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--- Chapter 263 ---
"All of you return to your posts. Keep up the good work." Han Yuan smiled and waved at the Earth Tiger Sect's disciples, who were indirectly his disciples.
"Yes!" The figures in black and white robes left the area.
Hai Bodong watched this and smirked, "Heh, not bad. This old man sees you have style."
"Very much like me when I was young."
"Can you kill an 8-Star Dou Ancestor at his age?" Queen Medusa rolled her eyes at Hai Bodong's pretentious words.
Hai Bodong blushed in embarrassment for a moment, but his thick skin immediately responded, "While I may not be as impressive as Han Yuan, we share a similar style. It has nothing to do with strength."
"I call it aura!"
"What a joke. The only aura you have is a 'bitch's aura,'" Queen Medusa laughed in amusement. "Because you talk and act like one."
"I... Damn you, Medusa!" Hai Bodong exclaimed, genuinely angry.
Queen Medusa snorted in return, "Hmph."
"Please add 'queen' when referring to me. Only those closest to me can call me by my name."
Hu Ying leaned toward Han Yuan's side and asked quietly, "Have they always been like this, Young Master?"
"Yeah," Han Yuan sighed. "They just can't help it."
"Oh..." Hu Ying nodded in understanding.
Hu Ying had read information about both Queen Medusa and Hai Bodong, knowing there was a conflict between them. Even though Han Yuan had recruited them into the Martial Union, it didn't mean they could forget their past conflicts. At best, they could only tolerate each other in his presence.
Yafei pulled on Hai Bodong's hand. "Okay, granduncle, stop bickering with Queen Medusa."
"Hmph, fine!" Hai Bodong huffed.
"Yafei, you may call me Medusa. I don't mind," Queen Medusa suddenly said with a smile.
"Eh?" Yafei was taken aback.
"Fuck!" Hai Bodong's eyes widened in disbelief. 'You let my niece call you Medusa, but I can't?'
He really wanted to freeze this arrogant snake-woman and toss her into a lake or something.
"Alright, alright, enough of this," Han Yuan finally interjected. He didn't want them causing trouble in the Earth Tiger Sect.
Queen Medusa stopped glaring at Hai Bodong and curled her lips as she stepped behind Han Yuan, stroking his neck and hair. "Fine, I'll stop for you..."
"..." said Hai Bodong. 'That should be my line!'
He sighed inwardly and glanced at Hu Ying, wanting to change the topic of conversation. "You mentioned that the sky above isn't really the sky. What do you mean by that?"
Hu Ying nodded and explained, "You might not have noticed, but we're no longer on the ground. Look where you're standing, Senior."
Hai Bodong and the others looked down and realized they were standing on vines layered on top of each other.
Then, they looked around in realization. "We are inside the roots of a tree?"
Hu Ying smiled faintly. "To be exact, we're in a formation of tree roots of the Black Abyss Forest. These roots serve as a defensive mechanism for the Earth Tiger Sect, as our main base is at the stump of the main Black Abyss Tree's roots, where the remains of the Devil-Eyed Purple Tiger remain."
"This empty space is one of the entrances."
"You don't realize we are walking among the tree roots because an illusion covers the entire Black Abyss Forest."
Hai Bodong frowned. "Aren't you concerned that someone might burn this forest down?"
Hu Ying shook her head calmly. "The trees in the Black Abyss Forest are ancient and resistant to fire and ice, which means even fire can't easily burn them."
"The only exception is Heavenly Flame."
"Don't worry, I won't burn this place down," Han Yuan remarked jokingly.
"I know you wouldn't, Young Master," Hu Ying giggled, covering her mouth.
"Now, Senior Hai, Queen Medusa, Lady Yafei, please take a rest in the sect. I have prepared rooms for you three. All you need to do is follow these tokens."
