"It seems we won't find it around the periphery. We must go deeper into the hinterland if we are to find the Soul Locking Grass," Zhou Hong remarked.
"No way, we have to go further in?" Lang Qihua's face immediately turned grim.
"What? Are you scared?"
"It's not that I'm scared. It's just too dangerous. This Immortal-Demon Mountain Range is teeming with vicious individuals. All the dark, unsavory dealings of both the immortal and demon realms happen here."
"So what if they do? If you're afraid, you can wait here for me. I'll find it myself."
Lang Qihua cursed Zhou Hong in her mind a thousand times. She couldn't possibly wait here; it would make her look too cowardly.
"Fine, fine, I'll go with you."
Reluctantly, Lang Qihua had no choice but to accompany Zhou Hong deeper into the mountains.
Finally, after venturing another ten thousand kilometers in, Zhou Hong spotted the Soul Locking Grass he was looking for from afar.
"Grandpa, I see the Soul Locking Grass."
"Quick, collect it."
Zhou Hong lunged forward, but the Soul Locking Grass instantly vanished.
"It slipped away." Zhou Hong wasn't discouraged. He smiled slightly. Finding it once meant he could find it again. When it reappeared, he would use the Demon Subduing Cudgel to capture it.
Soon, a few kilometers away, Zhou Hong saw the Soul Locking Grass that had just escaped.
This time, Zhou Hong directly plunged the Demon Subduing Cudgel into the ground, allowing it to spiral upwards like roots.
As expected, the Soul Locking Grass didn't notice a thing.
Zhou Hong's Demon Subduing Cudgel grabbed its root and pulled it out.
"Grandpa, what grade is this Soul Locking Grass?" Zhou Hong asked in his mind.
"Just Three-Star."
"Heh heh, so now we can refine that City Lord into a puppet, right?"
"Yes, you can return now," Zhou Hong's grandfather replied.
"So soon? How about we look for more? What if we have a chance to refine others into puppets later? One more wouldn't hurt."
"Let's not be greedy. I have a bad feeling that there are dangers lurking everywhere here. It's best to leave soon."
Zhou Hong nodded.
Lang Qihua also advised, "Zhou Hong, since we've found it, let's hurry and leave."
"Alright, let's go."
Just as Zhou Hong was about to retreat, he suddenly heard sounds of people moving ahead.
"Oh no, there are people ahead! Let's run!" Lang Qihua urged.
"If we run now, our movements will be too obvious and we'll be discovered. They might just chase after us."
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Let's hide. I think staying still might be safer. Besides, they are still some distance away. They might just be passing by."
Zhou Hong immediately hid himself, concealing all his aura.
Before long, the sounds grew louder. Soon, Zhou Hong saw a young man running towards him from a distance. The young man's expression was panicked, as if he was fleeing.
However, upon seeing the young man, Zhou Hong's face changed in shock. He couldn't believe it. "It's him!"
That's right, Zhou Hong knew this young man. Or rather, he had met him once before. When he first ascended, by the Ascension Pool, this young man had also just ascended. Zhou Hong remembered his name... Long Yu.
"Whoa!" The young man was also greatly surprised to see Zhou Hong.
"Zhou Hong, what are you doing here? This is too much of a coincidence," Long Yu said, equally astonished.
"Brother Long Yu, it truly is a coincidence that we meet again," Zhou Hong said, stepping out.
"Yes, we ascended around the same time. You went to the demon realm, and I went to the immortal realm. I thought we might never meet again, but here we are. It seems we are fated to meet."
Zhou Hong smiled and nodded.
"How have you been? When you ascended to the immortal realm, you mentioned you were going to seek out an acquaintance named Fairy Wuji. You must be doing well, unlike me, who was alone and had to struggle to stabilize myself in the demon realm," Zhou Hong asked with a smile.
"It's a long story. I'm currently being hunted," Long Yu said with a wry smile.
"Ah? Being hunted? By whom?"
"A second-generation immortal, or rather, my superior. He was arrogant and overbearing, relying on his influence. In a fit of anger, I decapitated him. Now, his backing wants me dead."
"Didn't you find your acquaintance?"
"Yes, Fairy Wuji arranged for me to join a military camp. She told me to start from the lowest rank of heavenly soldier, so my current position is that of a lowly heavenly soldier. However, my superior took a dislike to me. Of course, I'm not good at flattering, so I was gradually ostracized. In a fit of rage, I killed my superior. This superior was a second-generation immortal with strong family ties in the Celestial Court. Now I can only flee here to save my life."
"Good heavens," Zhou Hong was speechless.
"And you? How are you doing now? What's your cultivation level?" Long Yu quickly asked. They had ascended around the same time, practically starting from the same line. One cultivated immortality, the other cultivated demonic arts. Who was more powerful now?
"To be honest, I'm a second-grade Demon Master. Converting to your immortal cultivation system, that would be a second-grade Immortal Master," Zhou Hong stated directly, without hiding anything. He felt no shame, considering he hadn't ascended to the demon realm that long ago.
"Wow, that's impressive," Long Yu exclaimed.
"And you?" Zhou Hong countered. Zhou Hong had observed Long Yu earlier but couldn't discern his strength.
"Haha, what a coincidence, I'm also second-grade."
"No way, that's too much of a coincidence?" Zhou Hong found it hard to believe they were at the same level.
"I'm not lying." Long Yu immediately unleashed his aura. Indeed, he was a second-grade Immortal Master.
"Brother Zhou Hong, it seems you're no ordinary person. In the immortal realm, at my age, reaching second-grade Immortal Master is considered very powerful. I didn't expect you to be on par with me."
"Likewise."
Just then, the pursuers arrived from behind.
"Brother Zhou Hong, we must part ways here. I don't want to implicate you." Long Yu clasped his fists and was about to flee separately from Zhou Hong.
"Brother Long Yu, how strong are the people chasing you? Are you going to be alright?" Zhou Hong asked with concern.
"Don't worry, I have a powerful weapon. It's just that there are too many pursuers. Otherwise, I would take them all down. To be honest, I possess a certain power," Long Yu winked, not revealing everything.
However, Zhou Hong immediately understood the power from his gaze and smiled faintly. "The power you're talking about, isn't it World Power?"
"What? You have it too?" Long Yu looked utterly shocked.
"Heh, of course."