Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Mao Jin, the little demons in your cave couldn't truly be starving, right?"

The girl with black patterns on her face also spoke up to help.

Mao Jin: "..."

"Brother, even if the little demon in our cave is useless, it's impossible that not one of them could lift it. There might be something tricky in this block of ice."

While the leading rat demon was choosing his words, the male fox spirit secretly transmitted his thoughts again.

Since Little White and Zhuzhu had entered the scene, the Demon Kings in this cave had been busy checking them out and urging them not to leave.

About the huge ice man being carried on the Husky's shoulders, one of the Demon Kings had grow curious and asked, but Little White had explained it was her own quirk, she just liked to eat things frozen, which threw them off the scent.

So, no one paid too much attention.

After all, the person inside the ice didn't emit any spiritual power waves, looking no different from a mortal.

"Little White, that Fox Spirit is suspicious of you again."

Jin Xu, lying atop the little demon, quietly acted as an informant.

"Temple master, just watch."

The Husky replied to the young Taoist, and continued speaking.

"Brother Mao Jin, it's not that I want to undermine you, but the Mystic Ice talent of my Snow Wolf Clan is indeed a bit heavy. I didn't expect that the demons in your cave couldn't even carry it. If I were you, tsk tsk tsk..."

Little White was fully in character, doing her best to mimic a demon pet of a powerful boss.

"Hehe, it seems I've provided some entertainment for everyone here. Second Brother, go help Sister Xue move this frozen man to the back, let's not dampen everyone's spirits."

The rat demon chuckled dryly, speaking to the male fox spirit beside him.

"Check it when you reach the back kitchen cave, to see if there's anything wrong."

Mao Jin secretly transmitted another message.

The young Taoist on the ground listened to this without any panic.

The civilians detained in this cave were in the kitchen cave. By the time they got there and the others wanted to check for problems, it would probably be too late.

Jin Xu, leisurely musing, suddenly heard a robust voice arise.

"Second Brother, I am a Body Cultivator known for my strength; let me do it. I also want to see just how heavy the Mystic Ice of the Snow Wolf Clan really is."

It was the sturdy man with bull horns, holding a cup of wine, his honest face showing a hint of curiosity as he spoke.

"This..."

The male fox spirit hesitated a bit, blinking his eyes.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, there might be something wrong with this ice. Elder Hu is a Magic Cultivator and might not be able to guard against any mechanisms inside the ice if he's too close. My physical body is strong and fearless of such things; let me handle it."

The Ox Demon secretly transmitted to the rat demon and the fox spirit.

After exchanging glances, Mao Jin and the other discussed something silently, then responded to the burly man with bull horns with another secret message.

Then, the one called Elder Hu kindly spoke up: "Since Brother Ban is willing to take over, then we'll trouble you."

Jin Xu, lying on the back of the little demon, overheard this secret transmission between the three Demon Kings.

These rat and fox demons had known each other for years, having always been in Ten Bamboo Cave and were among the earliest to form a brotherhood. Although the Ox Demon had only arrived ten years ago, placing him a step below in closeness, his high cultivation and straightforward, reliable actions had won over the rat and the fox, who even placed him in the position of one of the Three Generations of Kings to calm his mind and secure his loyalty.

"Tsk, the three of them are even forming factions, almost like back in the dorms at high school with six people in five groups."

The young Taoist mused internally, already having been lifted off the ground by the burly man with the horns, being carried on his shoulders towards the back kitchen cave.

As for the little demon on the ground, Mao Jin seemed to disdain it for embarrassing him, impatiently waving his hand to have other little demons quickly drag it away.

If it weren't for the presence of so many outsiders today, he probably would have eaten it on the spot.

The interlude came to an end.

At the banquet, the demon kings resumed the jovial passing of cups and clinking of glasses.

The leading demon king, Mao Jin, continued to engage everyone with trivial matters. As for the plan to attack the county on the first of September, he was not in a hurry to mention it, as if he was waiting for someone to arrive.

Seeing that the temple master had been successfully carried off to the kitchen, Little White knew his task had been accomplished and began to boast.

The tales of the Demon Realm he casually mentioned left these wild demon kings baffled.

However, boastful as he might have been, he didn't touch any of the food or drinks on the table.

...

A minotaur bearing the icy form of Jin Xu weaved through the convoluted cave passages.

En route, the young Taoist inside the ice saw numerous human skeletons discarded carelessly in the corners. It seemed that the demon creatures of these caves had been preying on the populace.

"Three Generations of Kings."

"Greetings, Three Generations of Kings."

It wasn't far from the banquet cave to the kitchen cave. As the minotaur entered with Jin Xu, two small demons busy boiling water and chopping firewood stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Hmm, good work. Keep it up and I'll reward you with a thigh later," the minotaur casually praised.

"Yes! Three Generations of Kings!"

The minotaur continued deeper into the cave with the young Taoist.

This kitchen cave was divided into three sections, the outermost was equipped with large pots, firewood, and kitchen utensils, presumably for cooking. The middle was a small room, storing firewood, oil, spices, and other miscellaneous items—the demons were quite particular about their meals.

The deepest part of the cave was the largest and was used for storing "ingredients."

As the minotaur reached the middle cave with Jin Xu, he could already hear the faint sobbing of villagers inside.

The young Taoist extended his Spiritual Sense and discovered that the innermost cave held hundreds of men, women, and children, all terrified, with tears in their eyes.

Having reached this spot, Jin Xu felt it was time to take action.

However, just as he was about to break out of the ice, the minotaur suddenly stopped in the middle cave and set him down.

Following this, the ox demon waved his hand and set up a Sound-Proof Spiritual Power Shield.

"Come out, lad. I know you wish to save the people in this lair, but whether you are a Loose Cultivator who cannot stand injustice or a disciple of a major sect acting heroically, I'm afraid you won't be able to do so today," the ox demon said assuredly, showing no hesitation. Even his honest-looking face bore a hint of cruelty.

"Crack."

As cracks appeared in the ice, Jin Xu moved slightly, shattering the Mystic Ice around him. He shrugged his shoulders to shake off the shards of ice.

He then gave the ox demon a bright, radiant smile.

After hesitating for a moment, he chose to use the familiar "Hand Palm Thunder."

Golden arcs of thunder spread from Jin Xu's hand, as if he was conjuring a golden sun.

The ox demon's expression stiffened, and he was just bluffing—how did this man actually come out from the ice!

What was this terrifying aura of Spiritual Power all about!

The young Taoist had no time to worry about what the minotaur was thinking. He lightly pressed his foot down, leapt up slightly, and lunged his raised right hand towards the ox's horn below.

The mind of the ox-headed warrior went blank, and in this critical moment!

He shouted out loud.

"Taoist master, spare my life, I am undercover!!!"

Jin Xu in mid-air: "Huh?!"