Facing the astonished gaze of the Nine Yin Demon Envoy, Wang Shouzhe's expression grew even more complex.

This was all trouble stirred up by that troublesome girl Wang Lixian.

Oh, no, this mess should actually be traced back to that troublesome girl Wang Lilong. If she hadn't started it all by bringing back a moon rabbit as a "concubine," none of these subsequent troubles would have happened.

"Master, Master." Seeing Wang Shouzhe look over, the Nine Yin Demon Envoy was filled with panic, hastily retreating with a trembling voice, "It's all my fault, I'll leave right away, right away."

Her demeanor truly resembled that of a pitiful concubine caught discovering the male lead's unspeakable secret, trembling with fear of being silenced.

"Stop!" Wang Shouzhe said with a dark face, "Things aren't as you see them, do you understand?"

"I understand, I understand."

The Nine Yin Demon Envoy was so frightened her face turned pale, nodding repeatedly.

"..." Wang Shouzhe could tell she was just humoring him, but he couldn't be bothered to explain further. He waved his hand dismissively, "If you have nothing to do, go serve Chaoyang King and the others while they play cards."

"As you command."

The Nine Yin Demon Envoy, as if granted amnesty, quickly retreated.

Seeing her like this, Wang Shouzhe could only shake his head and sigh.

Bringing back the Nine Yin Demon Envoy was indeed a troublesome matter caused by Wang Lixian.

If they had released her back on Muzhen Continent, it would have been fine, but since she was brought back to the Wang Clan, she naturally gained some understanding of the clan, making the situation awkward.

Releasing her would be like letting a tiger return to the mountains.

Keeping her was also a hidden danger.

Fortunately, after some training by Liu Ruolan, the Nine Yin Demon Envoy now held them both in great awe, especially after Ruolan forced her to swallow a [Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worm], making her extremely obedient.

Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worm?

Wang Shouzhe had heard of this rare and evil parasitic soul worm, said to lurk deep in the soul once parasitized, and could be activated by the master's thought, causing excruciating pain and devouring the soul alive.

However, in his nearly two hundred years of life, Wang Shouzhe had never encountered such a worm.

The [Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worm] Liu Ruolan had was, of course, not genuine, but a "counterfeit" obtained through Luojing.

Wang Luojing was quite capable, making the fake worm look convincing. Once parasitized, it gave the impression of a foreign object lurking in the soul, but in terms of actual capability, it posed no threat to Divine Realm cultivators. If the Nine Yin Demon Envoy dared to test it, she would find something amiss.

However, after witnessing the many incredible methods and actual situations of the Wang Clan, the Nine Yin Demon Envoy dared not gamble and firmly believed in the existence of the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worm.

Because of this.

Liu Ruolan felt assured enough to let the Nine Yin Demon Envoy serve by Wang Shouzhe's side.

After all, Wang Shouzhe was to operate within the demon nation's territory, and having a maid skilled in demonic arts accompany him not only helped disguise his identity but also prevented unnecessary trouble from arising due to some inexplicable details.

The Immortal and Demon Dynasties had significant differences in ideology and customs. Even though Wang Shouzhe was always cautious, he couldn't cover all bases. Especially those seemingly insignificant details were the easiest to slip up on, and only demon cultivators living within the demon dynasty's territory knew them best.

After dismissing the Nine Yin Demon Envoy, Wang Shouzhe turned his attention to the two ninth-rank Dragon Whale sisters, politely cupping his hands, "Sisters Dragon Whale, please don't misunderstand Shouzhe. Don't take to heart the nonsense that brat Kun'er spouts."

"Master!" Dragon Whale Sister A became flustered, "Please don't be so polite to us. If Queen Jingjing finds out, she'll surely punish us."

"Yes, yes." Dragon Whale Sister B also lowered her head, looking shy, "You're Young Master Zong Kun's father, which makes you our great master. It's only right for us to serve you."

Enough, enough~ This fiery blessing, Wang Shouzhe couldn't bear it.

With a headache, he quickly waved his hand to change the topic, "Where did that brat's rubber band come from? The one tied to his sunglasses, quite elastic."

