The Iron Eater Beast Race

Donghua finished taking on disciples.

Shao Siming stepped forward and said, "Congratulations, Brother Tai Wei, on taking such a fine disciple."

The Iron Eater Beast Xiong Er also said, "Congratulations, Great God, on taking such a fine disciple."

Donghua was delighted. When it came to his disciples' lineage and talent, all of the Three Pure Ones' disciples would be unworthy of carrying his shoes.

Of course, lineage and talent were important, but so were determination, character, and many other qualities.

Just look at Grand Master Xuandu, Taiqing's disciple in later generations. His character and resolve were truly rare, and he had still managed to attain Quasi-Saint cultivation.

Don't assume that becoming a Quasi-Saint was easy. Quasi-Saints were Primordial Golden Immortals, true cultivators who could rightly be called those who had attained the Dao.

In later generations, the disciples of the various Saints had every advantage of timing, terrain, and support, yet only a handful managed to become Quasi-Saints.

With the matter of taking disciples settled, Donghua was about to leave.

The Iron Eater Beast Xiong Er hesitated, then said, "Great God Tai Wei, would you consider visiting our tribe?"

Donghua thought it over. "All right!"

Over the years, as he traveled through the Primordial Wilderness, he had visited only small tribes and minor clans, to avoid getting caught up in bigger disputes.

Today, however, he could visit the Iron Eater Beast tribe, which belonged to the Demon God Race.

After crossing mountains and valleys, the group arrived at the Iron Eater Beast tribe in no time.

"Good day, Young Chieftain."

"Where are you off to hunt, Young Chieftain?"

"Young Chieftain, the chieftain's been looking everywhere for you. Where have you been?"

All along the way, members of the tribe greeted the Iron Eater Beasts.

Donghua smiled. "I had no idea you were the young chieftain of the Iron Eater Beast Race, Xiong Er."

Xiong Er said honestly, "Great God, please don't tease me. I just got lucky and was born to a good father. My strength is still far behind his."

"Being a little weaker for now doesn't matter. You're still young, and you have plenty of time to cultivate. Besides, you've grasped the Law of Strength, so your future prospects are limitless."

Xiong Er bashfully rubbed his head. He didn't know how he had grasped the Law of Strength, either. It was all very profound.

"Great God, my father's looking for me. Why don't we go together? Maybe you and my father know each other."

Donghua thought it over. He had indeed met the chieftain of the Iron Eater Beast Race before; they had both listened to the Dao at the Purple Heaven Palace.

"All right. Let's go see your father. I haven't seen him in quite some time."

The group headed onward and soon arrived at a palace.

"You little rascal, where have you been? Don't you know what's going on right now?"

As soon as they entered the hall, a tall figure grabbed Xiong Er and gave him a thorough scolding.

Xiong Er struggled, but it was no use. He pleaded, "Dad, there are guests here. Have a little mercy and put me down."

The figure tossed Xiong Er aside and said, "You haven't even grown all your fur, you little brat. What do you need face for? The fighting's getting fiercer by the day. If you die, what's your old man supposed to do? If you run off again, I'll break your legs."

Xiong Er was too aggrieved to speak, but a trace of loneliness showed in his eyes.

Seeing this, Shao Siming couldn't help laughing.

The figure looked over at her and studied her for a moment, but didn't recognize her.

Then he turned to Donghua. One glance was enough for him to recognize Donghua, since they had both been guests at the Purple Heaven Palace.

The Iron Eater Beast chieftain, Yuan Xiong, was startled. "I didn't know the East King Gong would be visiting. Please forgive me for failing to welcome you properly."

"East King Gong? Master, you're the Lord of the Purple Mansion, East King Gong? But you told me you were Tai Wei!"

"Great God, you're East King Gong?"

When Golden-winged Great Peng and Xiong Er heard Yuan Xiong, they were utterly shocked.

Donghua smiled and said to Yuan Xiong, "Fellow Daoist Yuan Xiong, it's been a while. You're just as you were back then."

Then he introduced the woman beside him. "Tai Hua, this is Yuan Xiong, chieftain of the Iron Eater Beast Race. He and I were both guests at the Purple Heaven Palace."

"This is Tai Hua, Shao Siming of my Purple Mansion."

Yuan Xiong said solemnly, "I wouldn't dare presume. The East King is the Head of Male Immortals, and now he's even a Quasi-Saint. I truly don't deserve to be called your fellow Daoist."

Yuan Xiong was at the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

Shao Siming bowed. "Greetings, Chieftain Yuan Xiong."

Yuan Xiong replied, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Tai Hua. Let's just call each other fellow Daoists."

