Death... and me

Back at Koran Forest, Rean's group had finally reached the inner core region where only Demon Beasts at Stage Three and above lived. Their first task was to find a good enough place where they could let the kids live. That being said, Kentucky flew through the region, looking for the best place.

"Hey, look over there!" Rean said as he pointed in a certain direction. Roan and Kentucky immediately turned their heads just to see a valley entrance. Following that, the three looked at each other and nodded.

Kentucky quickly changed direction and flew in the valley's direction. Once they passed between the mountains, Rean deactivated his Light and Spiritual Sense bending ability, revealing their group's presence.

"Is it really okay to appear this early?" Rean asked as he looked at Roan.

"Yes." Roan nodded in response. "We already know that the territories of the Inner Region definitely have their bosses. This valley, on top of that, seems the perfect place for one of them to live in. Since we need to fight for the territory, we might as well arrive with a bang."

The demon beasts in the valley noticed the newcomers, noticing that their level was definitely above their own, especially Kentucky. Kentucky's Stage Five aura was in full display, making most of them run away.

*Tremble!*

Though, not long after, the ground began to shake as a Spiritual Sense passed through Rean's group location and said, 'Who gave you permission to enter this valley?!'

Sure enough, Roan was right. The local Demon Beast boss really lived there. As expected, he was in the Stage Five level. That's why Rean's group could understand his Spiritual Sense Message. One must remember that a demon beast could only talk with words at Stage Six, so this one could only use its Spiritual Sense.

Rean and Roan looked at Kentucky as they nodded. Soon after, they jumped down and let Kentucky land a few hundred meters ahead. It just so happened that Kentucky stopped in front of a big cave by the side of one of the mountains that made up the valley.

After that, Kentucky opened his wings before answering the Spiritual Sense with his own, responding in an imposing manner, 'I'm here to take over this valley and the surrounding territory. From today onwards, this is my home. Do you have a problem?'

*Moooooooo!* 'To think that a puny Initial Stage Five Demon beast would dare challenge me for my valley. You sure have the guts, chicken!'

*Tremble, tremble, tremble...*

The sound of heavy steps came from the cave as they made the ground quake. From the looks of it, the demon beast inside there was quite big. Eventually, a shadow appeared at the entrance, revealing the body of the creature.

'It's a Blue-Scaled Mountain Bull,' Kentucky thought for a moment.

However, before Kentucky could say anything, the creature pounced forward, trying to collide against Kentucky's body. The Demon Bull was quite confident since it had a cultivation level of Late Stage Five. Its high defense and strength were definitely above most demon beasts at the same level, let alone one two stages below.

Surprisingly, Kentucky just snorted and said, 'Hmph! You want to compare defense against me?!' Naturally, in a contest of resistance, Kentucky was very confident. His feathers turned sharp like blades as the scales under them hardened within an instant. Light and dark flames burst out of his body, increasing his power even more. Kentucky's open wings then flapped right after, creating a huge gust of wind that sent everything behind him flying as he shot forward. Kentucky planned to take the Demon Bull head-on!

'Courting death!' The bull, of course, wouldn't go back on a contest of strength. The bull's horns then filled with Earth Element, hardening even more. At the same time, it seemed like the water in the air condensed, forming some kind of mist around him. Obviously, that was a Water element ability.

'As expected, most demon beasts and Zasfins really have a Water element affinity or use the Water element as their second choice after their cultivation becomes high enough to control two elements,' Rean and Roan thought as they looked at the bull's attack.

Of course, Kentucky didn't hold back either. His body turned into a meteor of light and dark Flames that expanded even more as the distance between him and the enemy decreased. 'Hmph! Who the hell would court that guy? You must be crazy!'

Roan's mouth twitched for a moment, but he didn't say anything as he thought, 'I should really fry that chicken.'

And so, the two sides reached each other.

*Boom!*

*Moooooooo!*

In the next second, all Rean, Roan, and the other demon beasts in the area could see was a Blue-Scaled Mountain Bull flying back like a comet. Light and dark flames also spread around his body, covering it completely.

*Bang!*

*Crumble!*

The bull then hit the side of the mountain, making multiple boulders lose their support and fall over him. Of course, due to the Demon Bull's size, those boulders didn't do much damage. At least not as much as what Kentucky did.

