Amo beside him was also completely stunned.
She too came from a near-human tribal chief’s family. Because she was a demon descendant, her talent had been very high since childhood. But she was not diligent in martial arts training, basically being cared for from childhood to adulthood. So at thirty-seven years old, her martial arts cultivation was not high.
But regarding blood baths and Beast Origin Pills, she also knew them thoroughly.
Even, back then her breakthrough to Demon Warrior had completely relied on blood baths and Beast Origin Pills.
Although, at that time she had only used the blood of a high-level ferocious beast, the Beast Origin Pill had been very advanced. But even so, she had only broken through from near Ten-star Warrior to Demon Warrior, not even breaking through one and a half levels.
And even so, her parents had already been very satisfied.
After all, Demon Warrior was a great hurdle. Passing it smoothly through blood baths and Beast Origin Pills was a very good result.
However, Lanling had actually increased nine hundred jin of strength, meaning four and a half levels. This was completely heaven-defying.
This truly completely overturned her understanding!
And Suo Mo also felt a strong sense of unreality. Lanling had come to his side for merely two to three months, and had gone from a Three-star Warrior to about to break through Greater Demon Warrior.
This cultivation speed could no longer be described as heaven-defying, it was simply world-shaking.
Then where was the limit of Lanling’s future cultivation? Only heaven knew.
“Uncle, how far is it from here to the Chimera Tribe?” Lanling asked.
“Around two hundred li.” Suo Mo said, “Thirty-six hours remain until the duel.”
Lanling said, “If I return safely, and even defeat Du Yan in the duel, what will Constantine think?”
Suo Mo said, “He will think you obtained a fortuitous encounter in the Ghost Domain World, and will definitely send people to explore the Ghost Domain World.”
Once Constantine sent people to explore the Ghost Domain World, they would discover there was no longer any danger here, the illusions had also disappeared. The previous illusions of one season per day, time flow one hundred times faster, and so on had all vanished.
When this happened, what would Constantine do?
Once he confirmed the Ghost Domain World was safe, he would send troops to occupy that hundred-li territory of the Ghost Domain World.
And once Constantine sent troops to occupy this region, then it would have nothing to do with Lanling anymore. Lanling’s Yanmo Tribe would have nowhere to settle.
“I have named it Mirror Mountain.” Lanling said, “Mirror Mountain is a hundred li in radius. This is the foundation of our Yanmo Tribe, this is the starting point of our future Yanmo Empire. We absolutely cannot lose it.”
Suo Mo fell into silence.
Lanling was not wrong. Mirror Mountain was currently the most important thing of all, the hope of the entire Foreign Legion.
“Right now, many people must think I have already died after entering the Ghost Domain World.” Lanling said, “So, the duel with Du Yan will fizzle out, which is a very good result.”
Suo Mo said, “That is to say, you are not going back to duel Du Yan? With your current cultivation level, you have a great possibility of defeating him.”
Lanling shook his head and said, “Before, the reason I desperately raised my cultivation level was to prove I could defeat him. Now, I have already proven this point, and that is enough. Mirror Mountain is our only hope, it is far more important than my reputation. So, I will not return to the Chimera Tribe. From now on, I will begin planning the Foreign Legion’s march toward independence and the establishment of our own tribe.”
Suo Mo was silent for a moment.
In the Savage Wilderness World, agreeing to a duel but then not attending was an extremely humiliating matter, an extremely reputation-damaging matter.
But Lanling was right. He had already proven he could defeat Du Yan, and that was enough.
Suo Mo said, “But if you do not attend the duel, Du Yan will rightfully become the successor leader of the Foreign Legion.”
Lanling said, “Then let him have it for a while. Once all the Foreign Legion brothers have safely evacuated from the Chimera Tribe and entered the Mirror Mountain territory, then we will settle this account.”
Suo Mo said, “If you are not returning to the Chimera Tribe, what are you planning to do recently?”
Lanling said, “Dig out those several thousand buried corpses, then hang them on every tree at the foot of Mirror Mountain. Use several thousand corpses to draw a circle with a diameter of a hundred li. This way, it can at least intimidate the surrounding tribes for a period of time.”
Now that Mirror Mountain no longer had illusions, if an adventurer entered and discovered there was no danger here, the consequences would be truly unimaginable.
And if several thousand corpses were hung outside, even without illusions, it would still be frightening enough.
“Fine, you have the final say.” Suo Mo said, “I will return to the Chimera Tribe right now and say there is no trace of you.”
Lanling said, “After hanging the corpses, I will secretly infiltrate back into the Chimera Tribe. Then we will plan the Foreign Legion’s rebellion for independence and the establishment of a tribe.”
“Fine.” Suo Mo nodded, then sighed and said, “Your cultivation level obtained a massive breakthrough with such difficulty, yet you were unable to truly go defeat Du Yan and harvest your own honour. Do you regret it?”
