When I woke up, I wanted to go home.

I rely on!

That cry is even worse than mine!

I'll yell back at you, "Awooo, awooo!"

After Xiao Hei finished yelling, there was no further movement from the other side.

In this battle of voices, Xiao Hei won!

Although Xiao Hei's shouts weren't as awful as the ones on the other side, Xiao Hei's voice went straight to the soul.

The noise from across the street is just industrial noise!

When Zhu Chongjiu and Xiao Hei stood in front of the Emperor-level demon beast, the beast was already foaming at the mouth and barely breathing.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Chongjiu patted Xiao Hei's head and pretended to scold him, "Why are you shouting so loudly? Did you hurt this amusing masked friend?"

Xiao Hei then walked to the beast's ear and whispered, "Get up quickly, or I won't hold back!"

The Emperor-level demon beast, which was already on the verge of death, stood up unsteadily after hearing the voice that sounded like a seductive demon.

After the Emperor-level demon beast stood up, Zhu Chongjiu carefully examined it.

This monster was less than a hundred meters tall, which was considered short among the Emperor-level monsters that Zhu Chongjiu had seen.

It has the body of a beast, but its head resembles that of a one-horned rhinoceros!

However, it has no scales or feathers on its body, but is covered with sharp, metallic armor.

After standing up, the Emperor-level demonic beast asked, "May I ask what brings you two to my territory?"

Upon hearing the beast's words, Zhu Chongjiu jokingly replied, "Give us a taste of our power first."

After realizing they couldn't win, they started to act respectfully and weakly.

You should have been firm from the start.

You didn't start by talking to my brothers with the intention of peace and goodwill.

You are far inferior to the Emperor-level monster I encountered in Flaming Mountain.

At the very least, they were almost dead, but they still hadn't raised their hands to surrender!

In the end, my brother and I convinced them.

I hate people like you who are so fickle.

After saying that, Zhu Chongjiu pointed a sword finger at the head of the Emperor-level demon beast.

Before the high-level Emperor-rank demonic beast could even react, a fist-sized hole appeared on its forehead.

Zhu Chongjiu withdrew his sword and brought it to his lips, blowing away the non-existent gunpowder smoke from his fingers.

After Zhu Chongjiu completed his series of actions, the hundred-meter-tall Emperor-level monster collapsed to the ground, its life force completely gone.

After examining it for a while, Xiao Hei asked Zhu Chongjiu with some doubt, "Ninth Brother, why did you kill it?"

I don't like it, so I'll just study the monsters on this continent.

Don't you want to know how its entire body covered in metal needle armor grew?

After Zhu Chongjiu finished speaking, Xiao Hei remained silent and put the Emperor-level demon beast into its storage ring.

Zhu Chongjiu noticed that Xiao Hei was in a bad mood, so he asked Xiao Hei a question.

But Xiao Hei's answer startled Zhu Chongjiu!

"Ninth Brother?"

Do you think you can kill whoever you want now?

Even if this person didn't actually offend you in any real sense?

So if one day, Xiao Hei offends you, will you...?

Xiao Hei stopped there and silently turned around, lying down on the spot, covering its head with its paws, filled with sadness, worry and confusion!

Zhu Chongjiu was stunned, shocked, and fell silent after hearing Xiao Hei's words!

At this moment, Zhu Chongjiu felt extremely guilty and regretful.

What's wrong with you?

The Emperor-level demonic beast from before was merely asserting its dominance over its own territory.

He relied on his superior strength to kill him.

What about the future?

What happens as I become stronger?

Zhu Chongjiu recalled someone's words: "When a person acquires wealth he never imagined in his life within just a few years, he will lose control, become arrogant, and become conceited!"

Such people often meet a very tragic end.

Isn't this exactly what I meant earlier?

As Zhu Chongjiu recalled the things he had done on this continent, although most of them were good deeds and important events to save people, they were all related to his own interests.

In the past, I always comforted myself with the wisdom of my ancestors and the "Tao".

What about "being spontaneous and natural" and "following one's heart"?

But they forgot the Taoist saying, "Heaven has no favorites, but always favors the virtuous. Taoists believe that good and evil are rewarded accordingly, and good deeds are favored by Heaven." Such grand Taoist pronouncements!

It seems I'm not someone who's carefree or follows my heart.

I was just indulging my desires and following my selfish wishes!

Back when he was still in China, Zhu Chongjiu had a special fondness for the precious legacy left by the Taoist ancestors.

Whenever I have free time or feel down, I search for Taoist classics online to relieve my worries and troubles.

Although he was just browsing casually in his spare time, he was still captivated by the words that contained profound philosophy and wisdom.

However, Zhu Chongjiu was only reading these classics for entertainment and amusement, and he did not deliberately try to memorize too much of the content.

Much of the knowledge I once had has gradually faded into the depths of my memory.

Unexpectedly, at this very moment, when Zhu Chongjiu's thoughts were in a state of confusion and bewilderment, a Taoist classic called "Qingxin Jue" appeared clearly in his mind like a brilliant firework suddenly blooming in the night sky!

A clear mind is like water, and clear water is the mind.

There is no breeze and the waves are calm.

Alone I sit in the secluded bamboo grove, letting out a long sigh and playing the zither…

After Zhu Chongjiu silently recited the Heart-Cleansing Mantra in his mind, his temperament suddenly changed.

From exuding a sharp and edgy aura just moments ago, she now exudes a gentle and approachable feeling, much like the general public.

Even Xiao Hei, who was secretly grieving, had noticed the change in Zhu Chongjiu.

Zhu Chongjiu thought to himself, "It seems that while I am cultivating my physical strength, I also need to cultivate my mind!"

The lesson I learned inside the sacred mountain back then didn't wake me up at all.

It was Xiao Hei's words today that made me realize the existence of a crisis, as if struck by a sudden enlightenment!

At this moment, Zhu Chongjiu looked at Xiao Hei, and Xiao Hei was also looking at Zhu Chongjiu.

The man and the beast looked at each other and then laughed at the same time!

Zhu Chongjiu said softly, "I'm sorry!"

"It was Ninth Brother's fault. Thanks to Xiao Hei's reminder, he didn't make another mistake!"

After hearing Zhu Chongjiu's words, Xiao Hei walked to his side, shrunk back to the size of a house cat, jumped into his arms, and said with a sob in his voice, "Brother Jiu was right!"

Ninth Brother has to find a way to become stronger while also dealing with the Peace Merchant Guild; he's just under too much pressure.

Seeing this, Zhu Chongjiu said to Xiao Hei with heartache, "What kind of pressure is this?"

If this little difficulty can hold me back, then I don't deserve to be your Ninth Brother!

We two brothers are destined to roam the myriad realms.

Even greater challenges and dangers await us in the future.

Even after you leave this world and enter the void of the universe, you are not allowed to slack off.

I need to get stronger quickly!

"How can there be a system where the eldest brother does all the work while the younger brother enjoys a life of leisure?"

After Zhu Chongjiu finished speaking, Xiao Hei jumped out of his arms instantly, transforming into a majestic steed, and happily said to Zhu Chongjiu, "Don't worry, Ninth Brother, our steed clan is not to be underestimated."

In the future, we will dominate the world, slaying gods and Buddhas alike.

Alright, I'll kill gods and Buddhas alike if they stand in my way!

Zhu Chongjiu and Xiao Hei, a human and a beast, walked deeper into Zhijin Mountain, lost in their fantasies about the future.

Go find the next Emperor-level monster!