The combination of the big tiger and Evie was very intimidating. Inexperienced low-level cultivators could easily be frightened by a demon beast that could speak. And riding the big tiger for travel was undoubtedly very appealing.

The journey to The Vermilion Guild headquarters was long. Leaf Gray didn't know how long it would take to arrive. If he could ride the big tiger, he could save energy on the road and even cultivate. For him, this was a very good choice.

After all, his cultivation was still low now, and improving his strength was the priority. If he traveled on his own, he wouldn't be able to cultivate on the road, wasting a lot of time.

He originally hadn't planned to take this spirit and tiger along. Telling Evie she had three sentences to convince him was just an excuse; he initially intended to refuse no matter what Evie said.

But now he found that Evie's words had somewhat swayed him...

"How about it? How about it?" Evie looked at Leaf Gray, her eyes eager, afraid he would utter a 'no'.

"It's not entirely impossible..."

Before Evie could cheer, Leaf Gray changed his tone: "But we must agree on three rules!"

Evie didn't understand: "What three rules?"

Leaf Gray raised one finger: "First, I take the lead in everything. If we disagree on something, you must listen to me."

Evie nodded: "That's fine." Having decided to seek refuge with Leaf Gray, she and the big tiger were mentally prepared for this.

"Second, sometimes I might ask you to do things. Within your capabilities, you cannot refuse. Of course, I won't ask you to do life-threatening things. If such a situation arises, you can make your own judgment based on the circumstances."

"Okay."

"Third, if one day you don't want to stay anymore, just let me know. Don't leave without a word."

"We won't." Evie shook her head.

"If all these are acceptable, then... pleasant cooperation?" Leaf Gray extended a hand towards Evie.

Evie tilted her head, looking at him with a puzzled expression, but still extended her own hand, imitating him. Leaf Gray grasped it and shook it gently.

Evie understood his meaning, squinting and smiling: "Pleasant cooperation!"

The big tiger behind her also let out an 'Awoo!'.

Evie jumped onto the big tiger's head, looked at Leaf Gray and said, "As a token of sincerity for our cooperation, I have a benefit to give you!"

"Benefit?"

Evie uttered the words, and Leaf Gray immediately became interested.

******

Deep within Jade Mountain, in an area adjacent to the big tiger's territory, led by the big tiger and Evie, Leaf Gray arrived before a very well-hidden cave entrance.

The entrance was obscured by large patches of weeds and overgrown bushes. It would be hard to discover this cave entrance without familiarity with the terrain.

"Is this it?" Leaf Gray peered into the cave; it was pitch black inside, and he couldn't see anything.

"Mm." Evie and the big tiger led the way, signaling Leaf Gray to follow.

Leaf Gray, with the long knife at his waist, kept his hand on the hilt, ready to deal with any sudden situations at any moment.

According to Evie, a snake-type demon beast lurked deep in this cave. She and the big tiger had ventured here once and suffered a loss at the hands of that snake demon, but they also discovered a secret because of it.

That secret was the benefit she mentioned giving to Leaf Gray.

The cave sloped downward. Leaf Gray felt he had descended at least several dozen zhang underground, yet still hadn't reached the end, showing the depth of this cave.

And here, he no longer felt coolness; instead, waves of hot air continuously surged from ahead.

The further they went, the stronger the hot air became.

Evie had already started panting heavily and finally stopped: "I can't go further inside." She was, after all, a spirit body, and this scorching environment was very unfriendly to her.

Leaf Gray suddenly understood: "The last time you were injured, was it because you came here?"

Evie nodded: "That thing only exists here. Amber will go in with you. The snake demon's strength isn't very high. With the big tiger cooperating with you, you should be able to handle it."

"Then wait here." Leaf Gray nodded and continued on with the big tiger.

After walking forward for a long time more, Leaf Gray suspected he might be a hundred zhang deep underground. The scorching air here was intense to the extreme. Even with Leaf Gray channeling spiritual power to protect himself, he felt unbearably hot. As for the big tiger, it was panting with its tongue out, listless, looking like a heat-stricken dog.

A moment later, they finally reached the end.

It was an underground cavern, the space not small. Standing at the cave entrance, Leaf Gray immediately saw a large snake coiled deep in the cavern. The snake's body was probably as thick as his thigh, its length unknown. It held its head high, breathing in and out towards a small tree about half a person's height.

The small tree was entirely red, like a red-hot branding iron. It bore two fruits the size of a baby's fist. An oddly clear fragrance permeated the entire cavern.

Barrier Breaking Fruit!

This was the benefit Evie had mentioned earlier.

If it were an ordinary item, given Leaf Gray's current wealth, it might not tempt him. But Barrier Breaking Fruit was different. This thing was extremely useful for cultivators impacting aperture barriers. One could say that as long as the apertures weren't fully opened, it would always be useful.

Leaf Gray had consumed a Barrier Breaking Fruit once; his promotion to the Spirit Creek Realm was entirely thanks to that fruit. So when Evie mentioned it, he became interested.

The Barrier Breaking Fruit Evie gave him last time was snatched from here. She was a spirit body, coming and going without a trace. Although the snake demon occupied this place, it couldn't guard against her.

However, the environment here was extremely harmful to her. Last time, if she hadn't been desperate, Evie wouldn't have risked coming here.

In the end, although she got the fruit, Evie was weakened for many days before recovering.

She and the big tiger already had some grievances with this snake demon. Previously, their strength wasn't enough for revenge. Now, with Leaf Gray as a backer, and about to leave, Evie naturally wanted to settle scores and grievances.

At the same time, it would allow Leaf Gray to obtain two Barrier Breaking Fruits, deepening their mutual goodwill and making their cooperative relationship more solid. It could be called killing two birds with one stone.

The snake demon coiled its body, using its serpentine form to conceal and surround the Barrier Breaking Fruit tree in the center. Its highly raised head breathed in and out, visible fiery red spiritual energy flowing into its mouth and nostrils, seemingly cultivating.

The two uninvited guests disturbed it.

With a roar from the big tiger, the snake demon sharply raised its head, tongue flickering.

The big tiger pounced forward like a gust of wind. However, the next moment, the snake demon shot out, opened its mouth, and bit the big tiger on the neck.

The big tiger cried out in pain, roaring, and likewise bit the snake's abdomen. But their strengths were unequal. The big tiger was bitten until bloody, while the snake remained unharmed.

A fiery red demonic power spread over the snake demon's body surface, forming a protective layer that made it difficult for the big tiger to bite through.

In their first encounter, the imposing big tiger suffered a great loss. Moreover, the snake's several-zhang-long body swiftly wrapped around it, instantly trapping the big tiger like a zongzi.

Instant defeat! Although both were demon beasts, there was a significant gap in their strength.

Fortunately, there was still Leaf Gray. While the big tiger pounced, he used its body as cover to charge forward.

Now, as the two fierce creatures were entangled, it was the perfect time to strike.

As the long knife left its sheath, Leaf Gray channeled spiritual power into the blade, enhancing it with the Sharpness spirit pattern. Instantly, a flash of bright blade light, blood splattered.