After exchanging pleasantries, Yuan Xiong learned why Donghua had come. When he heard that Xiong Er had nearly died, he couldn't hold back any longer and started beating him again.

"You little rascal! How many times have I told you to stay in the tribe and cultivate? You just had to go out and stir up trouble. I'll beat you to death!"

His iron fists landed on Xiong Er's backside, making him howl in pain. Unable to bear it, Xiong Er used his magic power to shield himself.

"You little rascal, you dare use magic power to resist?"

That only made Yuan Xiong angrier. A green bamboo switch appeared in his hand, and he started whacking Xiong Er with it.

Xiong Er shouted, "You old geezer! Are you trying to beat me to death?"

Donghua wasn't sure whether he should intervene. He couldn't quite bear to watch, but at the same time, he couldn't help thinking that if Yuan Xiong wanted to beat him, he could at least wait until they were alone.

Donghua said, "Fellow Daoist Yuan Xiong, could you spare Xiong Er this time, for my sake?"

Yuan Xiong stopped.

"Please forgive me for letting you witness this, East King. This boy just won't listen."

"Think nothing of it. Young people need a little energy. Besides, Xiong Er is exceptionally talented, and he's even grasped the Law of Strength. His future is boundless. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist."

Yuan Xiong didn't look happy. Instead, he sighed.

"I'm glad that this brat managed to cultivate the Law of Strength, but I'd be happier if he hadn't."

Donghua was puzzled.

"Fellow Daoist, why is that?"

Yuan Xiong sighed. "I had two sons. Xiong Er is the younger one. His elder brother died years ago in a battle with the Demon Race."

"Before their mother died, she asked me to raise them well. Now he's the only son I have left. More than anything, I want him to grow up safe and sound and keep cultivating in peace."

Donghua fell silent. He didn't know what to say. No matter the age, a parent's love for their child was selfless.

After hearing Yuan Xiong's words, Xiong Er got up from the ground and said angrily, "Dad, don't try to stop me. I want to fight. I'll cultivate hard, too. I'll avenge Mother and Big Brother sooner or later."

Yuan Xiong was moved. He patted Xiong Er on the shoulder. "Listen to me. Cultivate properly and stop running off. With cultivation as weak as yours, how are you going to get revenge? I'll avenge your mother and brother. Your old man's still alive, so it's not your turn."

Xiong Er was indignant, but he knew his father was right. His cultivation was far too weak.

Shao Siming asked curiously, "May I ask who your enemy is, Yuan Xiong?"

"Ci Tie, one of the Ten Great Demon Gods of the Demon Race."

Yuan Xiong's gaze was utterly calm as he said this, as though he were talking about a dead man.

After hearing this, Shao Siming didn't say anything more. The deaths were a consequence of the two races' conflict, and as an outsider, she couldn't really comment.

If the killer had been someone else, she could have helped them. After all, she was quite fond of Xiong Er.

Seeing the gloomy mood in the hall, Donghua said, "Fellow Daoist Yuan Xiong, I have great faith in Xiong Er. He's exceptionally talented and has a gift for fighting. He's even grasped the Law of Strength, which can break through ten thousand techniques with a single force."

"As the saying goes, a young man's ambition rises like the morning sun, soaring straight into the clouds. Thirty thousand years east of the river, thirty thousand years west of the river; never look down on a poor young man."

Yuan Xiong and Tai Hua weren't especially moved by his words. They had been through too much. Talent was all well and good, but a genius who didn't survive long enough to grow up was worth nothing.

But Golden-winged Great Peng Qing Xuan and Xiong Er heard him, their faces flushed with excitement, as if they'd been injected with stimulants.

Xiong Er asked, "Great God, do you really think so?"

Donghua patted Xiong Er on the shoulder and said, "That's right, young man. I believe in you. Your futures are boundless."

"And you too, Qing Xuan. The future of the Primordial Wilderness will ultimately belong to you young people."

Donghua had given the two of them a dose of encouragement.

Qing Xuan said excitedly, "Yes, Master! I'll cultivate hard and won't let you down."

Xiong Er said to his father, "Dad, did you hear that? Even the Great God says so. Stop trying to hold me back. I'm a genius!"

Yuan Xiong said, "You little brat..."

Before Yuan Xiong could finish, Xiong Er hurriedly said, "Dad, I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm going to cultivate!"

"Great God, you can talk with my dad. I'll head down first."

Donghua nodded. "All right. Make sure you cultivate properly. Whatever happened between you and Qing Xuan was nothing. You're both young, so you should have plenty to talk about. Take Qing Xuan along and show him around your tribe."

"Yes, Great God. I stopped thinking about it ages ago."

"Yes, Master."

The two of them finished speaking and ran out of the hall.