Lanling smiled and said, “A little bit, but our tribe is more important.”
Suo Mo said, “Mirror Mountain and the Chimera Tribe are in two different directions. If you have made your decision, then we must temporarily part ways. I return to the Chimera Tribe, you return to Mirror Mountain.”
Amo looked at Suo Mo somewhat reluctantly. Of course she would follow Lanling back to Mirror Mountain to hang the corpses.
“Goodbye, see you in a few days.” Amo gazed at Suo Mo, her eyes full of tender affection.
“Goodbye.” Suo Mo responded awkwardly.
Then, Suo Mo directly ran rapidly toward the south, returning to the Chimera Tribe.
…
Disappointed? Regretful?
Indeed!
Lanling had created a miracle. In a short month, his cultivation had broken through eleven levels, and there was a great possibility of defeating Du Yan in the duel.
But to protect Mirror Mountain, he could not show himself.
So, he could not display this miracle to everyone, could not harvest his own glory, and had to break his word to the Foreign Legion brothers.
“Little Ling, I now believe you will be a good chief.” Amo suddenly said.
Lanling found it very strange. Amo, could you please not look at me with an elder’s gaze? You are not yet my aunt.
“You are a scoundrel, but your uncle is the best man in this world.” Amo said, “I must marry him, I must bear his children, you must help me.”
Lanling said, “I will do my best.”
Then, Lanling and Amo walked toward the direction of Mirror Mountain.
The two ran rapidly, and ten hours later, they arrived at Mirror Mountain, the future base of the Yanmo Tribe.
At this moment, Lanling noticed that Mirror Mountain was the highest mountain range in the surroundings, with a foot diameter of roughly a hundred li.
Lanling’s future Yanmo Tribe was a complete great mountain.
The two walked to that massive pit where the bones had been buried, wanting to dig out every corpse and hang them at the foot of Mirror Mountain to intimidate adventurers who came.
After entering Mirror Mountain, Lanling immediately released his mental power to search the entire region, checking if any adventurers had entered.
Fortunately, there were none. The reputation of this death forbidden zone was indeed not false, basically no one dared come.
…
This corpse pit was truly massive. One truly did not know how Lanling had dug it out back then.
Previously, he had gone to such trouble to bury these corpses inside. Now he had to dig them out again and hang them on every tree at the foot of the mountain.
“Sigh, if you had chosen to go to the Chimera Tribe for the duel, at this time tomorrow you could have defeated Du Yan, enjoying the cheers of countless people, enjoying your honour.” Amo said, “You risked your life coming to the Ghost Domain World, all for the sake of defeating Du Yan in the duel. Yet in the end, you gave up at the final moment. I even feel sorry for you.”
Lanling did not speak.
Amo said, “How about you go to the duel, and I hang the corpses alone.”
Lanling shook his head and said, “No, Mirror Mountain is more important.”
Lanling was not wrong. Once he returned safely, and his cultivation level skyrocketed, defeating Du Yan in the duel, this would undoubtedly mean he had obtained a massive fortuitous encounter in the Ghost Domain World. Chief Constantine would definitely send people to explore.
At that time, Mirror Mountain would be seized by him.
Lanling could not take this risk.
But in his heart, he truly wanted very much to return to the Chimera Tribe and cut Du Yan down with his sword.
This month of adventure, even risking his life, was it not all for the sake of defeating Du Yan in the duel?
But for the greater good, having to give up at the final moment, truly made one regretful and sad.
Just then, suddenly a voice sounded in Lanling’s mind, saying, “Master, I can help you.”
Lanling was greatly startled and said, “Who are you?”
“I am your shadow.” that voice said.
“Mirror Demon King?” Lanling was astonished.
“Yes, it is me.” the Mirror Demon King said.
Lanling said, “Did you not turn to dust and smoke?”
Mirror Demon King said, “I merely entered your body. I am your shadow, so of course I must enter your body.”
No wonder Lanling felt that after devouring the Mirror Demon King, his cultivation level had not risen at all, not even his mental power had risen the slightest bit. The only thing added was a charm eye.
So it turned out he had not devoured the Mirror Demon King at all, but rather the Mirror Demon King had entered his body.
But how could it enter Lanling’s body without being detected by him?
Lanling said, “I am not your demon king.”
Mirror Demon King said, “It does not matter whether you acknowledge it or not, but right now I can help you.”
Lanling said, “How?”
Mirror Demon King said, “Is that mirror still on the mountaintop?”
Lanling said, “Yes, it is a natural mirror.”
That was not a true mirror, but a smooth stone wall. This rock contained very high metal content. After years of wind and rain, or perhaps thunder and lightning, in short it had been split into a very smooth mirror surface, just like a mirror.
