Chapter 54: A Cultivation Prodigy

What is going on?
How could it be this easy?
Jiang Xuan, who had been treading carefully moments before, immediately broke into a wide grin.
Could this be the legendary love-struck fool?
"Hurry up! We still need to go back up for air later!"
While Jiang Xuan was still standing in place, somewhat dazed, Sister Hua had already plunged straight down toward the bottom of the Corpse Implement Marsh.
Seeing this, Jiang Xuan snapped back to his senses and quickly followed, feeling a wild surge of ecstasy in his heart!
This Corpse Implement Marsh really does hold magical treasures!

Meanwhile, back at home.
"Big Brother has only been out for a single day, and our meat is almost gone! What are we going to do?"
"Yeah, this meat will last at most one more day. Does that mean we won't have any meat to eat in the days ahead?"
Beside a tree stump, Gluttonous Ghost collapsed onto the ground, looking as though his very soul had been sucked out.
Big Mouth was also muttering under his breath. Although he didn't eat quite as much, the prospect of having no meat was something he truly found hard to accept.
However, to say nothing of the fact that they were already Great Demons—even if they were only at the ordinary beast stage of cultivation, going half a month without meat would pose absolutely no problem at all.
Dying of hunger was simply out of the question.
The main reason for their distress was that their previous lifestyle had been far too comfortable; with meat every single day, their cultivation had been progressing at breakneck speed.
Now, suddenly losing their supply of meat naturally left a bitter taste in their mouths.
"What is there to panic about? Isn't it just meat? Once this Sovereign heads out, I'll hunt some for you!"
"Focus on building the home properly. How noble is this Sovereign? How could I possibly sleep in the branches day after day?"
High up on a tree branch, the Demon Sovereign crossed his legs and spoke with an air of absolute certainty.
The heavy labor of building the villa naturally wouldn't fall to him.
The Empress also devoted herself wholeheartedly to cultivation, paying no mind to such manual tasks.
"Brother Demon Sovereign! You are my deity! As long as you get me meat to eat, you'll always be my big brother!"
Gluttonous Ghost immediately raised his head, his eyes brimming with unadulterated admiration.
"Idolater, aren't your words completely contradictory? Isn't Brother Demon Sovereign already your big brother?"
Little Mei rolled her eyes, her fair, delicate hand lifting a massive log with ease before planting it firmly and securely into the ground.
After a full day of arduous effort, the villa was finally beginning to take shape.
Yet, it was still nothing more than a rough outline.