"Are you talking about that monkey rubber band?" Dragon Whale Sister A suddenly realized, "We bought it casually while playing in the Zhao Kingdom in human form. Because Young Master Zong Kun's head is big and he likes to change size frequently, using this to hold his sunglasses makes them less likely to fall off."

"Something from the Demon Zhao Kingdom?" Wang Shouzhe frowned slightly, a bit surprised.

But thinking it over, it made sense. Geographically, the Demon Zhao Kingdom is located slightly south of the equator, with most of its territory in subtropical and temperate zones.

In such an environment, the emergence of species similar to rubber trees is reasonable.

Over the years, Wang Shouzhe had been on the lookout but had never found petroleum, nor had he found plants similar to rubber trees, often feeling inconvenienced.

Especially rubber, which has countless uses, from tires to sealing materials, and even some household items.

The performance of purple crystal insect glue is only similar, but in many specialized fields, it falls far short of rubber, and given its cost, large-scale tire manufacturing is unrealistic.

Wang Shouzhe himself had tried using major divine abilities for targeted cultivation but couldn't cultivate similar tree species, possibly due to the lack of necessary materials.

It seems that this trip to the Demon Zhao Kingdom has added another task—to find clues about tree species similar to rubber trees and bring them back to the Great Qian for cultivation.

"Master, please forgive Young Master Zong Kun. He's still a child." The two Dragon Whale sisters began pleading again.

"Hmph!" Wang Shouzhe said with a stern face, "Look at him, acting all carefree like a young master. Which male in the family is as lazy as him? Without responsibility and commitment, how can he become a real man? That brat showed some progress a few years ago, begging me to tutor him, but he lost patience halfway. I'll have to have a good talk with Jingjing, not to indulge him anymore."

After years of outsmarting Wang Lixian, he had gained plenty of experience.

For celestial plants and beasts like Wang Lixian and Wang Zongkun, they were different from ordinary fierce beasts with potential only up to the seventh or eighth rank. They were born with considerable intelligence, comparable to a ten-year-old human child at the fifth or sixth rank.

By the seventh or eighth rank, their intelligence was akin to a fifteen or sixteen-year-old human teenager. If they were serious and willing to learn, attending higher clan schools wouldn't be a problem.

They just didn't want to use their brains or study diligently.

"Here are some exercise books. Make sure he practices them. If he continues to be so carefree and his grades don't improve, don't blame me for taking serious action." Wang Shouzhe said, handing over a pile of exercise books to the two Dragon Whale sisters, then turned and left in frustration.

The two Dragon Whale sisters, holding a pile of exercise books, looked at each other, both with worried expressions.

It seemed that Young Master Zong Kun's days ahead would be tough~

Master Shouzhe's orders, besides Mistress Ruolan, who else in the family dared to defy them? Even Queen Jingjing wouldn't dare to openly oppose her father-in-law.

After dealing with Wang Zongkun's matter, Wang Shouzhe returned to the cabin to rest.

This flagship-class giant ironclad ship had its cabins renovated, divided into luxurious suites, and even had various activity rooms.

Passing by the "game room," he happened to hear the sound of playing mahjong inside.

"Apologies, everyone, I won again with a self-drawn tile." Long Wuji's hearty voice rang out, "Pardon me, thank you."

Over the years, Long Wuji had been sailing the seas for long periods, reaping considerable rewards. Not only had his own bloodline aptitude been elevated to the level of a great prodigy through several maritime adventures, but his strength had also significantly improved, and he had made remarkable achievements in developing trade routes.

Besides discovering that subcontinent, he had also mapped out the location of the Tianji Continent and the route to it. Currently, besides trading between the Tianji Continent and the Great Qian, he was also responsible for exploring the relics of the [Officer Academy] left by Shenwu.

This time, heading to the demon territory was a long and risky journey. Just as Long Wuji returned, Wang Shouzhe entrusted the experienced captain with commanding the fleet, making it more appropriate.