Back then, the Demon God Monarch flew past here, gazing at this natural mirror and leaving behind his gaze and shadow, giving this mirror life, turning it into the Mirror Demon King, becoming a Demon God relic.
Mirror Demon King said, “Release me from your mind, let me re-enter the mirror, and I can once again create illusions to protect this Mirror Mountain.”
Lanling fell silent.
The Mirror Demon King was very cunning. Could it be taking this opportunity to escape, or to reclaim its illusory empire?
Mirror Demon King said, “In my illusory empire, not only did you destroy those mental slaves’ dreams, you also shattered my dream. I am ultimately just a mass of blurry shadow. I cannot go anywhere. Even possessing countless gold and silver treasures, I cannot buy anything. Returning to your body is my true destiny, after all I am merely your former shadow.”
Lanling said, “How many times must I tell you, I am not your demon king.”
“Fine, say whatever you like.” Mirror Demon King said, “But let me help you now. Let me return to the mirror, create illusions, and protect your Mirror Mountain. Taking a step back, even if I am cunning and want to escape back into the mirror. What can I do? I am just a shadow. Besides the mirror and your body, I cannot go anywhere. Last time when I was so powerful, with several thousand accomplices, you still defeated me. Let alone now with just me alone. Even if I wanted to occupy this Mirror Mountain, next time you came, you could still easily defeat me and take Mirror Mountain back.”
That’s right, that made sense.
A month ago, Lanling could defeat the Mirror Demon King. Now it had no accomplices whatsoever, and had been thoroughly seen through by Lanling. Wanting to defeat it again would be completely effortless.
“Fine!” Lanling said.
Then, he and Amo once again climbed to the peak of Mirror Mountain, arriving before that natural mirror.
It should be a meteorite? Containing mysterious metal? Then split by a bolt of lightning, thus forming a natural mirror.
Lanling and Amo stood before this stone mirror, seeing the blurry shadow inside.
“Come out.” Lanling said.
Mirror Demon King said, “Wait a moment. Wait until the sun sets. I am a shadow, I cannot see the sun.”
Over an hour later, the sun set.
“Master, I am coming out.” Mirror Demon King said.
Then…
“Whoosh…” A mass of black shadow suddenly surged from Lanling’s eyes, drilling into the stone mirror before him.
Amo let out a cry of alarm from the side, not knowing what had happened. She drew her precious sword, not knowing who to fight.
“Stay calm.” Lanling said.
The Mirror Demon King transformed into thousands upon thousands of black shadows, continuously surging into the mirror.
These black shadows gradually condensed inside the mirror, finally forming a complete Mirror Demon King.
It was exactly the same as the shadow demon king Lanling had seen in the illusion palace, incomparably tall, with horns on its head, wings on its back, barbs on its neck, its entire body covered in scales, even every claw was majestic and imposing.
Only its face was actually identical to Lanling’s.
“It, it has returned to the mirror?” Amo said in alarm.
The Mirror Demon King looked at Lanling from inside the mirror and said, “Master, you had best return quickly, because my energy cannot sustain for too long.”
Lanling could not help but be startled.
Mirror Demon King said, “All my mental slaves were killed by you, so I cannot absorb mental energy from them. And I was also injured by you, so relying purely on my mental power, I can only maintain it for three months. Please be sure to return within three months.”
“Fine!” Lanling said.
Mirror Demon King said, “Then farewell. Please believe me, you are my master, I am merely your shadow. I think of returning to your side every moment.”
Having said this, the Mirror Demon King released a mental energy shield. At first it was only several dozen metres in diameter, then continuously expanded, expanded, expanded.
Finally, this mental energy shield reached a full hundred li in diameter, completely enveloping and protecting the entire Mirror Mountain.
At this time, if anyone entered Mirror Mountain, they would immediately enter an illusion and become a mental captive of the Mirror Demon King.
Thus, Mirror Mountain was safe, and Lanling’s tribal base was safe.
Lanling brought Amo and rapidly rushed out of Mirror Mountain, out of the massive energy shield.
Sure enough, looking from the outside, Mirror Mountain had once again become the Ghost Domain World.
At this moment, the world inside was covered in white snow.
“Farewell, master.” This energy shield emitted a voice.
“Farewell!” Lanling said.
Then, he ran madly toward the Chimera Tribe, using his full speed.
Only a little over ten hours remained until the final deadline of the duel, and the distance from here to the Chimera Tribe was a full two hundred and seventy li.
…
Lanling ran rapidly, travelling day and night, without sleep or rest.
Twelve hours later, Lanling had run two hundred and seventy li, arriving outside the gates of the Chimera Tribe.
At this moment, the entire tribe was abuzz with voices.
Everyone was waiting for an absurd duel to begin.
Although many people felt this duel would not take place, because Lanling was already dead.
“Du Yan, I have come!”