Upon hearing Zhou Ling's words, the crowd was stunned.

How come he was so disrespectful toward a manager of the Immortal Treasures Pavilion?

The Immortal Treasures Pavilion was independent of the Guanxuan Academy, and this manager wasn't just anyone—he was the general manager representing the Heavenly World, someone of significant rank and influence.

Even Chen Yitian was visibly shocked. He hadn't expected Zhou Ling to dare make a move against someone of such status.

The Great Zhou was truly beyond belief!

Manager Li was enraged. His voice thundered, "Zhou Ling, with such arrogance, are you not afraid of bringing disaster to the Great Zhou? Do you know what happened to the Heavenly Dragon Clan?"

"The Heavenly Dragon Clan?" Zhou Ling sneered dismissively. "A bunch of ants. How could they compare to the imperial family of the Great Zhou?"

Manager Li glared at Zhou Ling, his face dark with anger. "Arrogance brings ruin! Your actions will doom the Great Zhou!"

Zhou Ling chuckled coldly. "You'd better worry about yourself first."

With a wave of his hand, the cultivators behind Zhou Ling stepped forward, ready to take action. But before they could move, more than ten cultivators from the Immortal Treasures Pavilion rushed out, standing protectively beside Manager Li.

Zhou Ling's eyes grew sharp and frosty as he glanced at them. "Take them down," he ordered. "Anyone who dares to resist—kill them without mercy."

The words "kill without mercy" sent a chill through the air.

Without hesitation, the cultivators of the Great Zhou surged forward.

"How dare you!"

Manager Li was furious. Never had he imagined Zhou Ling would be so reckless as to order a massacre against the Immortal Treasures Pavilion.

The two sides clashed, but the cultivators from the Immortal Treasures Pavilion were no match for the overwhelming strength of Great Zhou's forces. They were quickly subdued, with some killed on the spot. Even Manager Li was pinned to the ground, completely restrained.

Zhou Ling strode over to Manager Li, who glared up at him, his eyes burning with defiance. "Zhou Ling, you have no right to—"

Before he could finish, Zhou Ling raised his hand and struck.

Boom!

Manager Li's fleshly body shattered into a burst of blood and gore, a sight that made everyone watching gasp in horror.

"String up his soul on the city wall," Zhou Ling commanded, his voice cold and unfeeling. "Let it burn from the heat of the sun. Let the world see what happens to those who defy the Great Zhou."

With that, he turned and left.

Manager Li's soul was soon hung outside the gates of the Heavenly Capital, tormented by the blazing sun that burned him slowly. The guards of the Immortal Treasures Pavilion who had been captured were executed, their lifeless bodies displayed alongside the manager's.

The entire Heavenly Capital was shaken to its core. No—this was a shockwave that rippled across the entire Heavenly World.

The city was locked down as the Great Zhou and the cultivators of the Guanxuan Academy conducted a frenzied search for Ye Guan.

***

Meanwhile, Ye Guan, hidden within the city, was seeking Zang Gang. Thanks to the jade pendant gifted by Manager Li, which concealed his aura, he easily evaded detection by the Great Zhou's search parties.

As he roamed the city, he soon felt a strange sensation in his blood.

Zang Gang's Mad Demon Bloodline had a connection to his, and hence, it didn't take long for him to follow this pull to a small tavern. When he stepped inside, he froze in surprise.

Zang Gang, the one he'd been so worried about, was sitting by the window, happily devouring a table full of dishes.

Ye Guan couldn't help but laugh and shake his head. He'd been so concerned about her, thinking she might be in danger. Yet here she was, feasting like there wasn't a care in the world.

Sensing his gaze, Zang Gang looked up and blinked at him in mild surprise.

Ye Guan walked over, took a seat across from her, and glanced at the dishes on the table. They were extravagant.

Smiling, he said, "Let's eat together."

Picking up a pair of chopsticks, he began helping himself.

Zang Gang gave him a brief look, then went back to eating without a word.

The two of them devoured the meal like wolves. In no time, the table was cleared.

After finishing, Ye Guan looked at Zang Gang and said, "Let's go."

She nodded and followed him to the door. But as they reached the entrance, Ye Guan paused, turning to her. "Did you pay for the meal?"

Zang Gang blinked innocently, remaining silent.

Shaking his head with a chuckle, Ye Guan turned to the server. "The bill, please."

The server's face turned pale, and he backed away fearfully.

"N-no need to pay..." he stammered.

Confused, Ye Guan turned to Zang Gang, who still said nothing.

He stepped closer to the server. "What's going on?"

The server sighed helplessly and whispered, "You don't know, do you? This young lady has been eating here for days, ordering the best food, but she never pays. When we ask why, she beats us up..."

Ye Guan looked at Zang Gang, who calmly said, "The books never said that eating requires payment."

