Young Tanaka Kuma was still just a child at heart. After being away for so long, he had played enough and now wanted to return to Stone Town.
Besides, his cultivation had improved significantly. He had now reached the Upper Martial Warrior realm and was eager to return and brag about it to his old companions.
Senju Yukika saw through his thoughts with a single glance and let out a small sigh...
This disciple was good in many ways, but his temperament was far too impulsive. He needed a chance to temper it.
Yukika then said, "There's still something we need to do. Let's delay our return for a bit."
Uncertain whether the demon had reached Mount Jufeng or had already left, Yukika decided to investigate the surrounding area.
The chaos caused by the Divine Eye had drawn countless unknown powerhouses to the area. Yukika figured even the demon wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure!
Having seen the demon's silhouette in the stone wall's projection, Yukika was confident that if he encountered the demon again—no matter how far away—his instincts would alert him.
Immediately, instinctively, he would recognize it.
Yukika led the two of them down from Mount Jufeng, searching the nearby regions.
At that moment, the crowd at the mountain's summit began to disperse. Each group moved to greet their respective sect elders.
A flying vessel slowly descended, eventually landing. Three royal princes arrived, accompanied by members of the royal family and numerous powerful clansmen.
Some of the people who hadn't yet left immediately turned their attention to the new arrivals. Upon realizing they were members of the Rakshasa Kingdom's royal family, their expressions changed, and they quietly attempted to slip away...
The Third Prince was about to ask for information when he spotted a familiar face.
From a distance, the Jade Emperor approached, leading a contingent of royal powerhouses. Upon seeing him, the three princes respectfully greeted him in accordance with royal protocol.
The Third Prince then said, "Royal Uncle, did you know the Divine Eye was taken?"
Prince Yu replied, "The man's name is Yukika. He's a young but mysterious figure!"
So young and yet so powerful?
The Third Prince felt a surge of unease.
After all, there weren't many young people on Mount Jufeng this time—most were veteran powerhouses.
If someone so young had the strength to suppress the entire crowd and seize the treasure, there could only be one person...
The three princes then recounted their earlier experiences in the mountain cave. As they exchanged glances with the Crown Prince, they all reached the same conclusion: it had to be Yukika!
The Crown Prince sighed and said, "This person is truly mysterious. I've never heard of him back in the Rakshasa Kingdom. Could he be a powerful outsider?"
The Third Prince sneered, "No matter who he is, he won't leave the Rakshasa Kingdom alive!"
Noticing the Jade Emperor's puzzled look, the Third Prince proudly added, "No need to keep secrets from Your Majesty—this time, the ancient elders of the mountain have personally taken action. They've already set a trap across the wilderness. He won't escape!"
Upon hearing the mention of the ancestral mountain, the Jade Emperor's expression changed dramatically with delight!
He stroked his long beard and smiled.
He deeply understood the might of the ancestral mountain's royal bloodline.
This time, he was fully confident—the Divine Eye would be retrieved!
Meanwhile, the royal family's power continued to expand, deploying numerous tactics across the wilderness.
Even the reclusive sects had emerged from their hidden lands, all rushing toward Mount Jufeng!
As news of the Divine Eye spread, more and more people learned of it—even ancient kingdoms neighboring the Rakshasa Kingdom.
In one such ancient and powerful country, there lay a vast lake, clear to the bottom and shimmering with a faint golden light that reflected the sun, radiating a sacred and transcendent aura.
Above the lake stood a humble wooden cabin. It looked ordinary—plain, even.
But only those in that ancient kingdom knew the terrifying truth of who lived there!
This man had founded a sect by himself. The entire sect consisted of only him. No sect leader, no disciples—he alone reigned supreme.
And yet this one-man sect shocked the entire nation. He was known as the Lone Honored One. Even among surrounding nations, he was one of the most formidable beings.
With no others in his sect, he acted ruthlessly, with no fear of consequence or revenge.
And because of his immense personal strength, no one dared oppose him.
Inside the cabin, this man suddenly awoke from meditation, opening his eyes slowly.
As he did, the very air around him crackled faintly with electricity.
This alone showed the terrifying level of his cultivation!
He never concerned himself with worldly matters, but this time, he sensed that the Divine Eye had been taken—far away, in the Rakshasa Kingdom.
For the first time in ages, a ripple stirred in his calm heart. He could no longer stay in seclusion.
Whoosh!
He stepped out of the wooden cabin and walked to the edge of the lake, then began to move.
Each step looked like an ordinary stride, but the mountains, rivers, and earth all seemed to retreat beneath his feet. Time and space twisted and blurred...
No one could see him as he moved. He was like a ghost—utterly uncanny!
Back near Mount Jufeng, Senju Yukika was unaware that the outside world had erupted into chaos and that a massive net had been cast for him.
He was still tracking the demon known as Shan Zhao—and now, he had a lead.
He casually stopped a man descending the mountain. The man froze in terror!
He had witnessed Yukika's fearsome power at the summit and now, trembling, answered honestly.
He dared not hide anything and admitted that he had seen the demon!
The demon had disguised itself in the robes of a sect disciple and blended into the crowd. It had likely already returned with the sect.
Yukika chuckled—this demon was truly cunning. Clearly sensing danger, it had secretly killed a disciple and taken his place.
How had no one in the sect noticed?!
Without hesitation, Yukika dashed in the direction the man indicated.
Just a few seconds later, he spotted a group traveling across the plains at the foot of the mountain!
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