“When I found the door and was almost freaking out, I remembered how knowledgeable Master Cheng is, so I quickly called him to ask about it.”

“That was when Master Cheng told me that it was the divine door, and after it fully materializes and its location fixed, it could be broken with spirit, qi, and mind combined. I wasn't really thinking at the time and tried anyway…”

“As it turns out… I accidentally broke the door…”

Jiang He's description was plain, simple, and short as he pointed out the process of his ascension and how Cheng Dongfeng had helped him.

Still, he did a double-take after he was finished. As he looked at the trio, he could not help asking, “Why those looks, gentleman? Could my method in breaking through the divine door be mistaken?”

“No, no!”

Dong Haichuan replied, before breathing a long sigh and exclaimed in awe, “Truly, young and dangerous!”

Beside him, Yang Luchan, who had never been good with words nodded in agreement after Dong Haichuan spoke, although he was not sure what to add.

Meanwhile, w.a.n.g Hou laughed out loud, delight showing all over his face as he said, “Not bad, kid. I really was right about you—sending you to the Diamond Sect's Secret Realm was the right call.”

Then, still under the impression that Jiang He's rapid ascension up to divine-tier was thanks to the Womb Realm, he added, “By the way, the Sword Realm of Mount Qingcheng, which is another Holy Ground of Martial Arts would be open by the end of this month as well, and they did promise me five spots too…”

“No-no-no…”

Jiang He quickly waved in decline, cutting w.a.n.g Hou short as he seriously said, “How precious are the spots for entrants into the Secret Realm, Minister w.a.n.g? I think it should be distributed to those who need it instead!”

“Moreover, I've just returned from the Diamond Sect. People would talk if I went to Mount Qingcheng too.”

“Who would have the guts to do that?”

w.a.n.g Hou sneered most imposingly. “No one is to have a say with the name list I demanded.”

Speechless, Jiang He smiled bitterly. “To tell the truth, Minister w.a.n.g… I really don't want to go into the Secret Realm. Everyone is cultivating after they went in, while I'm strolling around, barbecuing and taking in the sights… life there is so dull since I don't even have anyone to talk to, and I could lose my mind if I went twice!”

Jiang He realized then that he seemed to have developed a phobia towards Secret Realms, perhaps caused by the toiling over seven-days in the Womb Realm of the Diamond Sect.

With w.a.n.g Hou left gaping but yet to speak, Jiang He threw up his hands and cut straight to the point, saying, “Whoever wants to go to the Sword Realm of Mount Qingcheng should go. Either way, I won't be going even if it kills me!”

He then looked up at the distant mountains.

The peak renamed to Mount Golden Roc reached into the clouds like a stork standing amongst chickens… And while there had been many mountains that reached over four thousand meters above sea level nearby, all of those almost completely collapsed in the battle several days ago.

“The Golden-Winged Roc nest is up that mountain?”

Jiang He turned away and strode towards Mount Golden Roc, but was stopped by w.a.n.g Hou after a single step.

“You don't have to go, Jiang He!”

w.a.n.g Hou flatly said. “It's just two Feral Kings and they're dead already—all the Golden-Winged Roc need to do is ignore it. And if it dares to cause more trouble, I'll test my killer move on that bird the first opportunity I get once I've finished it!

Dong Haichuan and Yang Luchan both spoke out as well, saying that all they need to do was kill the Golden-Winged Roc if it caused more trouble.

Their intention was clear.

Jiang He was exceedingly gifted, and would certainly become the Hua Nation's pillar in the future, which was why he did not have to risk himself.

Even so…

“No way!”

Jiang He said solemnly. “I've already said I would visit the Golden-Winged Roc's nest, and now that I'm already at the foot of the mountain, wouldn't I be eating my words?”

“My words are golden and I always see through what I've said. And since I've said that I would cut down the Golden-Winged Roc, I will!”

That was when a sharp cry resounded over the peak of Mount Golden Roc, followed by a golden flash that came gusting down from it.

The Golden-Winged Roc was hovering three miles away, its body golden as if forged from pure gold, every feather seemingly metallic.

Its wingspan was almost two hundred meters, but it was not actually large amongst Ferals. After all, the rank-seven Leopard Python which Jiang He killed so long ago was already around two hundred meters—but the fearsome aura that the Golden-Winged Roc exudes was more than ten thousand times greater than that of the Leopard Python's!