Ye Guan's expression froze.

Zang Gang added, "You never told me I had to pay either."

Ye Guan laughed awkwardly, took out two spiritual crystals, and handed them to the server. Then, he pulled Zang Gang out of the tavern.

***

Walking through a narrow alley to avoid the Great Zhou's patrols, Ye Guan sighed. "Remember this—you need to pay for food in the future, got it?"

Zang Gang didn't respond.

Ye Guan glanced at her. "What's wrong?"

Zang Gang looked genuinely puzzled. "If I have no money, does that mean I can't eat?"

Ye Guan sighed. "You can eat, but there are rules in society. If you eat in a restaurant, you need to pay."

"I don't have money."

"Then you have to earn it."

Zang Gang frowned. "I don't like making money. It's troublesome."

Ye Guan rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

Suddenly, Zang Gang's face brightened. "Can I just use your money?"

After a moment of thought, Ye Guan chuckled and nodded. "Fine."

Satisfied, Zang Gang smiled.

Ye Guan led Zang Gang into a rundown house. Finding a clean spot, he built a small fire.

"Give me your hand," Ye Guan said.

Zang Gang extended her hand toward him. Holding it, Ye Guan examined her for a moment before asking, "Do you feel any discomfort inside your body?"

Zang Gang thought for a while, then replied, "I feel a little hungry."

Ye Guan was speechless. "I mean, besides hunger, do you feel anything else?"

Zang Gang shook her head.

Frowning, Ye Guan remarked, "Master Pagoda, she has the Mad Demon bloodline, but it doesn't seem to be affecting her."

Little Pagoda spoke solemnly, "Have you considered the possibility that she is always in a Mad Demon state? She just appears calm on the surface."

Ye Guan was startled. His gaze shifted to Zang Gang's left hand, which was resting behind her back. When he saw this, his expression darkened.

Her left hand was gripping a blade!

Ye Guan stared at her. "Do you still want to kill me?"

Zang Gang blinked but said nothing.

Ye Guan released her hand and remained silent.

After a moment, Zang Gang's left hand moved away from the hilt of her blade.

"Killing is just a habit. Don't overthink it," she said softly.

Ye Guan was at a loss for words.

Suddenly, Zang Gang took out a meat bun and handed it to Ye Guan. "Eat."

Looking at the bun she offered, Ye Guan smiled. "Alright."

Taking a bite, he said, "Do you want to learn a really cool martial technique?"

Zang Gang nodded enthusiastically.

"This technique was passed down from my grandfather. It's called Head Snatcher. I think it suits you..."

With that, he began teaching her the Head Snatcher Technique.

The technique wasn't complicated but was undeniably brutal. Ye Guan felt that it matched Zang Gang's style, and he was correct—Zang Gang mastered it in no time.

Combined with the Universe Beholdment Skill, she was now a Ninth Realm expert using the Guanxuan Universe's power ranking system.

Even Martial Masters would struggle to contend with her. If she activated her Mad Demon bloodline, she'd become even more terrifying.

For the people in this world, the Mad Demon Bloodline's power was akin to a dimensional assault.

Zang Gang was diligent, picking up the technique swiftly. Before long, she would be glancing at Ye Guan's head now and then...

To speed up her progress, Ye Guan also gave her numerous spiritual crystals to absorb. With his assistance, she reached the Martial Master Realm in just one night.

When dawn arrived, Ye Guan turned to the still-cultivating Zang Gang. "I'm going out to buy some things. Stay here and train."

Zang Gang nodded. "Alright."

Ye Guan stood and left.

After watching him go, Zang Gang closed her eyes slowly. Her right hand lifted slightly, and bloodlines swirled in her palm. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, blood-red light surging within. She thrust her right hand upward. In an instant, the entire house and the ground beneath it shot dozens of meters into the air.

The Mad Demon Bloodline paired with Head Snatcher!

The power had increased ten times!

Zang Gang blinked, clearly surprised, but a faint smile soon tugged at her lips.

***

Outside, Ye Guan moved carefully, concealing his presence. He was waiting for Long Dai's return.

While he was walking around, he heard startling news.

Ye Guan quickly made his way to the city wall of Heavenly Capital. When he saw Manager Li's soul hanging from the city wall, his face darkened in an instant.

He hadn't expected Zhou Ling to target a general manager of the Immortal Treasures Pavilion.

How audacious and daring!

"

Heh.

"

A faint chuckle broke the silence.

Ye Guan turned and saw a young man.

The young man was none other than Chen Yitian.

A group of mysterious cultivators followed behind him.

Chen Yitian fixed his gaze on Ye Guan and smiled. "I knew you'd come back. No one can save you now."

Swoosh!

More experts emerged from the shadows around them.