Chapter 565: Mad Harvest

The Core of Black Iron was the heart of the Black Iron Wind Ruins. It was also the main lair of No. 88. As the supreme ruler of this Subspace region, No. 88 held absolute authority over everything and everyone within this region.

It could decide the life and death of countless Terrors with just a single thought. But now, it was dead. And not peacefully. But it had been roasted to perfection.

"A little more cumin, and it’d be perfect," Little Huang said casually.

In the palace at the Core of Black Iron, Little Huang had set up a grill. He had used an ancestral iron skewer to skewer No. 88 from its mouth all the way down to its legs.

The creature’s hair had been carefully removed, and its body now rotated steadily over the flames, producing the sizzling sound of roasting meat. A tantalizing aroma filled the air.

"Cut me a piece," Li Xiaofei said. When he took a bite, he chewed thoughtfully. "Mmm, delicious."

"Who would’ve thought that Terror meat is actually this tasty," he remarked.

"If this had been five hundred years ago, the Great Xia people would’ve eaten the entire Terror race into extinction."

"Why five hundred years ago?"

"Because there are fewer Great Xia people now."

"Uh... fair point," Li Xiaofei conceded.

Li Xiaofei and Bajie sat in front of the barbecue, each with a knife in one hand and a fork in the other as they ate with great enthusiasm. Guang-chan, on the other hand, had no interest in utensils. Its chubby little paws moved so quickly that they left afterimages in the air. He was a true carnivorous rat.

The Golden Lizard King watched with a satisfied grin. Back in the day, it was this very skill in barbecue that had allowed him to win over most of the decision-makers in the Beichen Legion.

Now, as he observed Li Xiaofei engrossed in the feast, the Golden Lizard King felt like he had latched onto yet another incredibly powerful future ally.

In the distance, Barush sat securely on the king's brass throne.

"Is this... is this really okay for me?"

It felt dazed, as if it was floating on a cloud. From this moment on, Barush was the new No. 88. Yes, Li Xiaofei's plan was as straightforward as it was audacious: kill the original No. 88 and replace him with Barush.

The plan, however, had been far from easy to execute. The biggest challenge wasn’t just the difficulty of killing No. 88; it was the Terror race’s rigid hierarchical structure. The gap in status and power between higher and lower ranks was enormous. But now, sitting atop the throne, Barush was living proof that the impossible could be achieved.

The challenge of imitating No. 88 wasn’t just about appearance. The sheer difference in energy levels made it nearly impossible. But fate had smiled on Barush. He had encountered Li Xiaofei, and Li Xiaofei, in turn, had made new allies in Guang-chan and Little Huang.

Under the guise of representing the Red Fire Powder merchant guild, the group had secured an audience with No. 88. Then, Guang-chan made his move, eliminating No. 88 in a mere 0.0001 seconds.

Li Xiaofei hadn’t even had time to catch his breath before No. 88 was dead beyond recognition. Immediately after, Barush had devoured the core will of No. 88. Since it was a parasite and not a pure Terror, Barush was uniquely unaffected by the innate hierarchical suppression of the Terror race.

With Little Huang and Guang-chan’s expert guidance, Barush began refining the energy and essence of No. 88. Now, even the true King of Terror himself wouldn’t be able to distinguish between Barush and the original No. 88.

The avatars of the King of Terror were independent intelligent entities, and not mere puppets in the literal sense. The King of Terror only interfaced with and controlled his avatars when absolutely necessary.

Since the pieces had fallen perfectly into place, the outcome was decided. Thanks to the covert support of the Red Fire Powder merchant guild, the largest consortium in the Black Iron Wind Ruins, Barush didn’t even need to purge the Black Iron Core palace guards. He seamlessly secured his position as the undisputed ruler of the Black Iron Wind Ruins.

This also meant that Li Xiaofei had become the ultimate winner. Without making a sound, he had gained control over the Terror forces of the Black Iron Wind Ruins. Once he returned to Earth, he would possess an overwhelming advantage, and would be capable of delivering a devastating blow on an entirely different level.

Seated on the king's throne, Barush gradually calmed himself. He had begun inheriting all of No. 88’s memories. Eager to curry favor with Li Xiaofei, Barush, despite not yet fully assimilating No. 88’s energy, wasted no time. As the new ruler, he immediately issued commands through the brass throne to every Terror within the Black Iron Core.

The directive was simple.

Locate and capture a large black dog from another plane of existence—alive.