"Wuji, your mahjong skills are much better than your Ancestor Grandfather's." Jiang Zhencang's sighing voice followed, "I'm already semi-retired, and this little pension isn't enough to lose~"

"Holy Master Jiang, you're being modest. Don't cry poor in front of the younger generation." Long Wuji chuckled, "As far as I know, Holy Master Jiang has been earning quite a bit from the Wang Clan over the years, not only receiving offerings but also getting extra allowances for missions. How much can you lose playing small mahjong?"

"Wuji, you don't understand." Jiang Zhencang sighed, with a "you don't know" attitude, "Our family Yinxuan has just gained a foothold in the Immortal Palace. To aim for the mid to late stages of the Lingxu Realm in the future, relying solely on the Immortal Palace's support is impossible. As her master, I have to help out, right?"

Even in resource-rich Immortal Palaces, cultivating Lingxu Realm isn't supported without limits. A significant portion of resources still has to be earned by oneself or supplemented by the family.

This is to prevent full support from creating a bunch of useless people who know nothing but cultivation, and also because resources are genuinely limited.

If not, the True Lord Yuling, who always talks about being a "reincarnated True Immortal," wouldn't be scrounging everywhere, scaring even the True Lord of Enlightenment.

She's not pretending to be poor; she's genuinely poor.

To advance to the mid to late stages of the Lingxu Realm sooner, True Lord Yuling's resource consumption is enormous. Even with support from the Cold Moon Jiang Clan, Northern Territory Wang Mansion, Liang Kingdom, and other forces, life is still tight.

"That's true." Chaoyang King had firsthand experience with this, "Aiming for the mid to late stages of the Lingxu Realm is extremely difficult. Even as a princess with access to abundant royal resources, reaching the seventh level of the Lingxu Realm was incredibly challenging."

"Fortunately, the Wang Clan has a solid foundation, bearing a significant portion of Yinxuan's cultivation resources, with the Fang Clan providing substantial support." Jiang Zhencang's voice carried a mix of relief and pride, "With the resources I've saved and the Immortal Palace's support, our Yinxuan has a bright future and will surely become one of the pillars of the human race."

"Hehe~ Your Yinxuan is impressive, but my Lilong isn't bad either." Yuan Shui Old Dragon's deep voice echoed, "After inheriting the ancestor's bloodline, her potential reached the twelfth rank. With proper cultivation, she could likely reach the peak of the twelfth rank."

"However, with such aptitude, relying solely on our Yuan Shui Azure Dragon clan is impossible. The main funding still depends on Shouzhe, and the pressure is immense, too immense. East Wind!"

The old dragon sighed about the pressure, but his words were filled with pride about his child's excellence.

"East Wind pong, two bamboo. Speaking of potential, our Xian'er is the strongest." Di Xiu's avatar couldn't help but boast, "One day, when she truly ascends to a celestial plant, let's see who dares to bully our Myriad Demon Nation."

"Ascending to a celestial plant isn't easy." Chaoyang King wasn't as optimistic as they were, "Cultivating a celestial plant might consume more resources than Yinxuan and Lilong combined, and it also depends on opportunity. The Wang Clan's current foundation isn't enough, so we can only hope Shouzhe can earn more. There are too many outstanding children in the family needing growth. We old fellows should help as much as we can."

"That's true, it seems the one under the most pressure is Master Shouzhe."

After calculating, the big shots couldn't help but sigh at Wang Shouzhe's enormous pressure. No wonder he was working so hard to earn money and gather resources.

In this situation, if it were them, they might have been too worried to sleep.

Ah~ Indeed, children are debts from a past life. Worrying about poor aptitude, worrying about too good aptitude.

Listening to their conversation, Wang Shouzhe felt a sense of empathy.

It seemed that his painstaking efforts were appreciated by some. Unfortunately, his pressure was far greater than these big shots imagined, and his ambitions were much larger than they thought.

"Your Highness, you won!" At this moment, Senior Sister Lu Wei's excited voice suddenly rang out, "Quick, collect the money! Don't forget my fishing money~"

"Lu Wei! How come wherever you fish, that house wins? If this continues, you'll win all four houses' money." Long Wuji grumbled, "Are you trying to help Shouzhe with his pressure?"

