26: The Jianghu is not about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and worldly wisdom.

Above the Ghost Realm, the situation changed drastically.

The extraterrestrial demon that burst out from the crack in the ground.

His demonic aura was monstrous.

Just the pressure emanating from him.

Made space itself let out a mournful cry, unable to bear the weight.

His hoarse and frenzied roar.

Seemed to want to drag the entire world into an endless abyss.

Su Ke Ke's expression was solemn.

The golden sun behind her shone brightly.

The power of holiness and majesty condensed to its peak.

She knew very well.

This would be the strongest opponent she had faced since her rebirth!

However.

Just as swords were drawn and bows were strung.

And a great battle was about to erupt.

In Gu Jianghan's live stream room.

The style of the scene took a bizarre 180-degree turn.

The bullet comments that were originally excited about the appearance of the “Novice Village BOSS”.

Suddenly showed a hint of stagnation.

Immediately following that.

Was an overwhelming flood of astonishment and teasing.

[Nine Nether Demon Lord]: ...Wait, am I seeing things? Isn't this guy the old demon Mara who was slapped into the Nine Nether Abyss rift by me ten thousand years ago? How did he get out?

[King of Ten Thousand Dragons]: Hahahahaha! It really is him! This unlucky fellow, he stole one of my dragon eggs back then, wanting to hatch a demonic dragon. I chased him across three thousand star regions, and in the end, it was Brother Nine Nether who was powerful enough to directly shove him in. Lol, is he in such a hurry to reincarnate right after being released?

[Lin Moyan]: #TheologyNotes# Do all you seniors know this demon? (Shock! The Lord's script actually has such profound meaning! Is this... old acquaintances meeting?)

On the battlefield.

The extraterrestrial demon who called himself “this venerable one”.

— Mara.

Had already condensed a pitch-black demonic claw, capable of crushing mountains.

And was about to strike Su Ke Ke.

But just at this moment.

In his mind.

A voice that made his soul tremble rang out!

“Mara, you've gotten quite bold, haven't you? Daring to lay hands on someone the Lord fancies?”

— This voice, cold and domineering, was the Nine Nether Demon Lord!

“Little mudskipper, was this King's dragon egg delicious? Does this King need to send you another one, so you can taste what a Divine Dragon Swings Its Tail is like?”

— This voice, majestic with a hint of playfulness, was the King of Ten Thousand Dragons!

“Amitabha, Benefactor Mara, ten thousand years have passed, and your demonic nature has grown. I wonder if you would be willing to listen to this humble monk chant a passage of the Rebirth Mantra, to help you ascend to the Western Paradise sooner?”

— This voice, gentle yet containing supreme Buddhist might, was Buddha Huian!

“...”

One divine thought after another.

Like heavy hammers.

Slammed fiercely onto Mara's demonic soul.

His demonic claw, aimed at Su Ke Ke.

Stopped abruptly in mid-air.

On his massive demonic face.

The ferocity and madness instantly froze.

Replaced by extreme astonishment.

And then endless terror!

He... who had he provoked?

The Nine Nether Demon Lord? The King of Ten Thousand Dragons? Buddha Huian?

And another... an existence whose aura was unfathomable.

Even these big shots respected him?

A flood washing away the Dragon King Temple? No!

This was a drop of water rushing into a cosmic singularity!

After Mara's brain crashed for a thousandth of a second.

It immediately started working at a speed exceeding the speed of light.

He understood.

This seemingly only 3rd-tier little girl in front of him.

Was not some soft persimmon at all.

But the beloved darling collectively protected by this group of top cosmic big shots!

She was a princess they had placed here to “experience the mortal world” because they had nothing better to do!

The Jianghu isn't about fighting and killing; the Jianghu is about human relationships and social etiquette!

The next second.

A scene that left Su Ke Ke dumbfounded occurred.

That monstrous demonic aura.

Like a balloon that had been pricked.

Instantly vanished without a trace.

That colossal demonic body, reaching to the heavens and standing on the earth.

With a soft “poof” sound.

Transformed into a shifty-eyed, black-robed, lecherous old man.

The old man, in a standard “slide-kneel” posture.

Drew a blur in the air.

And stopped steadily three meters in front of Su Ke Ke.

“Oh my goodness!!”

Mara slapped his thigh.

His face was plastered with a fawning smile uglier than crying.

His voice even trembled.

“This humble demon was blind! This humble demon failed to recognize Mount Tai! Which immortal fairy is here undergoing tribulation and playing, and this humble demon has disturbed your elegant leisure. This humble demon deserves ten thousand deaths! Ten thousand deaths!”

As he spoke, he raised his hand.

And gave himself two loud slaps, “pa pa,” across his face.

The force was so great that he even slapped demonic blood from the corner of his mouth.

Su Ke Ke: “...”

She was completely stunned.

The prepared thunderous strike was thus held back in her hand.

Neither up nor down, extremely uncomfortable.

And in the Sea of Concepts.

Gu Jianghan looked at the live stream screen.

At this comical scene.

The corners of his “mouth” curved into a faint arc.

The system's prompt sounded at the opportune moment.

“Ding! Hidden course activated: “Introduction to Cosmic Sociology.””

“Course objective: To make actors understand that when your 'social circle' is strong enough, your name itself is the strongest weapon. True powerhouses never personally enter the fray.”

Seeing that Su Ke Ke didn't speak, Mara thought she was still angry.

Immediately, he was scared out of his wits and quickly pulled out treasures from his embrace.