To accommodate more than a dozen people, the blueprint provided by Jiang Xuan mapped out a floor plan of nearly five hundred square meters. Spanning two levels, it included individual rooms for everyone as well as a spacious storage room.
If not for the inclusion of a central hall, it would be no different from a communal dormitory...
"Alright, Gluttonous Ghost, stop dawdling and come over here to help!"
"Who knows how long this villa will take to finish at this rate? When are we supposed to find time to cultivate?"
Qiao'er grumbled discontentedly.
While they were working themselves to the bone, the Demon Sovereign and the Empress spent the entire day sitting comfortably on the tree branches to cultivate. Anyone witnessing this would feel a deep sense of injustice.
Furthermore, the two of them received a much larger share of resources, making the arrangement all the more galling.
Had it not been for the promise the Demon Sovereign had just made, Qiao'er's complaints likely would have been far more severe.
"We still need to do our best to finish Big Brother's task. The sooner we get it done, the sooner we'll have time to cultivate, right?"
"Little Cui, you always have such a good mindset."
"What good mindset could I possibly have? I'm simply willing to do it out of my own heart, just so Big Brother can have a proper home."
Hearing Little Cui's words, Little Lan couldn't help but feel that it made complete sense.
In their hearts, Jiang Xuan was the absolute pillar of support.
Their current mission was undoubtedly to have the villa fully constructed before he returned.
The younger subordinates busied themselves with their tasks, while the Demon Sovereign and the Empress sat peacefully on the branches, completely absorbed in their cultivation.
Everything appeared calm and serene.
Yet, not long after, as the Demon Sovereign and the Empress simultaneously opened their eyes, that fragile peace was shattered in an instant!
"Hahaha! As expected, this Sovereign is truly a prodigy of cultivation! It has been less than a month since my last breakthrough, and yet there are already signs of another breakthrough!"
At these words, the Empress glanced sideways at the Demon Sovereign, her innate pride stirring a sudden wave of anger within her.
This was because she, too, could sense the surging spiritual energy within her own body.
Without a doubt, these were clear signs of an imminent breakthrough.
What infuriated her was that the Demon Sovereign's cultivation speed was actually matching her own step for step.
"Sister Empress! Brother Demon Sovereign! You're about to break through again? That's way too fast!"
"To still maintain such terrifyingly fast cultivation speeds even after reaching the Great Demon realm—you two are absolute geniuses!"
"Damn it! I haven't even reached the second-tier Great Demon realm yet, and they're about to break through to the third tier! It's true that comparing yourself to others will only make you want to die!"
"No, comparing yourself to birds will only make you want to die as a bird!"
"This won't do! If things go on like this, the gap between us will only grow wider. We have to work overtime! We need to finish building this villa right now so we can have more time to cultivate!"
Noticing the strange aura emanating from the Empress and the Demon Sovereign, the subordinates were all utterly shocked.
A chorus of miserable groans quickly followed.
"Little Cui is right! We must finish the villa as quickly as possible! No one is allowed to sleep tonight—we're working through the night!"
"I agree! We haven't even had a proper chance to practice our cultivation techniques! If this keeps up, we'll become nothing more than dead weight!"
"Indeed, boundless grace feels like a heavy debt. Big Brother has already shown us far too much kindness. If we end up as useless burdens, what will we do if Big Brother abandons us?!"
Within moments, the subordinates reached a unanimous consensus.
Trying to catch up to Jiang Xuan's level was something they didn't even dare to imagine.
However, seeing that the Empress and the Demon Sovereign were about to step into the third-tier Great Demon realm as well, the blow to their egos was undeniably heavy.
"Heh, you need not be anxious. Tonight, guard this Sovereign well. Once I break through to the third-tier Great Demon realm, I shall head out and procure some resources for all of you!"
"I, too, shall bestow generous rewards upon you."
"Tonight, my safety rests entirely in your hands."
As the Demon Sovereign finished speaking, the Empress smiled faintly, casting her gaze down toward the hardworking subordinates beneath the tree.
"Very well! Brother Demon Sovereign! Sister Empress! Will there be plenty of meat this time?"
Gluttonous Ghost was the first to answer, staring at the two of them with eager, hopeful eyes.
"Of course there will be plenty! This Sovereign scorns the notion of lying to the likes of you!"
"The rewards I grant shall not leave you disappointed!"
"That's fantastic! Everyone, stop standing around! Defend the array and protect Brother Demon Sovereign and Sister Empress!"
"With resources on the line, what's a little night watch?!"
"Brother Demon Sovereign! Sister Empress! Don't you worry, tonight we won't even let a single mosquito fly into this formation!"
The subordinates beat their chests in assurance, swiftly setting aside their physical labor. Over a dozen of them formed a circle around the array perimeter, sat cross-legged on the ground, and focused their minds completely.
Seeing this, the Demon Sovereign nodded in satisfaction.
Even so, he couldn't help but cast another sidelong glance at the Empress.
And she was staring right back at him.
As if locked in a silent contest, the moment their gazes intersected, an unmistakable blaze of fury raged fiercely between them.
Though no words were spoken, both of them understood each other's innermost thoughts with crystal clarity.
After all, their minds were set on the exact same goal: each was determined to reach the third-tier Great Demon realm before the other!

That night.
Bright moonlight spilled down upon the gloomy and eerie depths of the primeval forest. Yet, far away within the Hualing Domain, two distinct parties quietly slipped out of their respective sects.
One faction hailed from the Hundred Beasts Sect.
The other belonged to the Overlord Sect.