Queen Medusa, Hai Bodong, and Yafei caught the tokens thrown by Hu Ying and observed them briefly. They were 'specifically' made of the Black Abyss Tree's trunk, each infused with Hu Ying's Dou Qi.
"You can also access the Evil Tiger Palace with the token, which is where the resentment of the Devil-Eyed Purple Tiger lingers. This resentment is not only good for tempering one's body but also has a mind-sharpening effect if you endure it for a while," Hu Ying mentioned, pointing out another training ground of the Earth Tiger Sect.
"In the meantime, Hu Ying and I need to check something first," Han Yuan added before walking away. "Recover your strength, as we will leave in the morning."
"Have a good stay, ladies and gentlemen," said Hu Ying as she bowed to them before following Han Yuan.
Queen Medusa stared at Han Yuan's back and then glanced at Hu Ying. "A Rank 8 Magical Beast, the Devil-Eyed Purple Tiger, with the bloodline of a Rank 9 Magical Beast. I wonder what kind of ancestor it is."
"Well, I'm not too injured. So, I will check the Evil Tiger Palace," she said while flicking her hair.
"What about you, Yafei?" she asked, ignoring Hai Bodong.
Yafei looked weary and replied, "I've checked the Evil Tiger Palace before, so I'd prefer to rest for now."
"Is that so? What a shame." Queen Medusa used the token given by Hu Ying and entered the labyrinthine root systems of the Black Abyss Tree, observing her surroundings as she went.
"Damn, just you wait, Queen Medusa..." Hai Bodong murmured after Queen Medusa left.
Yafei's mouth twitched, 'Granduncle, you said so, but you're still afraid she hears you.'
---
---
Han Yuan and Hu Ying walked side to side as he suddenly asked, "How is the situation in the Black Corner Region? I've heard Meng Xi's report, but that was a week ago. By now, there should be changes, right?"
Hu Ying replied calmly, "The Black Corner Region is still chaotic, but after the disappearance of Han Feng tonight, it will become more chaotic and dangerous."
"Should we wait, Young Master?"
"No, we should make it more chaotic." Han Yuan replied decisively instead.
"We didn't just take down Han Feng tonight. Don't forget that Mo Tianxing, whom Medusa defeated, is the leader of the Black Emperor Sect, and Mr. Silver and Mr. Gold also have their own faction."
"We also haven't even counted the backgrounds of the Dou Emperors we fought tonight."
"So, while the situation is still chaotic, let's throw more fuel to make it more chaotic."
"Then, we can fish for benefits and deals. Those indecisive factions that had been waiting wouldn't have a choice but to submit to us."
"Do you understand?" Han Yuan glanced at Hu Ying.
Hu Ying nodded solemnly, "This humble one understood."
Han Yuan smiled and continued, "I know accomplishing this task is difficult, so I will leave behind a tool to help you."
"I will refine Old Demon Tiger's body into Mysterious Demon Puppet, and with the essence blood from the Devil-Eyed Purple Tiger, it should allow the Earth Tiger Sect to get a powerful Dou Ancestor Protector."
Hu Ying's eyes lit up, "Thank you, Young Master, that would help a ton!"
Han Yuan waved his hand, "It's nothing. Don't forget that Earth Tiger Sect is crucial for the Martial Union's grand plan."
"I won't disappoint you, Young Master!" Hu Ying said with determination.
Eventually, Han Yuan and Hu Ying arrived at the secret vault of the Earth Tiger Sect. There are piles of gold coins, precious minerals, and other treasures.
Yet, what caught Han Yuan's attention was a gigantic spine bone of the Devil-Eyed Purple Tiger. The Earth Tiger Sect has extracted all of its bone marrow and essence blood, leaving only a durable spine.
At first, Han Yuan planned to refine this spine into a spear. However, he changed his mind; he didn't have time to nurture another artifact.
Thus, Han Yuan planned to refine this spine as a frame for the Mysterious Demon Puppet and the guardian of the Earth Tiger Sect.