Chapter 103: Oh... Not bad, huh? [Second update, how about a tip?]

"Ah..."

A blood-curdling, desperate scream suddenly echoed through the quiet and gloomy mountain forest. It was the wail of Rong Momo and Cao Dan.

"What is happening? How is this possible?" The Lady of White Bones, seated within the crimson bridal sedan chair, voiced her surprise. She was utterly shocked; how could her subordinates be dead? Had the protective charms failed?

"Heh... interesting. If even this couldn't kill them, then things are starting to get fun," the Thousand-Year Tree Demon, sitting inside his carriage, sneered. "The Zhang family from the Xiangxi Safe Zone is always a bit troublesome to deal with; after all, they are an ancient clan capable of raising Corpse Kings. The others are not worth worrying about."

The Lady of White Bones raised her eyes to scan the dilapidated temple not far away. They had been riddled with holes like a honeycomb—how were they still alive?

*BOOM!*

Suddenly, a scorching heat wave swept through the surroundings. The massive vines and white bones were blasted into fragments, and the entire temple was reduced to ash. Amidst the billowing dust, several figures stood perfectly unharmed.

"It is time to let you witness my true strength." Beside Zhang Tianling stood a long-haired corpse covered in eerie talismans. Its upper body was bare, wreathed in corpse aura, and it radiated an intense, regal presence.

"I was right," the Lady of White Bones remarked, somewhat speechless.

"You really are a jinx. It's just a one-star quasi-Corpse King—hardly worth looking at," the Thousand-Year Tree Demon boasted arrogantly.

"It is time to let you witness my true strength," Gong Juechen declared. His body was enveloped in purple energy, and the iron hammer in his hand pulsed with immense power.

"That is the 'Purple Qi Coming from the East'—a secret technique of the Gong family." The Lady of White Bones was surprised to see the hammer and the purple aura.

"The Gong family might have been something a thousand years ago, but they have declined. There is no need to fear them," the Tree Demon said coldly. "But you, Xiaoqian, to think you would follow such a mediocre boy. It truly makes me lose my glasses. Come here, Xiaoqian, Uncle will take care of you. Humans and demons are meant for different paths."

"No! I don't want to help you harm people anymore. I was a human once; it was the Lady of White Bones who killed me, turning me into her maid and a demon."

So, this little bone demon was named Ma Xiaoqian. It was impressive that she had the courage to say no. Luffy smiled; she looked truly adorable. He patted her shoulder to calm her nerves.

"Oh man... this Xiaoqian is too cute. It's a pity she's following a mortal. Throughout history, there have been many examples of the divide between humans and demons—like Fahai and Xu Xian." The Tree Demon pondered.

"You got it wrong, that was Xu Xian and the White Snake," the Lady of White Bones said, exasperated.

"Oh, I misremembered. My apologies. Come quickly, Xiaoqian. Uncle will treat you well. Don't stay with a mortal; they only know how to use sweet words to deceive girls," the Thousand-Year Tree Demon said with a sinister grin.

"No! You are the bad guy. This young brother didn't lie to me." Ma Xiaoqian gritted her teeth and hid behind Luffy, speaking timidly.

"Damn it, little bone demon, you had better come over here, or I will wipe out your little man in the next instant," the Thousand-Year Tree Demon threatened, his tone vicious.

"He is not my 'little man,' he is my savior. He is a thousand times more powerful than you. You had better run, or you will die," Ma Xiaoqian said earnestly, her voice sounding sweet and adorable.

"Haha... Xiaoqian, listen to me and come back. I will treat you well and never make you kill again, how about that?" The Lady of White Bones offered with a gentle, kindly smile.

"Uh..." Luffy was speechless. He didn't know what they were playing at. Ma Xiaoqian wasn't even a powerful demon; what was there to persuade? If they wanted her, they should just use force. He didn't know what kind of conspiracy these two quasi-demon kings were plotting.

"No, no, no!" Ma Xiaoqian hid behind Luffy.

Gong Juechen walked up to Luffy and bowed respectfully. "I didn't expect you to be him. I'm embarrassed about earlier; I was just..." Gong Juechen looked awkward. He had been posturing in front of the man he was pretending to be—he must have looked ridiculous. He felt utterly mortified.

"I really didn't expect this either," Zhang Tianling said, also walking toward Luffy in disbelief.

"Wow..." He Xueqi glared at Gong Juechen. How could this guy be so detestable, pretending to be her idol and even stealing her first kiss? And to be embarrassed in front of her true idol—it was just too shameful.

"Are these humans stupid? Why are they following a common mortal?" The Lady of White Bones was completely bewildered.

"Haha... they must have crap in their eyes, mistaking a piece of trash for someone impressive," the Thousand-Year Tree Demon laughed cruelly.

*BOOM!*

Suddenly, a massive vine erupted from the ground, lashing toward the boy. The Thousand-Year Tree Demon, being cunning, had launched a sneak attack to eliminate him.

"Haha... pathetic!" The Tree Demon cackled wildly.

Everyone was shocked. They hadn't expected the Thousand-Year Tree Demon to be so shameless—a being of such power resorting to a sneak attack.

"Ah..." Ma Xiaoqian cried out in terror as she saw Luffy's figure swallowed by the vines.

However, Luffy's figure was indeed gone. It was unclear where he had vanished to.

The Tree Demon froze. "No way? That move should have impaled him. Is it impossible that even his physical body is gone? Did I use too much force? Did I suddenly become stronger? Or was that kid just too weak?"

"He was too weak," the Lady of White Bones said coldly.

"How is that possible?" Gong Juechen was stunned. Was the legend fake? Was Luffy just a man with an empty reputation? He was left dazed.

"Damn, did he really just die?" Zhang Tianling was speechless. Luffy had been so powerful just a moment ago—was he killed in an instant?

"Where did he go? He can't be dead, he can't be," Ma Xiaoqian murmured, searching desperately, standing frozen in sorrow.

"Haha... too weak," the Tree Demon said coldly. "All of you, go to hell!"

With a cold shout, countless pitch-black vines erupted from the ground. Unlike the previous ones, these were black, hard as iron thorns, and incredibly sharp. To be struck by them meant certain death. The Thousand-Year Tree Demon had truly unleashed his power.

"Get back!" Gong Juechen said solemnly. He slammed his iron hammer into the ground. With a burst of purple energy, the strike was overwhelmingly powerful, causing the ground around them to cave in and shattering all the hard, black vines.

"Oh... not bad," the Tree Demon remarked, surprised.