Several carriages departed from Wanshan County Town, slowly heading towards Wanshan Prefecture City.
In one of the carriages sat Yang Feilong and Tang Ya.
As she thought of leaving the Demon Realm soon, Tang Ya felt a deep reluctance. This parting was so abrupt, and she didn't know when she would see Yang Feilong again. Although she had spent two months with him, it still felt far too short for her.
Therefore, she cherished every moment spent with Yang Feilong.
Yang Feilong could only accompany her, talking and chatting about interesting anecdotes, her hidden weapons, and so on.
Yang Feilong also gifted her a top-grade spirit artifact. Initially, he had thought of letting her take more back, but then he reconsidered. She would soon break through to the Nascent Soul stage. Possessing a top-grade spirit artifact at this point was fine, but his other women had very few who had reached the Golden Core stage. Treasures like top-grade spirit artifacts, even if obtained, would be too dangerous to display openly in the short term, as even some Yuan Shen realm cultivators did not possess such items.
He recalled how he had killed many people in the mortal world back then – wasn't it the hatred brought about by top-grade spirit artifacts?
Tang Ya felt no resentment that her man had gifted Qing Luan a supreme-grade spirit artifact while she only received a top-grade one. She understood that her strength was insufficient; even with a top-grade spirit artifact, she was afraid to let others know. To mention a supreme-grade spirit artifact was out of the question. She might only dare to bring it out after reaching the Yuan Shen realm, or perhaps not even then, as many Void Refinement realm cultivators might not possess such a treasure!
Two days later.
The group arrived at Wanshan Prefecture City.
Wanshan Prefecture City was vast. It housed the residences of various regional lords, as meetings were sometimes convened there.
Upon their arrival, Yang Feilong and his entourage took up residence at Qing Luan's outpost in Wanshan Prefecture City.
"By the way, when does your challenge against the two vice-lords of Wanshan Prefecture City begin?" Yang Feilong asked.
"It can begin once the envoy from Jilong Province arrives," Qing Luan replied.
"An envoy from Jilong Province?" Yang Feilong's eyes flickered. "Does your challenge require a witness?"
"Yes! Because such an important event needs to be declared in advance. I declared it three days ago when I came out of seclusion. The envoy's cultivation is usually at the peak of the Yuan Shen realm, and they should arrive tomorrow!" Qing Luan nodded. "By the way, I've arranged for you and your women to be my guards. I hope you don't mind."
"Guards? Alright!" Yang Feilong nodded. Guards were guards, it didn't matter.
Yang Feilong had some understanding of the communication tools in the Demon Realm, which were primarily communication stones, similar to the Spirit Realm, or the use of teleportation arrays to send people carrying messages. Teleportation arrays were mainly used to transport people from various prefectures to provincial capitals. The primary difficulty lay in the construction of these arrays, which also consumed a considerable amount of spirit stones.
The ordinary maintenance of a teleportation array's operation required substantial expenditure, which was why only arrays connecting prefecture cities to provincial capitals, and provincial capitals to national capitals, existed. Conversely, they could also be used for transport.
Generals generally possessed communication stones, but they were not omnipotent. Some locations were unable to transmit messages, just as the tomb of the Fire Flame King blocked communication stones, and some formations could also disrupt transmissions.
This was also why the Spirit Ape Lord could not send for help when he was killed.
In a mansion within Wanshan Prefecture City, two middle-aged men met. These two were the two vice-lords of Wanshan Prefecture, Blood Pattern Mad Lion and Spotted War Tiger. Both of them were cultivators of the Demon race!
"That woman Qing Luan actually challenged both of us. It seems her cultivation has broken through to the Yuan Shen realm!" the third lord, Blood Pattern Mad Lion, said to the second lord, Spotted War Tiger. "Brother Hu, what do you think?"
"What else can I think? She wants to be a vice-lord. Can't she challenge any county's vice-lord? She has to challenge us, clearly showing she doesn't take us seriously," Spotted War Tiger sneered. "If we don't teach her a lesson, she'll think we're pushovers!"
