The "Stubborn Residents" of the Great Wilderness Are Too Arrogant? Xuanzheng: Construction Crew, Teach Them a Lesson with Reason!

The material collection efforts, driven by the Twelve Ancestral Witches' decisive leadership, unfolded with great fervor among the Witch Clan's various tribes, large and small.

For a time, the entire Witch Clan was filled with a fanatical atmosphere of "offering gifts to Father God and contributing to the rise of the Witch Clan."

Xuanzheng, naturally, was not idle.

Under the guise of "assisting Elder Brothers in surveying the Primordial World's earth veins, searching for rare treasures and exotic materials, and incidentally inspecting the living conditions of the Witch Clan's youths in various regions, conveying Father God's concern," he led a "Pangu Hall Construction Pioneer Inspection Team for Father God's Care," composed of a hundred elite Great Witches and thousands of Witch Clan warriors. They embarked on a grand "tour" across the Primordial World.

Of course, this was merely the surface explanation.

Xuanzheng's true objective was to seize this opportunity to make good use of the BUG detection function of the Primordial World Bug Fixing Manual. He intended to roam around, looking for any loopholes in the world's rules or any "historical BUGs" left over from ancient times that he could conveniently fix. This would earn him some merit and "repair experience points," allowing him to enrich his own coffers and gain experience for future "super projects" like repairing Pangu Hall.

After all, the material list for repairing the main body of Pangu Hall was too daunting to gather in the short term. But fixing minor loopholes could enhance his strength and boost his reputation. Why not?

One day, in search of a special material called "Nine Nether Cold Iron," Xuanzheng and his entourage arrived at an extremely Yin land shrouded in black mist. It was known as "Ghostly Ridge," a place where sunlight never reached, and the Yin Sha energy was so dense it had almost solidified. Ordinary creatures would have their souls frozen if they stepped even half a step inside.

"Manual indicates there is a Nine Nether Cold Iron ore vein deep within, of superior quality and abundant reserves," Xuanzheng thought to himself, his gaze sweeping over the dark, beast-like mountain range ahead.

However, as soon as they approached the core area of Ghostly Ridge, a majestic demonic aura erupted into the sky, accompanied by a deafening tiger roar: "What lowly creatures dare to trespass upon my place of cultivation!"

As the black mist churned, a colossal tiger, comparable in size to a small mountain, its entire body covered in scales as black as ink and shimmering with a cold, eerie light, its eyes blood-red, appeared amidst rolling demonic clouds. Its aura was ferocious, clearly possessing the cultivation of a late-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal. Dense Nine Nether Sha energy coiled around it, indicating it had cultivated here for hundreds of thousands of years.

This tiger was the overlord of Ghostly Ridge—the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger.

It immediately recognized the intruders as members of the Witch Clan. Its tiger eyes filled with vigilance and hostility. Its gaping maw revealed rows of terrifying fangs, dripping with foul-smelling saliva. "So it's Witch Clan barbarians! This place is my forbidden territory. Scram quickly, or don't blame me for turning you all into blood food!"

This Nine Nether Underworld Tiger clearly held no good feelings towards the Witch Clan, its words filled with provocation and killing intent. It had also sensed the Nine Nether Cold Iron ore vein deep within Ghostly Ridge, regarding it as its private property, not to be encroached upon by others.

Behind Xuanzheng, the hundred Great Witches and thousands of Witch Clan warriors heard this and their eyes widened with fury, their killing intent surging. They gripped their weapons tightly, ready to tear this ignorant beast to shreds at Xuanzheng's command.

Xuanzheng, however, waved his hand, signaling them to remain calm. He maintained his "honest and simple" smile, stepped forward, and said loudly, "Brother Tiger, we are descendants of Pangu, the Witch Clan. We are here on behalf of Father God to seek a material called 'Nine Nether Cold Iron' to repair our sacred hall. This item may not be of much use to you, Brother Tiger. If you are willing to part with it, our Witch Clan will offer other heavenly treasures in exchange. We will not let you suffer any loss."

Courtesy before force; this was Xuanzheng's usual "friendly negotiation" procedure.

Upon hearing this, a hint of greed flickered in the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger's blood-red eyes. It naturally knew the preciousness of Nine Nether Cold Iron, but if it could exchange it for other treasures that would be more beneficial to its cultivation, it wasn't impossible to consider.

