"Lin Shu, I can’t hold it in anymore!"
Yu Sheng’s startled cry suddenly rang out.
This time, it wasn’t just her body growing larger; the bloodline within her was boiling.
Ever since the little chick had reached adulthood, she had been the one channeling power back to Lin Shu most of the time.
Now, the Fierce Lion Burning Blood Technique had devoured a full 1,600 Sin Coins, leaping directly from the Sixth-Grade to the Third-Grade—the equivalent of crossing an entire Realm.
This staggering increase in power naturally flowed back to Yu Sheng as well.
"Just rein it in a little. You don’t have to suppress it completely."
Lin Shu replied calmly.
After Chen Xiangzhu and Yu Qing’s deaths, no one had taken over their positions for the time being. Their fifty-odd disciples were all working for Yu Sheng.
Even just by guarding the Signal Tower, they generated nearly two thousand merit points every seven days.
Although Yu Sheng didn’t care how the disciples spent those points, the Inheritance Spiritual Light flowed to her in a steady stream.
Adding that to what she had already earned, the little chick was actually long overdue for her transformation into adulthood. Revealing it now wouldn’t be too conspicuous.
Besides...
Lin Shu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
’He was genuinely curious. The Yu Family kept dragging their feet, refusing to let Yu Sheng go. What kind of game are they playing?’
’Even if there was no precedent for a disciple’s promotion to Mountain Master, that rule at Yongzhou Pass was just a lie to fool the disciples anyway. At worst, they could just be blunt about it and offer to exchange her merits for a better territory or position.’
’What could they possibly gain by stalling?’
「Yongzhou Pass.」
It was nearly midnight. Aside from the disciples on guard duty, most people were asleep.
Inside the City Lord’s Mansion, Yu Duchuan paced back and forth anxiously, awaiting news from Demon Mountain.
Every so often, numerous Plain-Clothed Disciples would flit outside to take a look.
But there was still no sign of the Demon-slaying Bureau returning in triumph.
"Sigh... Is it really that troublesome? They could at least send someone back with a message."
They sighed. Just as they were about to turn and head back inside, a clear, ringing cry suddenly echoed in their ears.
"KREEE!"
The sound had a piercing quality that could shatter gold and crack jade, and it echoed through the mountains under the night sky.
The disciples whipped their heads around in shock, staring intently in the direction of Shihu City.
The next moment, a colossal figure rose into the air on beating wings.
Its form was both graceful and powerful.
Its cyan feathers shimmered with the gentle luster of jade, like a creature sculpted from colored glass, breathtakingly magnificent.
Its long tail feathers resembled those of the legendary Ancient Phoenix, rippling with waves of crimson-gold radiance.
As it soared into the heavens, a great wind surged through the mountains, as if in celebration.
"That’s Yu Sheng..."
"That’s Martial Aunt Yu Sheng!"
The appearance of a fully-grown Wind-Riding Cyan Simurgh in the world awakened everyone sleeping in the mountains.
The disciples stared at the sky in astonishment, their expressions shifting rapidly. They quickly corrected their form of address, cupping their fists and bowing to the figure in the air.
BANG!
In the City Lord’s Mansion, the handsome young man strode forward and kicked a disciple to the ground.
He roared in fury, "Who gave you permission to bow? Who gave you permission to call her ’Martial Aunt’?!"
"Your disciples know their transgression!"
The disciples scattered in a panic, falling completely silent, not daring to even breathe too loudly.
Even before maturing, Yu Sheng had dared to speak disrespectfully to their Master on Cyan Cliff. Now that she was fully grown, her arrogance would only be greater.
The two of them would likely become the most vicious pair of rivals in the Yu Family’s power struggles.
They might even set a precedent, one that involved... life and death.
At this thought, one of the disciples stole a glance at their Master. Seeing the raw fury in his expression, the disciple felt a growing certainty in his heart.
’If he ever got the chance, the Master would likely really try to take Yu Sheng’s life.’
"She has only just reached adulthood, that’s all. Her road is still long."
Yu Duchuan’s chest heaved, a shadow clouding his eyes. He suddenly sneered, "Once the Demon-slaying Bureau returns and I have the Mountain God’s Token in hand, I will still be the foremost Celestial Pride of the Yu Family!"
"Congratulations, Master!"
The disciples all cupped their fists in agreement.
’But a thousand thoughts churned in their minds. Why would the true foremost Celestial Pride remain in a barren place like the Border Region?’
’Their Master had never occupied that position to begin with, so what did he mean by "still"?’
Despite these thoughts, a look of anticipation still welled up in the disciples’ eyes.
Even if he couldn’t become the number one, if he could be the one in charge of the Border Region, that would be an excellent outcome for them as his disciples.
They couldn’t just let that freak, Yu Sheng, come from behind and truly suppress their own faction.
If they lost control of the City Lord’s Mansion, how could they ever hold their heads high in this Border Region again?
「Several days passed in the blink of an eye.」
News of Yu Sheng reaching adulthood continued to spread among the hundred-plus Earth Cities of the Border Region.
Whenever the matter was brought up, the many other Immortal Descendants were filled with envy and jealousy.
They would all reach adulthood eventually, of course.
But Yu Sheng had completed the process in less than three months.
The people at Yongzhou Pass knew it had little to do with her personally; it was all thanks to her disciple, Lin Shu.
However, with such an impressive accomplishment on her record, she now had the qualifications to contend for the title of Celestial Pride.
Just as everyone was still reeling from the surprise of Yu Sheng reaching adulthood...
...news concerning another adult Immortal Descendant of the Yu Family struck Yongzhou Pass like a bolt from the blue, causing a massive uproar!
The vast contingent from the Demon-slaying Bureau, summoned by a personal letter from Immortal Qiheng, had vanished without a sound into Demon Mountain, not even making a ripple.
Xu Zhonglin’s earlier defeat had already been subtly unsettling.
Fortunately, the Demon had been arrogant enough to spare many of the constables, so at least someone had made it back with news.
But now, the Ruan Family Siblings had vanished along with over a hundred Captains and a thousand constables, leaving not a single person behind to even deliver a message.
As time slowly passed, no matter how much they refused to believe it, everyone had to accept the terrifying truth.
The Demon-slaying Bureau... they were all dead!
A certain City Lord didn’t get the good news he was waiting for. Instead, he got a visit from numerous furious peers, storming his gates and demanding their people back.

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