My mother is the white moonlight of the cultivation world.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range stands majestically, like a lurking giant beast crouching in the sky.

An invisible spiritual energy barrier was set up around the mountain range to prevent mountain monsters from descending and invading. At this moment, it was emitting a faint glow.

"Just walk in like this?" Hua Yue asked, somewhat puzzled. She knew that while this barrier wasn't indestructible, it wasn't something ordinary cultivators could easily pass through.

Upon hearing this, Du Shifang puffed out his chest, looking smug as if to say, "You just don't understand." He continued, "Of course not! How could ordinary methods possibly demonstrate the nobility of my Black Dragon Clan? Rest assured, I have a brilliant plan."

His mysterious demeanor stirred a sense of anticipation in Hua Yue. Surely a divine beast possessed some extraordinary abilities?

Even if they don't tear a hole in this barrier, they should at least have some kind of sophisticated concealment technique.

However, she was still too naive.

Du Shifang led her and Du Chengfeng, avoiding the sight of the mountain-guarding disciples, and after many twists and turns, they arrived at the foot of an extremely secluded cliff. Here, weeds grew rampant and rocks were jagged, and at the base of the cliff, a dark cave entrance was hidden by vines.

The entrance to the cave was small, barely enough for one person to crawl through. A breeze carrying the smell of mud and decay blew out of the cave.

Du Shifang pointed to the hole, a proud smile spreading across his face: "We're here! This is the secret passage I opened up myself—safe, fast, and unknown to anyone!"

Hua Yue stared at the hole for a long time, her expression gradually freezing. Finally, she squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "...This is a dog hole, isn't it?"

"Hey! You can't say that!" Du Shifang immediately retorted, correcting him with a serious expression, "Look, whatever kind of thing drills into a hole, that's what it's called. This hole, I drilled it."

He patted his chest, speaking with self-righteous indignation.

"so what?"

"I'm a dragon!" Du Shifang coaxed patiently. "A cave a dragon crawls in is naturally called a dragon cave! See, doesn't that instantly elevate the level of prestige?"

Hua Yue: "..."

All she wanted to do now was pry open this guy's head and see what was inside.

Seeing Hua Yue's speechless, bewildered expression, Du Shifang chuckled and immediately lay down, skillfully nudging himself inside: "Don't just stand there, saving lives is the priority. Back in the day, to escape debts, I've crawled into every kind of dragon palace and phoenix nest imaginable..."

He swallowed the rest of his words.

Hua Yue took a deep breath and told herself to stay calm; everything was for the sake of finding Zhou Ye.

When I become a big shot in the cultivation world, I'll either fly on a sword or teleport when I go out, and I'll never have to put up with this kind of hole-drilling nonsense again!

Resigned to her fate, she bent down and followed her inside.

The cave was narrow and dark, but thankfully not long. Soon, the three of them emerged from the bushes at the other end, their bodies covered in grass and mud.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

The interior of the Beast Mountain Range is magnificent and pristine, with ancient trees reaching for the sky, vines intertwined, and distant mountains layered upon each other, shrouded in mist. Above, a flock of giant blue-feathered birds with wingspans of several meters flew by in formation, emitting loud cries and casting large shadows.

The air was filled with the rich fragrance of grass and trees and a sense of spirituality, but there was also a faint hint of wildness and danger mixed in.

"What's the difference between finding someone here and looking for a needle in a haystack?" Hua Yue looked around, her brows furrowed.

"Little glutton, you're lucky to have met me." Du Shifang dusted himself off, regaining his inexplicable confidence. "We divine beasts are beings that can command all beasts! Watch closely!"

He cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and suddenly let out a strange roar that sounded like the mooing of an old ox.

"Awooo—"

The sound echoed through the valley, and then... that was it.

The forest was utterly silent; even the birdsong and insect chirps paused for a moment, as if collectively scorning him. Not a single beast came to pay homage, not even a rabbit hopped out.

The scene was very embarrassing.

Hua Yue looked at him with an expression that said, "Are you kidding me?"

"Ahem!" Du Shifang blushed slightly and quickly tried to cover it up, "Wait, don't rush, this is just a greeting. There are other ways, other ways!"

He grabbed Xiao Dai from Hua Yue's arms, brought it to his nose, and sniffed it hard.

Xiao Dai felt uncomfortable with him and protested with "ball!"

"Alright!" Du Shifang put Xiao Dai down, looking confident, and assured Hua Yue, "I've remembered this little guy's master's scent! Follow me, I guarantee you won't go wrong!"

Seeing his confident demeanor, Hua Yue's illusions about the existence of the word "divine beast" shattered like dumpling filling.

Seemingly sensing the disdain in Hua Yue's eyes, Du Shifang led the way while incessantly trying to salvage his image.

"I'm telling you, you can't define a beast entirely based on its origins," he said, turning to Hua Yue. "Think about it, you possess the bloodline of the Taotie, yet you're now a graceful young woman. You don't eat everything in sight, nor are you greedy. This proves that the future development of a beast has limitless possibilities!"

Hua Yue was too lazy to correct herself that she had the bloodline of a Pixiu, not a Taotie; this guy simply wouldn't listen to her.

Du Shifang talked as he walked, spittle flying everywhere. Suddenly, he stopped, as if he had discovered something extraordinary.

Hua Yue immediately tensed up, her hand already on the hilt of her sword: "What's wrong? Are there enemies?"

Du Shifang turned his head, looking at her with an unusually serious expression, and clicked his tongue in amazement: "I just suddenly realized that your ancestors were really ruthless. The original form of the Taotie wasn't good-looking at all, it was ferocious and menacing. I'm not saying this to be mean, but the aesthetics of your human race are truly bizarre..."

A vein throbbed on Hua Yue's forehead.

She could clearly feel her anger level rising at a visible speed.

Just as she was about to draw her sword, she realized something was wrong.

It's too quiet.

They had been walking in the mountains for almost the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and apart from flocks of birds flying overhead, they hadn't encountered a single low-level demonic beast. This completely contradicted the warning from the guards at the foot of the mountain that "a beast tide is approaching, and the danger is extreme."

This is very wrong.

"Oh dear, I guess they sensed my domineering aura as a dragon and hid in fear," Du Shifang said smugly, spreading his hands. "There's nothing I can do; my domineering aura is too great. I'll try to tone it down a bit."

"No, that's not true." Du Chengfeng, who had been following behind, muttered under his breath.

His voice was soft, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet mountain forest.

Du Shifang glared at him.

Hua Yue looked at Du Chengfeng: "What did you discover?"

Feeling a little guilty under Hua Yue's gaze, Du Chengfeng subconsciously shrank behind Du Shifang before speaking in an even lower voice:

"Because there are demons here."