Break through the eighth level!

Inside the cave in Tiger King Territory, residual dryness raged on the rock walls.

Hu Xiao closed his eyes and concentrated, carefully sensing the changes within his body.

The Fire Severing Sword Manual was far more profound than he had imagined.

Devouring fire essences, he used his own body as a sword, constantly refining and progressing!

His cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds!

He had just completed one circulation cycle.

Yet, the world's fire energy gathered, drawing winds from all directions, causing the cave to be warmed by the fire essence, making it as hot as a furnace.

"Ah, this is comfortable!"

Hu Xiao stretched contentedly.

His entire body glowed faintly red, like incandescent steel, his blood boiled, and white mist, expelling heat, emanated from his pores.

The large amount of fire essence absorbed was entirely converted into his meridians, and in just a short while, white mist steamed within the cave, and fire energy surged out!

Boom!

Under the refinement of the world's fire essence, his cultivation progressed rapidly, and the shackles of the eighth stage showed signs of shattering!

"I'm about to break through..."

Hu Xiao noticed the anomaly and was delighted.

Finally!

By his reckoning, he had been stuck at the late seventh stage for some time now.

With such a long accumulation, the demonic power within his body had gathered like a sea, and now, with the fire essence refining his physique, coupled with the cultivation speed of his Fire Spirit Body.

It wouldn't be long.

He would truly cross the threshold of the eighth stage and advance even further!

"Good, I'll rest for now these next few days."

Hu Xiao mused, sitting cross-legged, continuing to nurture the fire essence within his body, focusing on breaking through.

As for the mundane affairs of Tiger King Territory, he could temporarily set them aside and leave them all to Xiong Da.

After all.

He had just killed Abandoned Heaven Soul to establish his might.

It wouldn't be long before this news would shake the entire mountain range.

With this deterrent, there was naturally no need to fear others attacking.

It was time to recuperate.

"I'll stay put for now and wait until I successfully cross the eighth stage."

...

Time flowed by like water.

Unbeknownst to them, another half a year had passed.

Midsummer had arrived, cicadas sang in May, and a hundred flowers bloomed in the mountains; the Half-demon tribe had grown, and their population had doubled compared to before.

Pavilions were built in the mountains, presenting a scene of prosperity.

The integration of Niu Tou Mountain was complete, a large number of outposts were established, and the allocated barracks were also renovated, with terraced fields spread throughout the mountains.

As for the Tian Jian Sect...

There had been no movement.

Previously, Xiong Da had been ordered to dispatch some small demons skilled in stealth to travel thousands of miles to gather intelligence, but no abnormal signs were found.

It seemed that regarding the death of Abandoned Heaven Soul, the Tian Jian Sect intended to gloss over it and had since fallen silent.

And during this time.

The news of Hu Xiao slaying an eighth-stage human cultivator also spread throughout the surrounding mountains, passed on by word of mouth among the great and small demons.

"The Mad Tiger's reputation is well-deserved!"

"Killing him single-handedly, that posture is truly fierce!"

"I heard from the brothers guarding the mountain that when Lord Hu unleashed his power, he blasted that cultivator until not even a speck remained!"

"I heard the aftermath was unusually troublesome, tsk tsk, there were bones of that cultivator everywhere, on the ground and in the water..."

"Who told him to provoke our Lord Hu? No matter how many tricks you human cultivators have... our Lord Hu can still handle you!"

As these rumors spread.

Hu Xiao's feat of slaying a human cultivator became known throughout the mountains, and his prestige greatly increased, already known to all demons.

Being able to slay an eighth-stage human cultivator was undoubtedly a symbol of strength.

For a time, a large number of demons came to him, drawn by his reputation.

Bringing gifts, seeking allegiance, migrating into the territory... The prosperity of Tiger King Territory was unprecedented, with a far greater sense of life than ever before, and time continued to flow like this...

...

On this day.

The sky was scorching hot.

