Liu Xiuer himself had now reached the Golden Core realm.
His breakthrough, including the tribulation, had gone unbelievably smoothly.
That morning, Liu Xiuer was strolling down the street.
Suddenly, he felt a premonition and found that elusive sliver of opportunity for breakthrough.
Then, Liu Xiuer smoothly broke through the bottleneck.
Next, the heavenly tribulation arrived.
And then, bolt after bolt of tribulation lightning struck down.
The "professional assassins" dispatched by the imperial court happened to be on their way to assassinate Liu Xiuer.
As they emerged, they coincidentally encountered the descending tribulation lightning.
And then, the "professional assassins" and the "tribulation lightning" annihilated each other.
Liu Xiuer was completely unharmed, effortless, and simple… completing his tribulation.
For other cultivators, undergoing tribulation was incredibly difficult, fraught with the risk of death, a near-certain doom.
For Liu Xiuer, it was too easy, too simple. He hadn't even used the Nine Dragon Imperial Seal, well… in fact, Liu Xiuer hadn't even lifted a finger.
All the "tribulation lightning" was entirely absorbed by the "professional assassins," requiring no action from Liu Xiuer.
What a cheat!
After completing his tribulation, Liu Xiuer continued to coast along.
He didn't need to do anything; the imperial court's "various schemes" against him were inexplicably thwarted.
Indeed, the imperial court had gone to great lengths to deal with Liu Xiuer.
Not only did they send "professional assassins" every few days,
but they also frequently launched "grand army encirclements."
The results, one could say, were not just zero, but negative!
Firstly, regarding the "professional assassins," those fellows were mere amateurs compared to the Gao brothers.
Gao Shou, the "Five-Star Killer," "Technician Seven" Gao Ren, and "Top Rank" Gao Chao sang songs and hummed tunes as they casually counter-killed the "professional assassins."
Of course, most "professional assassins" never even reached the "rebel stronghold city." They met their end on the way.
Mysteriously struck dead by heavenly lightning!
Mysteriously burned to death by mountain fires!
…
All sorts of "ridiculous" ways to die!
One "Nascent Soul assassin" was the most extreme.
On his way, his "Nascent Soul" suddenly awakened its own consciousness and "ran away from home."
Truly… insane!
Some other "professional assassins" were so drawn to Liu Xiuer's "aura of dominance" that they defected on the spot and became "backbones of the rebel army."
The "professional assassins" were already lackluster; the "imperial court's grand army" was even more so.
The "rebel stronghold city" stood right there, clearly marked on the map.
Yet, the "imperial court's grand armies" couldn't find it!
Eighteen divisions had already "gotten lost," completely unable to locate the "rebel stronghold city."
Only one "imperial court army" managed to find the "rebel stronghold city," and they all surrendered, adding twenty thousand troops to the rebel ranks!
This made Liu Xiuer feel a bit embarrassed.
Perhaps he should send the imperial court a "commemorative banner"?
Thank you, because of you, the world is so beautiful…
In short, Liu Xiuer's life was going very well, incredibly smoothly.
And today, he finally encountered a "minor trouble."
"Lord, the target of the beast horde is clearly our city!"
Gao Chao, the "Top Rank," said with a grave expression and a low tone.
Alas!
Thousands of demonic beasts, for reasons unknown, were charging over with fierce momentum.
This small city could not possibly hold. It was doomed!
Everyone else was in despair.
It seemed unlikely they would survive the day!
However, everyone's eyes were filled with determination; no one thought of retreating. Nor did anyone consider deserting in the face of battle.
Run?
Impossible!
We will stand with our lord and fight to the death!
At this extremely critical moment, Liu Xiuer finally got a clear look at the leading "demonic beast."
"A Purple-Gold Howl with Azure Eyes? Why is it here!"
Liu Xiuer was both surprised and delighted.
"Could it be that Master sent it to find me?"
The thought of his Master made Liu Xiuer incredibly excited, his heart surging with emotion, beyond his control.
Whoosh!
He leaped forward, urging his flying sword, transforming into a streak of sword light, and flew towards the "Purple-Gold Howl with Azure Eyes."
"Lord!"
"Lord, no!"
"Lord, be careful!"
The three Gao brothers, startled and anxious, each rode their flying swords and followed Liu Xiuer out.
To protect their lord, until death!
The loyalty of the three Gao brothers to Liu Xiuer was as clear as the heavens and earth!
They were willing to sacrifice their own lives just to ensure Liu Xiuer's safety.
However, what happened next left the three Gao brothers dumbfounded.
The leading "Beast King" did not attack Liu Xiuer. Instead, it rushed forward with immense excitement and joy.
Half a year!
It had been a full half-year, and it had finally found Liu Xiuer.
The "Purple-Gold Howl with Azure Eyes" was tearful.
Do you know what it went through during this half-year?
Well…
Getting lost!
Recruiting subordinates!
Getting lost again!
Recruiting subordinates again!
Continuing to get lost!
Continuing to recruit subordinates!
…
An infinite loop!
Although the "Purple-Gold Howl with Azure Eyes" was directionally challenged, it was a qualified "gang leader."
Wherever the "Purple-Gold Howl with Azure Eyes" went, it established its territory and recruited subordinates.
"Ironback Tigers," "Steel-Armored Leopards," "Black Iron Lions"…
All sorts of strange and bizarre demonic beasts, you name it.
These demonic beasts all hid deep in the mountains and old forests, isolated from the world.
Furthermore, they formed into groups, were very clannish, and untamed.
In the past, some cultivator sects had tried to exploit these "demonic beast tribes," but without exception, they had failed.
Some demonic beasts could be tamed, while others could not.
Beasts like the "Ironback Tigers," "Steel-Armored Leopards," and "Black Iron Lions"… these tribes were too wild, harbored too much hostility towards humans, and were impossible to tame.
But with the "Purple-Gold Howl with Azure Eyes," it was not a problem at all.
As a "divine beast of the underworld," the "Purple-Gold Howl with Azure Eyes" had completely mastered the art of "recruiting subordinates."
It easily conquered tribes like the "Ironback Tigers," "Steel-Armored Leopards," and "Black Iron Lions," making them willingly become its subordinates.
When the "Purple-Gold Howl with Azure Eyes" descended the mountain, it was alone.
But now, as it appeared at the border of the "rebel stronghold city," it was followed by five to six thousand various demonic beasts.
Please note, these were "demonic beasts," not "wild beasts"!
These five to six thousand demonic beasts, the weaker ones were at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining.
Most of the minor beast leaders had reached the Foundation Establishment realm.
There were even a few "Ironback Tiger Kings," "Steel-Armored Leopard Kings," and so on, who had reached the Golden Core realm.
Such a "demonic beast army" could be compared to the "hundred thousand elite troops" of the Great Xin Dynasty.
No wonder the people of the "rebel stronghold city" were so tense and afraid at first.