The entire Terror race in the Black Iron Wind Ruins mobilized. Countless fleets passed through the stargates and ventured into the Subspace ocean within a single night.

Every high-ranking Terror now knew one undeniable truth: capturing the black dog meant wealth and promotion. Meanwhile, Li Xiaofei and his companions waited in the palace of the Black Iron Core for ten full days.

But Li Xiaofei didn’t waste this time. He immersed himself in relentless cultivation. Little Huang’s exceptional barbecuing skills even proved beneficial to his training. After finishing the entirety of No. 88’s roasted flesh, Little Huang generously contributed over a dozen of his own tails, which turned out to be as potent as ninth-generation pure starforce reagents.

Li Xiaofei also utilized the Secret Time Pavilion to extend his cultivation periods. After ten days, he finally achieved perfection in the Five Spirits Realm. Not only did his inner qi cultivation soar, but his long-stagnant physical strength also broke through new barriers. The nourishment from No. 88’s flesh and the added boost from Little Huang’s roasted tails allowed Li Xiaofei’s body to reach unprecedented heights.

The most immediate result was his Formless Sword Bone, which advanced past the Black Iron and Bronze and leaped directly into Gold.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak." Guang-chan sipped on wine and smoked, watching Li Xiaofei immersed in cultivation.

It couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. The scene before it reminded Guang-chan of its master, Lin Beichen, and the path of cultivation he had once walked. But it was clear that Li Xiaofei’s dedication to cultivation far surpassed Lin Beichen’s.

Boom!

Golden light erupted from Li Xiaofei’s body as his bones gave off a golden brilliance. His muscles shimmered with the same divine hue.

"I broke through!" Li Xiaofei exclaimed in delight.

These ten days of cultivation were equivalent to one or two years of effort on Earth. This perfectly explained why so many martial Saints yearned to shatter the void and enter worlds beyond Earth. While Earth provided humanity with a safe haven, it was akin to a cage for martial artists. To truly see the vastness of the cosmos and unlock one’s potential, one had to break free of this prison.

Li Xiaofei stood up and began moving around, continuously channeling and adapting to the newfound energy surging through his body.

I can now slay Saints in my normal state. If I enter my Asura State or Demon God State, I could even contend with Great Saints without breaking a sweat. I am now nearly invincible among Earth's martial artists.

Li Xiaofei‘s excitement was palpable. The realization filled him with joy. He hadn’t expected his journey into Subspace to yield such immense rewards. Of course, much of this was thanks to the lizard and the rat. They had tirelessly provided him with all sorts of cultivation resources over the past few days.

Having strong allies is truly a blessing.

Li Xiaofei glanced at Barush, who was seated on the Brass King’s throne. Barush was in a temporary state of deep slumber, as it was fully digesting the remnants of No. 88’s energy. It wouldn’t be long before Barush’s strength surged to a terrifying level, likely surpassing even Li Xiaofei’s recent breakthroughs.

Yet, Li Xiaofei was not concerned about betrayal. Not only were Little Huang and Guang-chan there to keep Barush in check, but with Guang-chan’s assistance, Li Xiaofei had also bound Barush with a Summoned Beast Slave Contract.

Li Xiaofei could decide Barush’s life or death with just a single thought. Now, all Li Xiaofei hoped for was that Barush could finish refining No. 88’s core will and memories as soon as possible. Once that was done, the demonic seed aura of No. 88 lingering in Old Tan’s body would finally dissipate. When that happened, his father-in-law could wake from his slumber at last.

Finally, on the twentieth day, Barush, seated on the throne, abruptly opened his eyes. Two beams of light shot forth from his gaze, like lightning born from the void itself, piercing through the air and into the depths of Subspace. His massive body slowly rose, radiating an aura of absolute dominance.

"I did it! Hahaha!" His laughter was wild and triumphant as terrifying waves of energy radiated from the Black Iron Core, spreading across the entire Wind Ruins.

In that instant, countless Terror creatures turned their gazes toward the Black Iron Core’s palace with reverence, trembling as they dropped to their knees in submission.

Smack!

A rodent paw slapped Barush square in the face. The impact sent him flying, crashing heavily into the palace’s iron wall before sliding down in a daze.

"Shut up, you’re too loud," said Little Huang, his eyes full of disapproval.

Barush quickly scrambled to his feet as he plastered a fawning smile on his face. His earlier arrogance was quickly replaced by servility.

Meanwhile, Li Xiaofei could no longer focus on the commotion. He immediately entered the Secret Time Pavilion. His father-in-law was finally about to awaken.