"Oh? Exchange?" The Nine Nether Underworld Tiger grinned, revealing what it thought was a friendly expression, which actually appeared more ferocious. "Since it's a descendant of Pangu asking, I'm not unreasonable. However, this Nine Nether Cold Iron is a treasure that accompanied me since birth, exceptionally precious. If you wish to exchange for it, it's simple. Bring me a Houtian Spiritual Treasure, and I will yield this mine to you. How about it?"

A Houtian Spiritual Treasure?!

At these words, not only did the Witch Clan warriors behind Xuanzheng erupt in anger, but even the "honest" smile on Xuanzheng's face stiffened for a moment.

This Nine Nether Underworld Tiger was truly asking for the moon, insatiably greedy!

The value of a Houtian Spiritual Treasure was hardly comparable to a mere Nine Nether Cold Iron ore vein! This was clearly treating him like a sucker to be fleeced!

Xuanzheng sneered inwardly. It seemed that a peaceful resolution was no longer possible.

He sighed softly, spread his hands, and showed the Witch Clan warriors, who were already eager to fight, a "helpless" expression:

"Alas, it seems this fellow daoist cannot understand the meaning of 'reason'."

He paused, his tone shifting, carrying a touch of the Witch Clan's unique "heroism" and "directness":

"Since that's the case, let's stop wasting words. Brothers, let's use the method our Witch Clan excels at to 'reason' with Brother Tiger and let him understand what it means to 'convince with virtue' and what 'equality among all beings' is!"

"Roar!"

"Kill!"

Upon receiving Xuanzheng's "instruction," the hundred Great Witches and thousands of Witch Clan warriors, like an unleashed flood, surged forward with overwhelming killing intent. They instantly formed a simple yet ferocious battle formation and charged towards the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger!

A physical exchange filled with "friendliness" thus erupted!

Xuanzheng still did not personally enter the fray. He stood with his hands behind his back, watching the battle with keen interest. He wasn't being arrogant; rather, he wanted to use this opportunity to test the combat capabilities of the accompanying Witch Clan warriors and, at the same time, better conceal his true strength.

However, he wasn't entirely idle.

Deep within his seemingly "innocent" eyes, the phantom image of the Myriad Heavens Script Mirror quietly rotated. The Nine Nether Underworld Tiger's every pounce, the trajectory of its demonic energy circulation, and even its next likely attack method and potential weak points were vaguely reflected and deduced in the mirror.

Xuanzheng occasionally transmitted these crucial "spoiler" messages via divine sense to the top Great Witch in charge of commanding the battle formation.

With Xuanzheng's "human cheat" secretly guiding them, the Witch Clan's battle formation operated more smoothly. Their offense and defense transitions were fluid, always managing to precisely avoid the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger's fierce attacks and land strikes on its relatively weaker points.

Even the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger, a powerful demon beast at the late Taiyi Golden Immortal stage with a robust physique and profound demonic energy, was momentarily thrown into a flurry by the coordinated and fearless Witch Clan battle formation, roaring repeatedly.

"Roar—! Damned barbarians! Do you really think I fear you!"

Unable to gain the upper hand after a prolonged fight, the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger's ferocity erupted completely! It suddenly let out a sky-shattering roar, its demonic energy and Sha energy rapidly contracting before exploding outwards!

Its black scales stood on end, and its body began to burn with a ghostly blue flame. An aura several times stronger than before suddenly permeated the area!

"Nine Nether Secret Art: Nine Shadow Doppelgangers!"

With a furious roar, the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger's form blurred, and it instantly transformed into nine doppelgangers identical to the original body, with equally powerful auras!

Nine Taiyi Golden Immortal-level Underworld Tiger doppelgangers, plus the original body, a total of ten ferocious beasts, surrounded the Witch Clan's battle formation from all directions. For a time, demonic energy surged, Sha energy billowed, and their attacks became several times more ferocious!

The Witch Clan's battle formation immediately came under immense pressure, and its formation began to show signs of disarray.

[Unexpected twist? A secret art that burns vital blood?]

Xuanzheng's brows twitched slightly. His face maintained its "calm and unruffled" honest expression, but his mind was as clear as day.

"Manual, scan target's health status, analyze weaknesses of its secret art."

