The Demon Chief stubbornly remained hidden by the lakeside, his concealment growing ever more flawless.

Little did he know that on the opposite shore, there existed someone even more adept at lying low than him.

Whether in terms of duration of concealment or the complete erasure of his presence, this figure could truly be called a senior!

Deep within the reeds, several mounds of earth dotted the shoreline.

Varying in size, they had endured years of wind and rain, their surfaces hardened into compact masses, resembling miniature mountain peaks—undeniable marks of time’s passage.

Within the most inconspicuous of these mounds, the Destroyer of the World had lain hidden for several years.

Wild grass had sprouted atop his head, growing a full three zhang tall, even blooming with a few yellow flowers.

He had completely merged with the riverside environment; even if someone stood right beside him, they would struggle to notice his presence. At this moment, his gaze was fixed on a distant island, everything around him fading into insignificance.

Another clear and sunny day.

The Destroyer of the World murmured softly, a trace of restlessness flickering in his eyes.

"Why haven’t the great ones returned yet?"

"It seems this island is more troublesome than I imagined."

At this thought, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of shame for his earlier agitation.

"Ah, my mental fortitude is still lacking."

"To think that after merely waiting here for a few years, I’ve already grown unsettled—utterly unacceptable! The great ones are likely still fighting tooth and nail for our cause, enduring hardships a thousand times worse than mine, facing challenges beyond imagination..."

"I can’t even contribute the slightest effort, merely waiting here with ease, yet I lack the patience even for that. How shameful! If the great ones were to learn of my fickle state of mind, how could I ever face them again?"

Steeling his thoughts, his gaze hardened with resolve.

"Right. Since I’ve already waited for years, I must not waver now—lest all my efforts go to waste. With such a weak mindset, how could I ever achieve greatness?"

Nodding to himself, his expression grew unshakably firm.

"Yes. I’ll wait till the end!"

After this silent pep talk, the Destroyer of the World completely suppressed his aura, his eyes locked onto the distant island.

In the blink of an eye, two days had passed.

At the heart of the Black Domain, $2utside a spatial rift, the ground was littered with the remains of demonic corpses.

There were large-eyed monstrosities of peculiar appearance, along with a group of muscular fiends freshly cut down, their bodies nearly filling the periphery of the rift—a truly spectacular sight.

The last of the barbaric tribes collapsed, terror flashing in its eyes as its massive frame toppled over.

"Not bad..."

Yi Feng sheathed his cleaver, a pleased grin spreading across his face.

These two batches of monsters, though hideous in appearance, had provided an absurd amount of experience. In total, fewer than three hundred of them had just leveled him up again.

The title of "elite experience piñatas" was well-deserved.

Never judge a book by its cover—this applied to demons as well.

Yi Feng hadn’t expected these bizarre-looking creatures to yield such unexpectedly rich rewards. Delight and satisfaction danced in his eyes, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation.

"If a few more waves come, that’d be even better."

His light chuckle echoed as one of the dying muscle-bound monsters widened its eyes in horror.

"Devil...!"

With that final cry, it breathed its last.

Its lifeless eyes remained frozen in a mix of resentment and dread.

Yi Feng observed the scene with indifference, not even bothering to acknowledge it. Instead, he pitched a small tent nearby, settling in for the long haul—eating, sleeping, and even relieving himself on-site—determined not to let a single demon slip past.

Experience was secondary; his true mission was safeguarding the peace of Cloud Star.

---

Meanwhile, on Dark Shadow Island, $2he suburban construction site buzzed with activity.

Laborers hauled bricks and built walls with feverish intensity, working harder than ever before.

Even under the scorching midday sun, not a single one paused to rest.

Sweat poured freely, and the atmosphere reeked of relentless competition.

Amid the overtime hustle, a figure suddenly shot into the sky, hovering midair as uproarious laughter rang out, accompanied by an overwhelming aura!

"Hahaha! I’ve broken through! I’ve finally, truly reached the Heavenly Tier!"

Xiong Fen roared with exhilaration, his beard and hair whipping wildly in the wind.

For years, he had been stuck at the peak of the Saint Realm, unable to advance further. Only through the aid of elixirs had he barely scraped the threshold of the Half-Step Heavenly Tier. Now, he had finally crossed into the true Heavenly Tier—his lifelong dream realized.

What seemed like a negligible gap was, in truth, a chasm as vast as heaven and earth.

This euphoric sensation was unlike anything Xiong Fen had ever experienced. His body brimmed with the power of the Great Dao, and his spirit overflowed with unshakable confidence—as if he could annihilate entire realms with a mere wave of his hand!

On the ground below, $2iong Zhong, clad in a hard hat, watched with burning pride, his eyes shining with admiration.

At last, $2heir father-son duo had risen above their struggles!

His father’s breakthrough within mere days proved their earlier suspicions correct—working on Dark Shadow Island was an unimaginable opportunity, a blessing they had never dared dream of.

Feeling the surging Dao power within himself, Xiong Zhong grew even more excited.

The majestic figure of his father, floating triumphantly in the sky, seemed like a glimpse of his own future—a future where he, too, would stand above all!

With such an inspiring role model before him, Xiong Zhong couldn’t contain his reverence.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Father! Your son is honored by your example and vows to follow in your footsteps!"

Xiong Fen’s spirits soared at these words, his paternal pride swelling.

As he descended, father and son shared a triumphant laugh, their excitement impossible to suppress.

"Good! Good!"

"Hahahaha—!"

Their laughter showed no signs of stopping as they reveled in their moment of glory.

Up on the scaffolding, the seasoned workers exchanged exasperated glances, clicking their tongues in amusement.

"Really?"

"Tch, Heavenly Tier? Big deal. Aunt Liu from the square-dancing group next door hit that ages ago. Who even brags about that level anymore, let alone makes such a scene?"

"Eh, newbies are always like this. A tiny bit of progress and they lose their minds."

"Yeah, they’ll probably relapse soon enough. Bet they’ll get locked up again in a few days..."