Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar

That night, the Flame Tiger Clan and the Winter Roaring Lion Clan, these two major clans of the Zero Desolate Sea Area, came over again with a pile of 'evidence,' leaving Hong Yuan speechless.

In his commander's tent, the ground was piled high with treasures shimmering with flowing light and various rare, precious natural resources. They had even offered valuable items like the Cold Spring Spirit and the Magma Spirit.

I really want to do a little bear shrug, Hong Yuan thought.

These guys all think I'm a greedy fellow.

He had only sheared the sheep of Spirit Fox Island and held a cheerful 'Transformation Party.' Was all this really necessary? I know very well how to prioritize my tasks!

"Am I that kind of Demon Cultivator? Testing Taoist Zhenyi with this? Which Taoist Zhenyi could withstand such a test?"

After speaking, still not feeling content, Hong Yuan grabbed a pile of Demon Essence Stones and threw them at Yan Dao and Winter Sword.

These two great Demon Cultivators had crawled out of many battles. Now, they seemed to have lost their ability to dodge. They stood motionless as Hong Yuan struck them, their heads hanging low like primary school students being punished by their teacher.

"Get lost, all of you just get lost," Hong Yuan said irritably.

Yan Dao and Winter Sword exchanged glances and quickly excused themselves.

After the two great Demon Cultivators left the tent, Hong Yuan, his brows still furrowed, suddenly let a slight smile curve the corners of his mouth.

Although I hadn't planned on profiting from this situation, they offered the gifts willingly. If I didn't accept, they would probably feel uneasy.

Sigh, I have such a sincere and devoted heart, yet they see me this way. It truly pains me, he lamented inwardly.

For the sake of a harmonious atmosphere, I suppose I'll have to bear this infamous reputation, he concluded.

Hong Yuan sighed lightly, took out his storage bag, and with a gentle sweep, gathered all these unexpected treasures.

Demon Cultivators' storage bags differ from those of Martial Artists.

Martial Artists' storage bags are made by inscribing Energy Arrays, a common method.

Demon Cultivators' storage bags are crafted from special parts of Space Tao Demon Beasts, often using the space pouch of a creature known as the Space Devouring Mouse as the raw material.

As heaven is my witness, I truly harbored no crooked thoughts regarding this matter, Hong Yuan thought. My entire mind was focused on how to complete the task assigned by the Black Dragon Demon Saint.

After this episode, Hong Yuan became even more determined to drag the Golden Tiger Shark Demon Clan into the mess.

The Flame Tiger Clan and the Winter Roaring Lion Clan are both very sensible Demon Clans, precious renewable resources. They can't be wasted in internal strife.

After being sent away by Hong Yuan, Yan Dao and Winter Sword immediately returned to their clans to inform their Clan Leaders and elders of Hong Yuan's reaction.

When Yan Dao repeated Hong Yuan's words to Yan Chong, the Clan Leader of the Flame Tiger Clan, the corners of Yan Chong's mouth twitched slightly. This Xuan Guangqiao is so damn shameless, nothing like an Ice Armor Python, he thought. However, the good thing is that this fellow has no bias against our Flame Tiger Clan and isn't favoring the Winter Roaring Lion Clan just because they are an Ice Tao Demon Clan.

On the other side, Winter Roaring, the Clan Leader of the Winter Roaring Lion Clan, had similar thoughts.

Winter Roaring even considered asking Hong Yuan to act as a mediator, to help their Winter Roaring Lion Clan make peace with the Flame Tiger Clan.

However, with a strong pro-war atmosphere within his clan, Winter Roaring was forced to temporarily suppress this thought.

「The next morning」

Hong Yuan led the Black Dragon Palace army into the territory of the Winter Roaring Lion Demon Clan.

The Winter Roaring Lions were Ice Tao Demon Beasts, and their environment was an island of ice and snow, which was very favorable to Hong Yuan.

Along the way, guided by Winter Sword, the Black Dragon Palace army safely entered deep into the Winter Roaring Lion Demon Clan's territory.

During the march, Hong Yuan carefully observed the internal sentiment towards war within the Winter Roaring Lion forces.

The situation is not optimistic; even the young Demon Beasts are becoming war-hungry!

Beside Hong Yuan, Gui Qu, a Wisdom Tao Demon Cultivator, wore a grave expression, his earlier relaxed demeanor gone.

"Taoist Zhenyi, welcome, welcome," Winter Roaring greeted warmly.

In front of an ice and snow palace, Hong Yuan met Winter Roaring, the Winter Roaring Lion Clan Leader.