[Ding! Scanning... Target: Nine Nether Underworld Tiger (Original Body). Detected that the target, due to forcibly casting the secret art, has caused energy disorder in an old hidden injury (located three inches inside the left hind leg joint) sustained during a past fight with a Mystic Tortoise. This area's defense has decreased, and it is continuously suffering from the secret art's backlash. If struck heavily, it is highly likely to cause the secret art to interrupt or even collapse!]

"Oh? An unexpected bonus like this?" A subtle curve formed on Xuanzheng's lips.

He secretly mobilized a trace of the Destruction Law's true intent, subtly integrating it into a divine sense and precisely transmitting it to a Great Witch within the battle formation, one who was closest to the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger's main body and known for their strength.

The Great Witch was currently locked in combat with a Nine Nether Underworld Tiger clone. Upon suddenly receiving Xuanzheng's "divine oracle," they were taken aback for a moment. Without hesitation, they followed the instructions. During what appeared to be an ordinary block and counter-attack, they abruptly ducked low. With their great axe, they swung at an extremely tricky angle, fiercely cleaving towards a specific spot on the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger's lower left rear leg!

"Roar--!"

The Nine Nether Underworld Tiger's main body let out an agonizing, piercing howl!

A deeply hidden old wound in that area had already been throbbing under the secret art's activation. Being struck by the axe at this moment was like adding fuel to the fire, sending searing pain through its body! Even more deadly, the destructive force directly disrupted the operation of the secret art within its body!

"Pfft!"

The Nine Nether Underworld Tiger violently spat out a large mouthful of black blood. Its nine formidable clones, like popped balloons, instantly became illusory before bursting and dissipating! Its own aura, like a deflated ball, rapidly weakened.

Strike the iron while it's hot!

How could the Witch Clan warriors miss such a golden opportunity? Under the furious roars and commands of the top Great Witches, the battle formation reformed. Countless attacks imbued with the Witch Clan's malevolent energy rained down upon the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger's main body like a storm!

Half an incense stick later.

Bruised and battered, covered in blood, and barely clinging to life, the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger was tightly bound by several Great Witches with specially made chains. It lay on the ground, its once fierce tiger eyes now filled with fear and... humiliation.

It had been "reasoned with."

Xuanzheng ambled over to it, still wearing that disarmingly innocent, honest smile. "Brother Tiger, can we now have a proper talk about the ownership of the 'Nine Nether Cold Iron'? Of course, and those other 'little trinkets' in your cave dwelling that are 'helpful for repairing our Holy Temple,' shall we 'amicably negotiate' those as well?"

Upon hearing this, the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger nodded vigorously. "Willing! Little Tiger is willing! Esteemed Witch Clan seniors, that Nine Nether Cold Iron vein, Little Tiger is willing to hand over with both hands! And all the treasures in Little Tiger's cave dwelling... I'll offer them all to you esteemed adults, just please spare Little Tiger's life!"

Thus, under the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger's "enthusiastic and proactive" guidance, Xuanzheng and his group not only successfully obtained the mining rights for the entire Nine Nether Cold Iron vein but also paid a "friendly visit" and "thoroughly scoured" the cave dwelling that the Nine Nether Underworld Tiger had managed for hundreds of thousands of years.

Various Yin-attribute spirit materials, ores, demon cores, and several other rare materials, though not Spiritual Treasures, were plundered by the Witch Clan warriors and filled several storage bags.

After "educating" this uncooperative Primordial World "stubborn resident," Xuanzheng not only contributed to the Pangu Hall's repair project but also pocketed a tidy sum of "side income." In high spirits, he waved his hand:

"Alright, seeing as you've been somewhat sensible, we'll stop here for today. Cultivate diligently from now on, collect more treasures, and perhaps we'll come by again for another exchange next time, understand?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Little Tiger understands! Thank you, Immortal Teacher, for your guidance! We bid farewell to you esteemed adults!" The Nine Nether Underworld Tiger, having narrowly escaped death, dared not show any hint of disobedience.

Xuanzheng nodded in satisfaction, leading the heavily laden Witch Clan team onward in their "Primordial World Bug Fixing and Resource Exploration Journey."

Meanwhile, in his mind, the [Primordial World Bug Fixing Manual] had a new mark next to [Nine Nether Cold Iron] on the materials list for "Repairing Pangu Hall"—a subtle "partially collected" status had appeared.

"Hmm, not bad. Little by little, we build up a lot. It's like gathering sand to form a tower!" Xuanzheng thought gleefully. "Where will the next fortunate 'bug point' be?"