"Don't say that, I've heard Lu Wei has been supporting Wang Zong'an over the years." Jiang Zhencang chuckled, "Little Lu Wei, could the rumors be true?"

"Those are just rumors, not to be believed. I wouldn't mind having a child with Wang Shouzhe, but that annoying guy keeps making excuses." Senior Sister Lu Wei's tone was full of indignation, "I just want to borrow his seed, I wouldn't even ask him to raise the child, what's he worried about?"

"Little Lu Wei, if you really have this plan, you should act early." Chaoyang King whispered, "If it doesn't work, just drug him and make it a done deal."

"Your Highness makes a good point, I'll consider it." Senior Sister Lu Wei also whispered, but her tone was full of excitement.

Wang Shouzhe was speechless.

Consider what? How can you casually have a child with someone? Even thinking of drugging is despicable!

Moreover, the lowest cultivation level around you two is Purple Mansion Realm, all with keen senses. Whispering is pointless. What's there to be excited about?

Wang Shouzhe could no longer listen and went straight back to his room to rest.

At the same time, he felt a bit uneasy. Could Senior Sister Lu Wei really be crazy enough to do such a thing?

Coincidentally, before this trip, Senior Sister Lu Wei visited the Wang Clan as usual.

Wang Shouzhe thought, since Senior Sister Lu Wei was half a family member, and since Ancestor Long Yan discovered that the relic was related to the Demon Plant Venerable, perhaps Senior Sister Lu Wei could gain some benefits by going, so he brought her along.

Had he known she was so eager for his body, he wouldn't have brought her this time.

...

Meanwhile, as the ironclad fleet continued its journey toward the Demon Zhao Kingdom.

In the Wuwang Sea, northeast of the Demon Zhao Kingdom, an armed merchant ship was sailing unsteadily.

It was battered and tattered, with holes in its sails, making eerie sounds as the wind blew through, and the ship swayed as if it might sink at any moment.

Yet, pressed for time, the merchant ship dared not stop, repairing as it sailed. The atmosphere on board was tense.

At the stern.

A woman in black, with an extraordinary appearance and resolute demeanor, clung tightly to the railing, her expression both angry and despairing, "Damn the Sun Clan! Traitors! National traitors! They've forgotten the glory of their ancestors, forgotten their sacred mission."

Her knuckles turned white from exertion, leaving imprints on the railing. Her aura surged like waves, as if ready to erupt at any moment.

"Princess Haige." Seeing her like this, the old servant pleaded, "Now is not the time for anger and blame. You must stay strong. As long as we escape this sea, we'll be safe."

"Yes! We will escape, escape to the Immortal Dynasty." The woman in black, known as [Princess Haige], steeled her resolve, her eyes growing firm, "So many clansmen and elders blocked the pursuers for us, giving me this chance. I will go to the Immortal Dynasty, seek military aid, and reclaim our Xia Kingdom."

This [Princess Haige] was the princess of the former Xia Kingdom on the Yan Sea Continent.

However, during the last stages of the immortal-demon war, Xia was destroyed. Now, the unified Yan Sea Continent is the Demon Zhao Kingdom.

Over three thousand years ago, as the immortal-demon war neared its end, both the Immortal and Demon Dynasties launched a final assault, resulting in mutual destruction.

On the Yan Sea Continent, geographically closer to the Red Moon Continent, the Demon Zhao Kingdom invaded the former Xia Kingdom's capital, leading to Xia's downfall.

Simultaneously, on the Glacier Continent near the Han Yue Continent, the Immortal Dynasty's Tang Kingdom unified the land, breaking the stalemate.

Before Xia's fall, during the most chaotic times, some royal relatives and clans fled to the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty for refuge, while the royal Sima Clan and some clans fought to the end. When resources were exhausted, the Demon Emperor personally offered terms, and the Sima Clan surrendered to preserve the clans and people.

However, the Sima Clan set many conditions for surrender.