Kentucky then glided down in front of the Mountain Bull with a look of disdain on his face, saying through a Spiritual Sense message, 'Hmph! There isn't a single Demon Beast at Stage Five who can beat me in a contest of defense and power. You should have left when I told you to do so.'

The crumbled boulders then began to move aside as the Blue-Scaled Mountain Bull slowly got up. Nevertheless, he didn't seem scared, just angry. 'I've lived in this valley for over three hundred years! I don't mind losing in a territorial fight to another demon beast. After all, those are the rules. However, I absolutely won't give my valley to someone's pet.'

Kentucky narrowed his eyes, responding with a question, 'Someone's pet? What are you talking about?'

The Demon Bull snorted as he replied, 'Do you think my Spiritual Sense can't see it? Those two humans back there came with you, and they have Nascent Soul Realm cultivations. Not to mention that they were riding you. Don't you feel ashamed as a demon beast?' For a wild Demon Beast like this bull, the concept of serving someone was disgusting. He simply couldn't accept he lost to a demon beast with owners.

However, Kentucky laughed out loud before turned his head back. 'Hey, the two idiots over there. Come here right now!'

Rean and Roan knew that the time to start the play arrived. The two then quickly came to Kentucky's side when out of nowhere.

*Bang, Bang!*

Kentucky stepped on their heads, forcing the two to kiss the ground. Following that, Kentucky asked, 'Tell this idiot here. Who ' your owner?'

Rean and Roan felt like beating the chicken to death at this instant. However, to keep the secret, they had to bear with it. "Master Kentucky is our owner. We serve him. Please, Master, don't kill us!"

'Hahaha! Well said!' Soon after, Kentucky kicked them away as if they were trash before looking at the Mountain Bull's dumbfounded expression. 'Who the hell said that only their side can become masters? Their garbage lives are in my hands. As long as I wish it, they die instantly.'

The Mountain Bull looked at Rean and Roan and could tell with his Spiritual Sense that Kentucky's actions broke quite a few bones of the two. Kentucky didn't inflict any fatal damage, but the way he treated them was definitely brutal. 'Then...why did you let them ride on your back?'

'Because they're too slow, idiot! Do you think a Nascent Soul Realm human could ever fly faster than a Demon Bird at the same level? Ha! What a joke!' Kentucky truly deserved an oscar...if he wasn't enjoying that situation, of course. Just when would he be able to kick Roan without receiving retaliation again? As for Rean, Kentucky felt a little bad for him, but he had to treat both equally. Nevertheless, Kentucky thought it was really worth it. That was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get back at Roan, even if just a little.

Kentucky then looked at Rean and Roan with disdain before continuing, 'If not because their cultivation is still of some use for me, they would be dead already. Well, at the very least, they can be used as low-level guards.'

The Demon Bull sighed as he looked at Kentucky with a new light. 'Brother, I have to say, I'm proud of being defeated by you.' Sure enough, the bull had to respect Kentucky for his feats. 'I will leave this valley for you, but...'

'But?' Kentucky's expression didn't look good when he saw that the Bull wasn't leaving straight away.

Knowing that he wasn't a match for Kentucky, the Demon Bull swallowed some saliva before continuing, 'It's just that all the territories around have been taken already. Would you mind letting me live on the other side of this territory? There's another Spiritual Vein there with almost the same quality as the one inside this cave. It would help me a lot if I could still use it.' The Demon Bull then sent Kentucky a Spiritual Sense message, showing the location of the other Spiritual Vein.

Rean's group felt their hearts tremble for a brief moment. 'Spiritual Vein!'

Fortunately, Kentucky quickly recovered as he waited for Rean and Roan to tell their decision. Of course, he was discussing with the twins to get to a unanimous decision. Eventually, Kentucky looked at the Demon Bull before saying, 'Alright, but you have to stay away from my valley.'

The Demon Bull sighed in relief as he nodded, responding, 'That's not a problem.'

After that, he warned Kentucky about something else. 'Oh, right! The other Stage Five Demon Beasts will soon find out about your arrival. That being said, I'm sure some will come to pay you a visit or challenge you. Just be careful with the Blue Luan. He's the only Stage Six Demon Beast and the leader of our Koran Forest. Try not to annoy him.'