Winter Roaring's humanoid Taoist form was that of a high-ranking general clad in blue armor. He had an imposing, solemn demeanor and looked very trustworthy and remarkably composed.

"Hmm," Hong Yuan nodded slightly. "Where is the Cold Spring Deep Pool? I want to go and understand the situation there."

His words shocked everyone present.

They all stared at Hong Yuan, wide-eyed and mouths agape.

The Cold Spring Deep Pool was a natural Ice Tao treasure ground that could quickly enhance the cultivation of Ice Tao Demon Beasts and their practice of Demon Skills. It was the foundation of the Winter Roaring Lion Clan, and the Ice Tao treasure, the Cold Spring Spirit, also came from it.

An Ice Armor Python going to the Cold Spring Deep Pool? Isn't that like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone for good?

GULP! Xuan Guangqiao is actually this greedy? Gui Qu wondered, swallowing hard.

Winter Sword almost couldn't restrain his emotions and wanted to ridicule Hong Yuan for his wishful thinking. Fortunately, Clan Leader Winter Roaring stopped him and also silenced the dissenting voices of the other Winter Roaring Lion Demon Cultivators.

"Taoist Zhenyi, the Cold Spring Deep Pool is inside. Please, this way," Winter Roaring said with a smile.

This time, it was Hong Yuan's turn to be surprised.

He looked up at Winter Roaring for a moment, then nodded slightly and, accompanied by Gui Qu, Hei Jiang, and Bai Ge, started towards the Cold Spring Deep Pool.

A bit unexpected, but still within my plans, Hong Yuan thought.

He had made a bold demand, much like in Lu Xun's parable where one asks to tear down the roof just to get a window opened. He hadn't expected the Winter Roaring Lion Demon Clan's leader to be so audacious as to grant his full request. Hong Yuan couldn't help but look at him in a new light.

But since it has come to this, I won't be polite, Hong Yuan decided. While taking care of important matters, I'll also take the opportunity to cultivate here and study the 'Cold Moon Dragon: Cultivation Demon Canon' and the 'Cold Moon Seal: Divine Power.'

The figures of Hong Yuan and the other Demon Cultivators gradually disappeared, led by an elder of the Winter Roaring Lion Clan towards the Cold Spring Deep Pool. Seeing this, Winter Sword grew anxious and hurriedly questioned Clan Leader Winter Roaring.

"Clan Leader, the Cold Spring Deep Pool is an irreplaceable foundation for our clan, an extremely precious Ice Tao cultivation treasure ground! Each use requires a recovery period."

Winter Sword continued, "Xuan Guangqiao's original body is the Ice Tao Variant Seed, the Ice Armor Python. His use of the Cold Spring Deep Pool's foundation will consume even more. Why agree to his request? If our clan used it ourselves, we could create a batch of even stronger warriors."

The other Winter Roaring Lion Demon Cultivators also cast puzzled looks at Clan Leader Winter Roaring.

Clan Leader Winter Roaring's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at Winter Sword.

Winter Sword, caught in his agitation, instantly sobered up and quickly lowered his head, showing respect for the Clan Leader's authority.

Clan Leader Winter Roaring let out a breath. He glanced around, instantly understanding the situation. "Don't be so shortsighted," he said. "We are the Winter Roaring Lions; we should be more open-minded."

The Cold Spring Deep Pool, as its name suggested, was an extremely frigid pool of spring water.

As soon as he entered the Cold Spring Deep Pool area, Hong Yuan felt an overwhelmingly dense Ice Tao Essence Qi. It was dozens, even hundreds of times denser than in his own Ice Frost River cavern!

Indeed, how could my foundation possibly compare with that of a top Demon Clan that has been around for thousands of years...

SPLASH!

To the amazement of the few Demon Cultivators present, Hong Yuan serenely entered the deep pool and began his cultivation.

The situation needed time to develop, and he was there to act as the catalyst, to force the Winter Roaring Lion Demon Clan and the Flame Tiger Demon Clan to shake hands and make peace, uniting them against the Golden Tiger Shark Demon Clan.

"Don't misunderstand. Our Taoist Zhenyi is collecting evidence," Gui Qu said gently to the Winter Roaring Lion elder.

The old, crafty Winter Roaring Lion elder nodded reluctantly, tacitly accepting Hong Yuan's actions.

However, if any other outside Demon Cultivators tried to use the treasure ground for cultivation as Hong Yuan was, they would face his harsh criticism and expulsion.