The Demon Emperor, wanting to set an example for future generations, treated the Sima Clan with utmost care, granting them a reserve land to continue their lineage, preserving the royal heritage and dignity, and even handing over the confiscated [Sea Tide Codex] to the former Xia's "loyal dog," the Sun Clan, to continue protecting the Sima Clan.

The surrendered clans were also treated with utmost care and absorbed with generous terms.

Especially the former Xia Sun Clan, which mastered the [Sea Tide Codex] within a few thousand years and was conferred the title of [King of Xia] by the Demon Zhao Kingdom.

Such a title naturally drew protests from the Sima Clan.

Fortunately, the Sun Clan always appeared loyal to the Sima Clan, secretly reassuring them that if a successor to the codex emerged within the Sima Clan, they would return it, calming the situation.

Naturally, the Sima Clan's desire for restoration never faded, though they lacked opportunities.

In their despair, the Sima Clan finally produced a genius. With elders' frugality and allies' secret support, this genius's aptitude quietly grew to great prodigy B-grade.

This genius was none other than [Princess Haige].

As Princess Haige grew, the Sima Clan's desire for restoration intensified.

Some within the Sima Clan recalled the Sun Clan's promise and sought to reclaim the [Sea Tide Codex]. If the princess inherited the codex, she would become a Void seed, rallying support from former loyalists.

The outcome was predictable.

The Sima Clan, isolated for too long, had a narrow vision, overly confident in their "prestige" shown by the Sun Clan, and naively unaware of the changing times.

As soon as Princess Haige's aptitude was exposed, King Sun of Xia betrayed them, leading troops to suppress the "rebellious" Sima Clan.

The Sima Clan elders fought desperately, allowing Princess Haige to escape.

"Princess Haige." The old servant's eyes reddened, tears streaming, "You must reach the Immortal Dynasty alive, to avenge the Sima Clan. Our royal relatives and many clans have established themselves in the Immortal Dynasty; they will help you."

"I'm afraid they've become like the Sun Clan, having forgotten the ancestors' glory. Human hearts change." After suffering a setback, Princess Haige matured, her gaze losing some innocence, gaining clarity and caution.

"No..."

Before the old servant could finish, his face changed dramatically.

Ahead, among the reefs and islands, a massive black shadow emerged from the black mist-covered sea.

Its "back" was broad and towering, like a cliff standing on the vast sea, exerting immense pressure.

This was none other than the renowned [Kunwu Giant Ship] of the demon faction.

The Kunwu Giant Ship, about forty zhang long, was mostly made of spiritual wood, with key parts reinforced with black iron. Its hull was vast, like a moving fortress, even larger than the Wang Clan's giant ironclad ships.

As it advanced, the sea ahead churned, massive waves pushed aside, creating huge water surges beside and behind it.

The terrifying energy fluctuations around it were enough to instill fear without needing to act.

More frightening was the fleet of seven or eight smaller warships speeding behind the Kunwu Giant Ship, spreading out at a speed far surpassing the armed merchant ship, surrounding it from all sides, blocking all escape routes.

These were the Demon Zhao Kingdom's self-developed low-cost version of the demon dynasty's [Xiangliu Treasure Ship], named [Three-Eyed Treasure Ship].

About twenty zhang long and five or six zhang wide, the Three-Eyed Treasure Ship was narrow and willow-leaf-shaped, made entirely of spiritual wood, with key parts shielded by iron armor.

At first glance, it looked almost identical to the demon dynasty's Xiangliu Treasure Ship.

However, the legendary [Xiangliu Treasure Ship] had nine giant banners on its hull, capable of spreading demonic energy and creating an artificial demonic energy field, while the Zhao Clan's Three-Eyed Treasure Ship had only three banners.

The patterns on these three banners resembled human eyes, giving the impression of three demonic eyes, hence the name [Three-Eyed Treasure Ship].

Despite being less equipped than the [Xiangliu Treasure Ship] and lacking the intimidating size of the Kunwu Giant Ship, the Three-Eyed Treasure Ship's combat power was not to be underestimated.