And now, the Golden-Winged Roc was circling up in the skies, slowly flapping its wings whilst stirring small hurricanes around itself. Its golden eyes were leveling a death stare at Jiang He and firing golden beams as its killing intent overflowed.

w.a.n.g Hou stepped up to stand between the bird and Jiang He, coldly saying, “Golden-Winged Roc, Jiang He is merely rank-nine before. His killing of the Violet-Crowned Golden Eagle and the Golden-Crowned Black Eagle is lawful!”

Dong Haichuan and Yang Luchan came to stand before Jiang He quietly as well.

High above, the Golden-Winged Roc cried in rage, “Do you take this emperor for a fool, w.a.n.g Hou? That man is a rank-nine? He had killed my beloved eight days ago, and even if he ascended up to divine-tier afterward, could he have cultivated to this level that quickly?”

w.a.n.g Hou did a double-take, and turned by reflex towards Jiang He…

Other matters notwithstanding, Jiang He's aura was so abundant that it showed no signs of its previous unstable and hollow aspect, and was no different from the divine-tier elites who had ascended for years.

Not bothered to offer an explanation since that was his usual att.i.tude anyway, w.a.n.g Hou laughed coolly once more. Without saying anything, his killing intent erupted and he leveled a cold glare at the Golden-Winged Roc in return.

“w.a.n.g Hou!”

The Golden-Winged Roc shrieked, golden light overflowing from its body as it roared, “You have promised personally, Dragoncroc Emperor as my witness, that I will be allowed to settle the score with that brat. You would renege on your promise?”

“Do you really think that our kind is without champions?”

Given that the Golden-Winged Roc was using the Dragoncroc Emperor as leverage and w.a.n.g Hou had indeed said those words, he mused to himself for a moment before saying, “Golden-Winged Roc, your two lovers are dead anyway. Perhaps you would be satisfied with Jiang He returning the two eggs he had taken?”

But even before the Golden-Winged Roc could speak, Jiang He b.u.t.ted in with embarra.s.sment, “About that… the eggs are gone. I've eaten them.”

Swis.h.!.+

w.a.n.g Hou, Dong Haichuan, and Yang Luchan all turned towards Jiang He while the Golden-Winged Roc's killing intent raged further. It reared its head and screamed, blowing up distant glaciers and causing waves of avalanches.

In truth…

Jiang He had not eaten the eggs.

He was about to plant it since something born between a Feral King and a Feral Emperor would certainly be extraordinary. How cool would the mount born from it be?

“Why waste words with vermin like this, Minister w.a.n.g?”

Jiang He's aura suddenly changed. He strode forward to w.a.n.g Hou and stared coldly at the Golden-Winged Roc, looking it from head to toe… and could not help drooling.

That beast was handsome.

Its entire body was an elegant golden, and would suddenly be a tasty full-bird grill.

Wiping away his drool, Jiang He then laughed out loud, “No rush, Golden-Winged Roc. I'll reunite you with your lovers soon.”

“No, Jiang He!”

w.a.n.g Hou tried to stop him, only to find Jiang He smiling as he replied, “Don't worry, Minister w.a.n.g. I never do anything I'm not confident in.”

He strode one step out and turned into a thunderbolt, streaking towards the top of Mount Golden Roc.

In response, the Golden-Winged Roc emitted a long crow and dived downwards in pursuit.

“d.a.m.n it!”

w.a.n.g Hou cursed through clenched teeth. “The kid is too impulsive… the Golden-Winged Roc is no average Feral Emperor! Master Dong, Elder Luchan, we'll move immediately without hesitation if Jiang He is in danger… Eh?”

The look on w.a.n.g Hou's face changed just then!

The skies had been clear for miles just a moment ago…

And now it was suddenly dark.

Clouds of gloom were rolling, converging over the skies above Mount Golden Roc even as thunderbolts churned, with thick, ma.s.sive bolts brewing within.

Even w.a.n.g Hou's heart pounded in the presence of those thunderbolts!

That was when the golden light form that Jiang He had a.s.sumed was sent flying by the Golden-Winged Roc away from Mount Golden Roc, cras.h.i.+ng into the ridge of a mountain a dozen miles away with a resounding boom.

And then…

The thunderclouds gathering above the skies of Mount Golden Roc actually followed Jiang He, moving to the skies above the peak a dozen miles away.

Caw?

The Golden-Winged Roc who was about to continue its pursuit abruptly looked up, a stunned look flas.h.i.+ng in its golden eyes.

What… was that thing?