He said eagerly:

“My lady! Immortal Fairy! Please don't be angry! This humble demon... this humble demon knows his mistake! To atone, this humble demon is willing to offer the supreme treasure he guarded for ten thousand years to my lady! It is a piece... a piece of the legendary 'World Tree' remnant root!”

“A remnant root of the World Tree?”

Su Ke Ke's brain crashed.

She had originally thought.

This was an epic duel between holiness and evil demons.

A glorious battle staking lives.

A legendary tale where justice, though scarred, had the last laugh.

The result... a 7th-tier extraterrestrial demon knelt before her.

Wanting to give her a legendary supreme treasure as an apology.

This huge information discrepancy.

Made her unable to react for a moment.

She just stood there blankly.

Looking at this lecherous old man in front of her, who was fierce and evil just a second ago.

But now was humble to the dust.

However.

Her silence.

In Mara's eyes.

Was interpreted as another meaning.

— Dissatisfaction! Extreme dissatisfaction!

This young lady with an unparalleled background.

Didn't even care for a remnant root of the World Tree!

Mara's heart suddenly contracted, and boundless fear.

Made him instantly burst forth with an astonishing will to survive.

The fawning smile on his face became even more exaggerated.

He slapped his forehead and said loudly:

“Oh dear! This humble demon was muddled! How can a mere remnant root be worthy of the Immortal Fairy's status! A Meeting gift (first meeting gift)! This is a first meeting gift from an elder to a junior, it's only right, only right!”

Before he finished speaking.

He was like an old father afraid his child would lose face in front of relatives.

He began frantically pulling things out of his storage space, shoving them all into Su Ke Ke's arms.

“Immortal Fairy! This is the ‘Ten Thousand Soul Blood Crystal’ that this humble demon has treasured for three thousand years! A great tonic! It's just a bit pungent, please bear with it!”

“And this! The ‘Netherworld Escape Light Talisman’! Use it with a slap in a crisis, it can instantly teleport you a thousand miles away, for running... cough, an essential good for strategic retreat!”

“This ‘Hundred Battles Demonic Armor’ is a bit ugly, but it's sturdy and durable, able to withstand a blow from a 6th-tier powerhouse without dying!”

“This! The skull goblet of an ancient demon monarch, drinking wine from it can temper your mind and ward off all evil!”

“And this book, ‘Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art,’ don't practice it, absolutely don't practice it! Just keep it as a collectible, or even use it to prop up a table!”

Su Ke Ke was so overwhelmed by this sudden enthusiasm that she kept backing away.

But Mara's speed was too fast.

She didn't have time to react at all.

Her arms, hands, and feet.

Even her neck was adorned with a circle of protective necklaces.

She was surrounded by a pile of “first meeting gifts” that shimmered with various colors and exuded a strong demonic aura.

In the live stream room.

It had long since dissolved into an ocean of laughter.

[Nine Nether Demon Lord]: Hahahaha! This brute, he's pulled out all his bottom-of-the-box junk! That skull goblet, he treasured it like his eyeballs back then, he'd get angry with anyone who touched it, and he's willing to part with it today?

[King of Ten Thousand Dragons]: This King is dying of laughter! This isn't giving gifts, this is making offerings! @Nine Nether Demon Lord, your little brother is well-trained, his will to survive is very strong!

[Lin Moyan]: #TheologyNotes# I understand! I completely understand! The Lord is showing us the supreme law of ‘deterrence monetization’!

[Lin Moyan]: Through invisible deterrence, potential enemies are transformed into ‘worshippers,’ completing the most primitive capital accumulation without a single soldier or effort! What a brilliant method! The Lord's wisdom is as deep as the abyss!

[Abyss Lord]: Donated 6000 points! Mara, the top benefactor! Families, type ‘Impressive’ in the public chat!

Seeing that he was about to be emptied out.

Mara secretly glanced at Su Ke Ke.

And found that she still had a “blank” expression.

He dared not stay for another second.

What if this young lady reacted.

And felt the gifts weren't enough, demanding his old life as compensation?

“Immortal Fairy!”

Mara suddenly bowed ninety degrees, his voice loud and sincere.

“This humble demon will not disturb your elegant leisure! Green mountains remain, green waters flow, we shall meet again... No! We shall never meet again! This humble demon takes his leave!”

After speaking.

With an agility completely unsuited to his aging body.

He casually tore open a pitch-black spatial rift.

And stumbled and crawled headfirst into it.

The rift closed with a “snap” instantly.

As if fearing that if it were a second late.

He would be pulled out by an invisible large hand from within.

The entire Ghost Realm instantly returned to silence.

Only Su Ke Ke remained, disheveled in the wind.

Standing amidst a large pile of demonic treasures.

In the Sea of Concepts.

The corners of Gu Jianghan's “mouth” carried a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

This farce, directed by him.

The outcome was even more interesting than he had expected.

“Ding! Course “Introduction to Cosmic Sociology” over-completed.”

“Streamer Su Ke Ke has successfully mastered the ‘deterrence monetization’ technique and completed ‘primitive capital accumulation.’ The props and resources for the next stage of the script have been distributed.”

On the battlefield.

Su Ke Ke finally recovered from the immense shock.

She looked at the pile beneath her feet.

Treasures that could be considered the lifelong pursuit of demonic cultivators, and she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

She bent down and first picked up the item that started it all.

— That seemingly unremarkable “World Tree remnant root.”

However.

When her fingertips touched the rough bark.

A flood of information did not surge into her mind.

Instead, on the seemingly dead root's Section (cross-section).

With divine radiance, it outlined a fleeting.

Yet incredibly precise star map coordinate!

That coordinate pointed to a completely unfamiliar dark void.

And on the other side of the world.

Lay a mysterious place that had never been discovered.