The Three-Eyed Treasure Ship's bow and stern each housed a top-tier Purple Mansion Treasure-grade special attack spiritual treasure, with the sides equipped with numerous city-defense giant crossbows, and the hull featuring garrison-level defensive formations and various offensive and defensive measures.

This treasure ship, like a mobile fortress, was formidable, showcasing the Demon Zhao Kingdom's strong national power.

Above the flagship [Kunwu Giant Ship] in this fleet, a massive banner fluttered in the wind.

On the banner, an ancient character was boldly written—"Xia."

"It's the Sun Clan of King Xia!" The old servant's face turned pale, despair causing him to sway, his voice trembling, "Damn the Sun Clan! Are they determined to exterminate us?"

"How could they, how could they... If not for the late emperor's self-sacrifice, securing favorable terms for everyone, they would have been expelled from the clan, unable to preserve their family's strength or obtain the codex inheritance. Such betrayal, aren't they afraid of facing their ancestors after death?"

"Oh heavens~ Is my Xia Kingdom truly doomed?"

Listening to the old servant's heart-wrenching cries, Princess Haige's despair gradually settled, replaced by a burning determination.

As long as there was a glimmer of hope, even the slightest, she would make the Sun Clan pay for today's actions!

...

At the same time.

Not far away, on a hidden island shrouded in mist.

A not-too-large yet luxurious portable cave mansion had been set up, situated in the best vantage point on the island.

Inside the cave mansion, a figure in an ice-blue long dress was practicing swordsmanship.

Her movements were graceful, yet her swordsmanship was sharp and domineering. Even without using profound energy, it exuded an intimidating aura.

This figure was Wang Long Yan.

This portable cave mansion naturally belonged to Third Prince Shentu Jingming.

This island was, of course, the one where the Demon Plant Venerable's relic was located.

To cater to Ancestor Long Yan's tastes, the Third Prince had specially planted some of her favorite flowers and plants around.

He even dug a pond to raise spiritual fish and kept plump meat-eating spiritual birds in the courtyard, creating a true paradise.

Having lived on the island for several months since Wang Long Yan sent the message back to the Wang Clan, the surroundings naturally changed over time.

Why hasn't Shouzhe arrived yet?

After finishing a set of sword practice, Wang Long Yan sheathed her sword and looked at the distant sky, unable to help but wonder.

Though she was usually patient, this time the wait felt particularly long.

That kid, could it be his old habit acting up again? Preparing and preparing endlessly.

Thinking of Wang Shouzhe's old habit, Wang Long Yan's mouth twitched slightly.

In terms of being cautious and thorough, Wang Long Yan had never seen anyone who could rival Shouzhe."Ruobing, have your clansmen not arrived yet?" The third prince personally cooked a plump and tender spirit sparrow, eagerly bringing it over like a treasure. "Come, come, have some sparrow soup to warm your stomach. We're not in a hurry; we have all the time in the world. I'm willing to stay here with Ruobing until the end of time."

"Hmph!" Wang Long Yan glared at him irritably. "You may have nothing better to do, but I have things to attend to."

"I know, I know. With your bloodline and talent, coming from the holy land of a small border country, you must be aiming for the position of the True Demon Hall's master," the third prince said knowingly.

"So what if I am?" Wang Long Yan replied coldly. "What does it have to do with you?"

"I've already thought it through. I, this prince, will do everything I can to help you, Ruobing, compete for the position of Demon Lord," the third prince declared earnestly. "And I'll work hard to inherit the position of Demon Emperor."

"By then, you'll be the Demon Lord, and I'll be the Demon Emperor. We'll be a power couple, ruling the realm, turning our demon dynasty into a one-voice rule. Then we'll consolidate our forces and go on to unify the Immortal Dynasty..."

"Shut up!" Wang Long Yan's face darkened as she shouted angrily, "If you dare to spout nonsense again, I'll take you down first."

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll shut up, I'll shut up," the third prince said, trying to please her. "I just love your fiery temper, Ruobing. Don't worry, whatever you say goes. I'll listen to you."

"Boom!"

The third prince was sent flying.

...