"But I'm only at the early stage of the Yuan Shen realm. If she wants to challenge you, she has to challenge me first. I'm afraid I'm not her match! This woman is quite young, and her cultivation has improved rapidly. I'm worried she has already broken through to the middle stage of the Yuan Shen realm," Blood Pattern Mad Lion sighed.
"Are you asking me to step in for you?" Spotted War Tiger looked at Blood Pattern Mad Lion.
"Brother Hu's might is unparalleled. If Brother Hu could help, I would be eternally grateful!" Blood Pattern Mad Lion said with a pleased expression.
Blood Pattern Mad Lion was only at the early stage of the Yuan Shen realm, while Spotted War Tiger was at the middle stage.
"Since you've put it that way, when the challenge comes, I'll directly provoke her. If she can defeat me, I'll directly cede the position of second lord to her!" Spotted War Tiger nodded, having heard Blood Pattern Mad Lion's flattery.
"Of course, if she can be severely injured, that would be even better!" Blood Pattern Mad Lion added.
"Understood, don't worry!" Spotted War Tiger nodded, naturally understanding Blood Pattern Mad Lion's intention. However, he didn't mind.
After all, he was extremely annoyed with that woman. Unlike the Spirit Ape, he didn't like seductive demonesses like Qing Luan; he preferred a more rugged type of demoness!
And Blood Pattern Mad Lion had always tried to curry favor with him and followed his lead. Naturally, he didn't want that woman to replace Blood Pattern Mad Lion's position!
The next day.
The envoy dispatched by the provincial government arrived.
After Qing Luan applied to challenge the two vice-lords of the prefecture city, the envoy had notified the two vice-lords and the lord!
However, the Spirit Ape Lord could not be contacted. Of course, this was not an issue. The main point was that Qing Luan was not in a hurry to replace the Spirit Ape's position. After all, that fellow was already dead. As long as she became the second lord, she would have the final say in the entire Wanshan Prefecture!
In the lord's mansion, there was a training ground.
"I am the witness. I will ask again, Qing Luan, do you wish to challenge both vice-lords?" The envoy was a snake demon named She Jun, a male great demon, though he was in human form at the moment.
"Yes!" Qing Luan nodded in agreement.
"Qing Luan, you wish to challenge both of us. It seems your ultimate goal is to replace me as the second lord of Wanshan Prefecture. In that case, let's do it all at once! Challenge me directly, do you dare? Defeat me, and you become the second lord, no need for two bloody battles! Of course, if you are defeated by me, you can retreat and challenge Blood Pattern Mad Lion next!" Spotted War Tiger said, leaning on a giant axe, looking down at Qing Luan contemptuously.
"I can!" Qing Luan nodded.
"Hmm? You are indeed confident!" Spotted War Tiger grinned. He had originally intended to provoke her further, but he didn't expect this woman to agree so readily. He couldn't help but secretly scorn her, truly a case of big breasts and a small brain, falling for the bait before any real provocation!
Didn't Qing Luan see through his intentions? Of course, she did. However, her cultivation had already reached the late stage of the Yuan Shen realm. How could she fear this Spotted War Tiger?
This fellow's plan was destined to fail!
In fact, she didn't want to challenge the third lord first and then the second lord, as there was no point. However, due to the rules, to challenge the second lord, one must first challenge the third lord. Of course, if the second lord voluntarily accepted an over-level challenge, then there would be no issue.
Whoosh, whoosh!
In the next moment, both Qing Luan and Spotted War Tiger leaped onto the arena.
This arena was not ordinary in size.
"Qing Luan challenges the second lord of Wanshan Prefecture, Spotted War Tiger, commencing now. The victor shall be the second lord!" Envoy She Jun announced loudly.
Boom, boom!
In an instant, the two charged at each other, and the battle was about to erupt.