Little Friend, Not Bad

The little monster felt as if struck by lightning, his face drained of all color.

He never could have imagined that this human cultivator would be so outrageous, actually demanding that he lead the way to the strongest being. So, after all this, he really was here to stir up trouble, and the kind that had no fear of death.

Oh, mother...

This is a desperado!

How could he be so unlucky to run into such a baleful god!

Lin Kui was utterly terrified, his lips trembling as he begged for mercy incessantly.

"G-great lord!"

"Have mercy, great lord! This humble one still has an eighty-thousand-year-old mother to care for, I truly dare not go there..."

As soon as the nonsensical line left his mouth, Yi Feng had already drawn his greatsword and was waving it about.

The chilling, sinister glint of the blade was right before his eyes, making the surrounding air feel dry and cold. As the greatsword drew closer and closer, even with a million reasons, the little monster didn't dare utter another word.

Seeing the fellow had become somewhat more compliant, Yi Feng finally spoke up sternly to drive the point home.

"Since you know where the terrifying beings are, just lead the way properly. Everything can be discussed. Otherwise, it's death for you!"

The greatsword swished through the air a few times with a whoosh, scaring the little monster pale as a ghost.

Even when Yi Feng tossed him ahead, he no longer dared to spout nonsense or contemplate escape. After bowing repeatedly with clasped hands, he obediently led the way forward.

"This humble one will definitely lead the way properly. This way, my lord, please, my lord, please..."

One moment he was full of grievances, the next he was obedient and sensible, not a trace of dissent on his face, only a fawning, ingratiating smile. His ability to read the situation and fall in line was absurdly good.

No wonder, with his meager strength, he had managed to survive for so many years in this terrifying realm.

This little monster was truly a talented oddity.

Watching the fellow respectfully bow and lead the way, Yi Feng smiled wryly and followed along.

They traveled one after the other for who knows how long.

Finally, they passed through the boundless mist, and a vast, ancient forest sea appeared in their sight. Withered trees stretched endlessly, towering giant trees that reached the sky had entrenched themselves for countless ages.

Lin Kui suddenly stopped at the forest's edge, nervously stepping closer to bow.

"G-great lord..."

"This is the Ancient Barren Forest. The Tree Venerable has resided here for tens of thousands of years. He is a truly fearsome great demon. This humble one truly dares not go any further."

"I... I beg for your mercy, great lord, to spare this humble one..."

After just a few sentences, the little monster wore an expression full of grievance and difficulty, unsure whether he feared the ancient being in the forest ahead or the greatsword in Yi Feng's hand.

By the looks of it, he was almost in tears.

Yi Feng stared suspiciously for a few moments. Seeing no unusual movement in the forest, the doubt in his eyes only grew.

"Is there really an ancient being here? I don't see it."

Before the little monster could bow and respond.

The forest suddenly shook with a thunderous roar! Endless vines shot out from deep within the earth, moss and deadwood were shaken loose, and the ground began to tremble!

All the vines seemed to come alive, coiling towards a towering giant tree deep within the forest!

That colossal tree, ten thousand feet tall, suddenly opened terrifying eyes that gazed down like the sun and moon. An ancient voice, as if transmitted through endless time, reverberated through the ancient forest for hundreds of miles.

"Who dares disturb this venerable one's slumber..."

Watching the terrifying giant tree awaken, radiating a dreadful aura.

The little monster was already scared witless, covering his head and lying on the ground, burying his face in the ground, his rear end sticking up in the air.

Only then did a hint of a smile appear on Yi Feng's face.

Ah ha!

Not easy!

Finally, he had encountered a proper, formidable ancient being!

Yi Feng eagerly stepped forward, opening with his practiced line of provocation.

"From today onwards, I'm taking over your territory!"

"You, this old rat, find somewhere else to sleep from now on. If you disagree, let's settle it with a fight!"

Although there was no enmity between them, to successfully seek death, drawing hatred was necessary. Demanding someone's home right off the bat was something the other party definitely couldn't tolerate.

Whether for the sake of face or tangible interests, this ancient tree would absolutely fly into a rage and attack.

A great battle was inevitable!

Under Yi Feng's expectant gaze.

The sky-obscuring ancient tree looked down, its giant eyes sizing him up for a few moments before actually letting out a laugh.

"Hahaha..."

The great laughter shook the dense forest, and countless vines scattered towards them.

