"Itâs nothing. Just get some rest."
Li Changâan slowly rose to his feet. With a composed expression, he stood with his hands behind his back, directly facing the Tier Three Demon King.
Zhou Yunqiao was stunned for a moment.
At that moment, Li Changâan seemed like a towering Ancient Wood, his aura profound, as if he could shield her from all the wind and rain.
With him standing before her, even the Tier Three Demon King seemed like nothing to worry about.
But Zhou Yunqiao knew in her heart that this was just an illusion.
Li Changâan was, after all, only at the Foundation Establishment stage.
âHow could a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator possibly fend off a Demon King?â
However, the Spirit Rock Rat surprisingly didnât charge in. Instead, it hovered outside the Array, its small eyes observing for a long time.
"It really is a Tier Three Array. No wonder that Black Armored Kui Ox fell at your hands!"
âA Tier Three Array?â
Hearing this, Zhou Yunqiaoâs entire body trembled.
Her bloodshot eyes darted around, a flash of disbelief in them.
âThe Mountain Protection Array of Changqing Mountain is actually a Tier Three Array, just like the one protecting the Zhou Familyâs territory?â
Then, the Spirit Rock Rat spoke again. "But do you really think a single Tier Three Array can stop me?"
"Weâll know once you try."
Li Changâanâs expression was calm and his tone indifferent, showing not the slightest hint of panic.
"Spirit Rock Rat King, why donât you enter the Array and give it a try?"
"Fine!"
The Spirit Rock Ratâs aura surged, and billowing Demon Qi howled from its body.
"Li Changâan, today I will shatter this turtleâs shell of yours!"
As soon as the words fell, it transformed into a streak of earthy-yellow Spiritual Light and charged into the Array.
In that instant, the Green Wood Transformation Array operated at full power, blasting out a beam of Spiritual Light that reached Tier Three.
BOOM!
The beam of Spiritual Light suddenly struck the Spirit Rock Rat King, causing its body to freeze for a moment.
An ordinary Golden Core Cultivator wouldnât dare to face such terrifying power head-on and could only block it with Magic or a Protective Treasure.
Yet it had actually withstood the blow directly!
Only a few strands of earthy-yellow fur drifted down from the air.
"Li Changâan, my physique is comparable to your Human Raceâs Tier Three Body Refinement! This Array of yours is merely Tier Three Low Grade. It canât kill me!"
"Itâs too early to say that!"
With a thought from Li Changâan, dozens more beams of Spiritual Light appeared, forming a large net to intercept the Spirit Rock Rat King.
"You think this little bit of power can stop me? Wishful thinking!"
With a flick of its claws, two terrifying claw shadows materialized in the air, brimming with dense Demon Qi and killing intent, as if they could tear everything apart.
With a BOOM, the large net formed by the dozen or so beams of Spiritual Light instantly shattered.
"A Tier Three Grand Array is nothing special after all!"
The Spirit Rock Rat King laughed coldly. After being stalled for only a moment, it charged toward Li Changâan once more.
Its strength was indeed impressive.
In terms of both Defense and offense, it could be considered top-tier among Tier Three Early Stage Demon Beasts.
If that werenât the case, the Zhou Family wouldnât have chosen to help it advance.
After all, resources were precious, and at the time, there was more than one Demon Beast in the Zhou Family suitable for promotion to Tier Three.
The Zhou Family had helped it advance so it could go to the battlefield of the great war between the three sects and make greater contributions for them, but they never imagined it would turn on them.
"Li Changâan, if you are willing to become my Human Servant, I might consider sparing your life."
The Spirit Rock Rat King was confident of its victory.
It continuously shattered waves of Array Power, getting closer and closer to Li Changâan.
Li Changâan seemed tempted. "Only a servant? Canât we negotiate?" he asked.
"Negotiate? What a joke! I never negotiate with Human Race Cultivators!"
The Spirit Rock Rat King sneered and arrived right in front of Li Changâan.
But just then, a fatal aura suddenly appeared behind it.
The Spirit Rock Rat Kingâs expression changed drastically.
"Not good!"
It instantly realized that the Li Changâan before it was just an Illusion!
The real Li Changâan had, at some unknown point, evaded its Divine Sense and silently moved behind it.
"Go!"
With a thought, Li Changâan sent the Nine Swords Array in his hand flying out. It transformed into a brilliant sword light and slammed into the Spirit Rock Rat Kingâs body.
A shocking, bloody hole was instantly blasted into the physique the Spirit Rock Rat King was so proud of.
It shrieked, its life force instantly draining by more than half.
"Li Changâan, letâs talk this over! We can negotiate!"