Below the mountain gate.

The mountain path was lined with a long queue; demons of all shapes and sizes gathered, as if a hundred ghosts were paying homage, and the entire mountain was filled with clamor and noise.

"Everyone, line up properly! Third-stage ones stand over there!!!"

"Second-stage ones come here!"

Xiong Er stood beneath the solemn mountain gate, directing the arriving demons to separate, selecting suitable candidates to supplement the forces of Tiger King Territory.

Meanwhile, Xiong Da sat beside him, on a small stool, leisurely munching on spirit fruits, just watching him busy himself...

"Big brother, don't just sit there, come and help me!"

Xiong Er frowned, hands on his hips, "There are too many demons pledging allegiance, I can't handle it all by myself!"

"Hey! Don't look at me, my combat power isn't good enough,"

Xiong Da chuckled upon hearing this, continuing to munch on his spirit fruit, glancing at the demons pledging allegiance by the roadside.

Ever since the Great King slew that cultivator.

The number of demons pledging allegiance to Tiger King Territory had greatly increased, all coming because of his reputation, voluntarily joining Hu Xiao's command.

With the addition of these demons.

The military strength of Tiger King Territory had greatly increased!

Even the cultivation levels of the demon generals in the army had risen significantly, several stages higher than before.

"Big brother, hurry up, just help me sort out a group of demons!"

...

And at the same time.

Inside the cave.

Mountain winds gathered, and residual dryness raged.

Whoosh—

Hu Xiao composed himself, sitting cross-legged, his yellow robe fluttering, billowing with the mountain wind.

After these days of cultivation.

His breakthrough had entered a critical moment!

"It's now."

Hu Xiao calmed his mind.

The essence of wind and fire all dissolved into his meridians, transforming into a pure surge of energy, launching the final assault on the eighth-stage threshold.

Whoosh!

The wind picked up!

Exploding with a fierce momentum!

Entering the eighth stage in one go!

The next moment.

Rumble!

A vast demonic aura soared into the sky, churning the clouds, and a tremendous roar echoed through the heavens, thunder rolling, spreading to the surrounding mountains.

"..."

By the mountain path, the previously noisy group of demons fell silent at the sound.

They could clearly feel a terrifying aura slowly enveloping Tiger King Territory, almost making it impossible to breathe.

Seeing this.

They all looked up, gazing at the unusual situation on the mountaintop, their faces filled with fear.

The boundless sea of clouds parted, demonic energy surged into the sky, the sun in the firmament dimmed, and the commotion resounded for a thousand miles, as if announcing the arrival of some being.

An eighth-stage Great Demon!

"This is... the Great King causing this commotion?!"

Xiong Da and Xiong Er exchanged glances, then looked at the commotion in the sky, their hearts shocked.

Good heavens!

This commotion was too great!

Demonic energy soaring into the sky,

Why, out of nowhere...

Did the Great King suddenly get angry?!

The shocking commotion spread, carried by the mountain wind, drifting through the mountains; a Golden Feather Great Demon flew over Tiger King Territory, secretly looking down.

...

Inside the Myriad Snake Cave,

Demonic winds poured in, faintly accompanied by Hu Xiao's aura...

The sea of snakes churned and twisted; in the dark cave, a Red Snake coiled its body, poking its head out of the cave, looking in the direction of Tiger King Territory, secretly observing...

"Demonic energy soaring into the sky?"

"What is this Mad Tiger up to now?"

Such an abnormal celestial phenomenon clearly indicated an eighth-stage Great Demon causing upheaval.

But...

Why would he do this?

"Could it be that he's trying to provoke us?"

At this thought.

The Red Snake coiled back into the cave, continuing to observe in secret, maintaining a dormant posture.

...

Wolf Kings Territory.

Human bones piled into a mountain.

Wolf looked at the anomaly in the sky, wagging his tail excitedly, overjoyed.

"My Big Brother has broken through again!!!!"