Fairy, I'm going to control you tightly!

Memories from the time he was offline flooded into his mind, and Ji Nanbei immediately understood the reason.

It turns out that it was that "despicable senior sister" Lin Mengxi who started "exploiting" her junior brother again, ordering him to hunt monsters and prepare meals.

The original body had easily killed a demonic snake earlier and was now carefully preparing snake soup.

While integrating the body tempering results from the little fox into his own body, Ji Nanbei skillfully finished cooking the snake soup and poured it into a container he took out from his storage ring.

"Senior sister, the snake soup is ready. We can eat now."

Upon hearing this, Lin Mengxi immediately came over.

"Wow, you truly are worthy of being my junior brother. No matter what kind of monster it is, you can turn it into a delicious meal."

The two quickly devoured the pot of delicious snake soup.

"Senior sister, at our current speed, how many more days will it take us to reach the venue of the demonic competition?"

Ji Nanbei inquired.

"Hmm... Judging from our current pace, we should be able to reach 'Gathering Demon City' in about three or four days."

The landscape of the Southern Barbarian Lands is very different from that of the Eastern Continent; there is no unified secular dynasty ruling over this region.

This is because the area is sparsely populated and its terrain is mainly composed of continuous mountain ranges and dense forests, which is not suitable for the development of large-scale human civilization, but is more conducive to the reproduction and survival of the demon race.

This "Gathering Demon City" was built by a number of demonic sects and forces, along with a large number of independent demonic cultivators.

The purpose was to provide a base for demonic cultivators to settle down and trade in this vast southern land.

They can't just leave their own demonic sect's mountain gate and find themselves surrounded by desolate wilderness with nowhere to go.

There are three similar cities in the entire Southern Barbarian region, which are also the three main cities within the territory of the demonic forces.

The order within the city was maintained by the Moon Worshiping Demon Sect, along with the three major demonic sects: the Resentment Sect, the Joyful Union Sect, and the Blood Transformation Sect.

"Gathering Demon City" is the largest and most prosperous of the three main cities.

Therefore, it is named "Gathering of Demons," which is indeed a fitting name, as it is a place where demonic cultivators from all over the world gather.

Meanwhile, in the southern barbarian lands, there also exists a "demon city" called "Heavenly Demon Capital".

This city was founded by an ancient demon with the aim of ruling over the entire demon race.

However, that's a story for another time, so let's leave it at that for now.

The next morning, Ji Nanbei emerged from his meditative state and slowly opened his eyes.

As far as the eye could see, that "despicable senior sister" was practicing her shooting skills in an open space not far away.

The tip of the gun swept across, sending fallen leaves flying everywhere.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Mengxi raised her gun with one hand, swiftly thrusting her arm out with more than ten thrusts in quick succession.

Each shot landed precisely in the center of a fluttering leaf, the force controlled to perfection, leaving only a tiny scratch without piercing the leaf.

Every fallen leaf that has been pierced by a thorn is like this.

Ji Nanbei estimated that Lin Mengxi had thrust out at least ten times in a single breath.

Even though the gun's speed was so fast that it left afterimages, the precision with which he controlled the force of the spear was still terrifying.

Ji Nanbei couldn't help but sigh in admiration. His senior sister's mastery of the spear technique had indeed reached a state of perfection, the pinnacle of skill.

Seeing that Ji Nanbei had finished his cultivation, Lin Mengxi also stopped her morning spear practice, carrying the red-tasseled spear on her back as always.

"Senior sister, you always carry your spear on your back. Don't you find it inconvenient? Why don't you store it in your storage magic item?"

Ji Nanbei asked casually.

Lin Mengxi shook her head.

"As for me, your natural beauty inevitably attracts covetousness. There are always some fools with ill intentions. Having a gun by my side ensures I can use it skillfully and be ready at any time... to strike!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Nanbei couldn't help but shudder.

As Lin Mengxi spoke, she also made a thrusting motion with her spear.

But the direction the spear tip was pointing... something just doesn't seem right!

Although Lin Mengxi's words were mostly meant to scare Ji Nanbei, Ji Nanbei still sensed something amiss.

My senior sister... seems to be the type who is always on edge and lacks a sense of security.

Only having a weapon at hand can bring a little peace of mind.

"Senior sister...is it because you lack a sense of security?"

"Huh? What nonsense are you spouting? Let's go, let's hurry and get going."

So the two set off again.

However, as they traveled, Ji Nanbei increasingly felt that the surrounding scenery... had a somewhat strange quality.

Why does this terrain and mountainous landscape look so familiar?

……

Meanwhile, inside that majestic "Heavenly Demon Capital".

In the very center of the magnificent palace stands a huge throne.

A figure sat on the throne, his body seemingly shrouded in thick black mist, making it impossible to discern his true face.

However, the overwhelming and suffocating sense of oppression that permeated the entire area was crystal clear, as if it were real!

Below the throne, nine figures stood on either side, all bowing their heads and remaining silent, their postures respectful.

One of them was none other than the Giant Deer Demon Lord, who had been defeated and injured in Luoling City of the Eastern Continent.

"What the hell are you all doing?! I ordered you to search for a mere Qi Refining stage demon, and so much time has passed without a single definite piece of news?!"

On the throne, the figure shrouded in black mist spoke in a low voice, his words containing an undisguised, overwhelming rage.

The nine demon lords below, who held high positions among the demon race, were all trembling with fear, their bodies covered in cold sweat. None of them dared to step forward and offend this "Your Majesty" who was in a fit of rage.

"Nine Demon Lords? Have you become too comfortable in your positions and forgotten your duties?!"

On the throne, the being who called himself "Emperor" had been furious for quite some time.

"Your Majesty, we have exhausted all our resources and mobilized almost all available manpower for the search. However, that woman sacrificed her own life to forcibly open the spatial passage and erased all related causal traces. We are truly... unable to find a trace."

The Demon Lord, second from the left, lowered his head and explained tremblingly.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"

After the harsh rebuke, the figure on the throne seemed to have calmed down a little.

He was well aware that if the orphan could be found so easily, wouldn't the ultimate method that the person used at the cost of their life become a huge joke?

However, whenever he thought of how that woman was willing to risk her soul to send away a mere little demon, he felt a lump in his throat and could not find peace.

That woman definitely hid her crucial "backup plan" on that little demon!

His "emperor" status was not obtained legitimately, nor was it achieved through honorable means.

Those who have obtained their positions illegitimately are the most afraid that one day their throne will be taken away by someone else.

"Keep searching! Dig three feet into the ground if you must, find it! Besides that, is there anything else to report? If not, get out of here immediately and continue your search!"

He waved his hand impatiently, as if preparing to end this irritating summons.