Lin Kui was instantly swept away and vanished from sight, leaving only Yi Feng, gripping his greatsword, alone before the vines that wove themselves into a table and chairs, devoid of any killing intent whatsoever.

This situation was a bit unexpected.

Yi Feng held his greatsword, staring suspiciously, only then noticing the giant tree had fallen asleep again, completely covered by vines and moss, with no trace of its imposing aura.

Immediately after.

An old man, his face covered in tree-bark-like wrinkles, actually walked over with a smile, leaning on a cane.

Seeing this, Yi Feng was stunned.

The old man, however, wore a peaceful smile, walking straight to the vine table and gesturing with an inviting hand.

"Young friend, please take a seat so we may converse."

Faced with such a courteous invitation, Yi Feng couldn't very well keep gripping his greatsword tightly. All his strength seemed to hit cotton. He had no choice but to approach in a daze and sit down quietly.

The old man unhurriedly poured tea. As he pushed the teacup over, he smiled and looked at Yi Feng.

After sizing him up for a few moments, he nodded, stroking his beard.

"Sir, within this Demon Suppression Prison, we are all fellow sufferers. Apart from the creatures at the edges fighting for blood and vitality, us old relics have been hiding for tens of thousands of years. No one is willing to waste energy. We avoid conflict if possible, preserving our strength while awaiting the opportune moment, pondering how to break out of this confined world."

"Therefore, if you desire this forest land, I will naturally offer it with both hands. At most, this old man will simply find another place to dwell."

As his words fell, Yi Feng listened with an expression of sheer frustration.

He had demanded the other's territory just to provoke hatred, and now, not only did the other party not get angry, he was actually handing it over willingly, making it seem like Yi Feng was the bully...

How the hell was he supposed to play this game now?

Faced with such a magnanimous and courteous old man, Yi Feng suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

Holding the teacup, he sat across from the old man suspiciously for a long time, unsure how to even begin.

Remembering what he had heard earlier, he finally mustered the courage to ask.

"I heard that within this Demon Suppression Prison, there are mostly terrifying and fierce ancient beings from various races, forcibly sealed and imprisoned here. How come you're so reasonable...?"

Hearing this, the old man laughed, set down his teacup, and his eyes revealed a touch of emotion.

"Hahaha..."

"That statement isn't false, but it is also one-sided. While there certainly are fierce beings in this Demon Suppression Prison, it is by no means filled with evil spirits. Just like the various races in the world, there has never been an absolute distinction between righteous and evil; it's merely a matter of differing interests and allegiances."

"Do those who call themselves the righteous path among humans truly have no evil cultivators? Are the notoriously fierce demon races all bloodthirsty beings?"

"In this old man's view, not necessarily so."

Listening to these profound, wise, and carefree words, Yi Feng also nodded with feeling.

"True."

"There are scum among humans as well, and there are virtuous beings among demons. It seems my view was shallow."

The old man smiled and waved his hands repeatedly, his eyes showing appreciation.

"Not at all, not at all."

"For a young friend to possess such insight, unlike the vulgar outsiders with their shallow views on race, you already surpass the common multitude. You are definitely no ordinary person."

"In this old man's opinion, your cultivation is remarkable, and your perspective is not commonplace. If you can step out of this Demon Suppression Prison, your future achievements will be limitless!"

Yi Feng smiled faintly and bowed slightly, not saying much.

He paid no mind to such tactically polite flattery. As for the future, who could know? Whether he could leave the Demon Suppression Prison wasn't important either.

As long as he could die, anything else was fine...

Seeing this calm and steady demeanor, the appreciation in the old man's eyes grew even stronger.

Encountering this young friend in the Demon-Suppressing Prison truly lifted my spirits, filling me with a sense of admiration for the promising younger generation. Giving him a helping hand along the way can be considered bestowing a stroke of fortune.

Having one more friend is a thousand times better than making one more enemy.

The old man stroked his beard, appraising the young man for a few moments before nodding with a smile.

"You are no ordinary young man, my friend."

"In a little while, a few of my old friends will be arriving. I shall certainly introduce you to them. Consider it a destined meeting."

Hearing this, Yi Feng felt a flicker of anticipation.

Friends of this old tree were certainly no ordinary individuals. What if there was a hot-headed one among them? Wouldn't that be a chance for a good fight?