Chapter 269: Collecting Debts

Lushan, one of China's top ten famous mountains, is also recognized as one of the "Three Mountains and Five Sacred Mountains," holding a highly esteemed position.

Recently, Lushan has drawn attention from various factions. Though many kings have vied for control, none have succeeded in taking possession of it.

At this moment, heavy snow falls like goose feathers, blanketing the area in silver and white.

Without this ice and snow, Lushan would be magnificent and beautiful, with lush greenery, countless waterways, and most famously, its waterfalls. Mountains and water blend together to create a stunning landscape.

The poetic imagery of "the sun shining on Incense Burner Peak produces purple smoke; from afar, a waterfall appears to hang before the river" is now nowhere to be seen. Everything is covered in white snow, and even the waterfalls are frozen.

"Oh, this snow is too much! I, the old donkey, have lived for hundreds of years and never seen such strange snow!" Donkey King bared his teeth, and white mist poured from his mouth.

Now it was calm, knowing it wouldn't be eaten by the Devil King Chu. Its heart had fully returned to its chest, and it focused on being the Yellow Ox's mount.

Upon entering the Lushan area, the temperature plummeted, becoming terrifyingly cold.

"Whoa! This isn't goose-feather snow, it's clearly human-head snow!" the Black Ox bellowed. Some of the snowflakes falling from the sky were startlingly large, nearly half a foot long, landing on his head.

"Grrr..." The Siberian Tiger simply transformed into his true form; this made it easier to move forward, otherwise, the snow here was over a person's height.

"I've lived in the icy wilderness of Siberia for years, but I've never seen snow this deep," the Siberian Tiger complained.

"Donkey King, do you know where the Golden Condor King is? Find the right place quickly; this icy wilderness is really not suitable for going out and raiding nests," the Black Ox urged.

As soon as they opened their mouths, the blizzard would rush in. The wind was fierce, and snow spray was everywhere, flying into people's mouths and noses, making it impossible to keep their eyes open.

"I only heard that it has a nest here; I don't know if it's hiding here," the Donkey King said, somewhat lacking confidence.

Several of Lushan's main peaks, such as Dahan Yang Peak and Wulao Peak, are currently inaccessible and have remained unconquered, making them very dangerous. However, the foothills and even the mid-slopes of the side peaks are habitable.

"I cannot see the true face of Lushan, only because I am in this mountain. I'm almost lost!" the Black Ox shivered from the cold.

In the depths of the Lushan area, the temperature was a bone-chilling negative 120 degrees Celsius. An ordinary person would find it impossible to survive here, and even king-level beings found it excessively cold.

The Siberian Tiger said, "The magnificent Lushan, originally so beautiful and lush, how did it become like this? Do you think this cosmic upheaval is good or bad? If it continues like this, what opportunities will there be? Even the sacred ancient trees will freeze; how will they bloom and bear fruit?"

Even the Yellow Ox was perplexed. Although it came from another world and was highly knowledgeable, it didn't understand the signs of this world's upheaval and felt uncertain.

"Silence."

Chu Feng sensed a very strong and vibrant life force; a powerful being was hidden in the ice and snow.

The Donkey King seemed to remember something and said, "Near the Lushan waterfalls, there's an ancient tree that bears form-shifting fruits. Its power is unfathomable."

Chu Feng and the others were surprised. They had long heard that the form-shifting fruits first originated in Lushan, growing from a thousand-year-old ancient tree. They hadn't expected to see it today.

In fact, while trees bearing form-shifting fruits are rare, there are certainly more than just this one. The old tree in Lushan is simply the most famous.

Because it was the first to grow form-shifting fruits, and its own power was terrifying, even peerless experts who had broken six shackles were unwilling to provoke it easily.

"Let's go around it; don't provoke it," the Siberian Tiger said. It sensed that the old tree was definitely a master who had broken six shackles.

Chu Feng didn't mind. While he wasn't afraid, he didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

In the end, they avoided that area and, guided by the old donkey, arrived at the foot of Wulaofeng, where they saw a cluster of grottoes.

The Donkey King extended a hoof, pointing forward, indicating it was there.

"To prevent it from spreading its wings and flying off, I'll go first!" Chu Feng said.

He was fast and could evade the divine senses of king-level beings. He traversed two or three areas in a single leap through the ice and snow, leaving no trace. He sprang onto the mountain wall, searching through one grotto after another.

Soon, sounds of shock and anger erupted, and a brilliant golden light burst forth from the mountain wall. The Golden Condor King was found; it was indeed hiding there.

It shrieked, resisting with all its might.

But with a bang, Chu Feng still swatted it flying. It crashed into the mountain wall, causing it to collapse, and tumbled through the snow.

"Chu Feng!" the Golden Condor King cried out, startled, enraged, and somewhat afraid. Just now, it had been too vulnerable, directly pulled out of its nest, slapped on the back of the head, and then thrown down the mountain.

It wanted to take flight and escape immediately, knowing it was no match for this Devil King Chu.

"Where are you going? Stay!"

The Siberian Tiger roared. As a formidable being who had broken six shackles, its tiger roar was a truly earth-shattering sound wave technique, making the Golden Condor King's blood surge and causing it to cough up blood.

The Siberian Tiger was quite unfair; it suddenly darted out and could have easily grabbed it with its large paw, but instead merely let out a loud roar at the Golden Condor King.

The sound waves vibrated, making the Golden Condor King dizzy and disoriented.

"Great Condor, how dare you ambush my brother and make us brave the snow to raid your nest? Your crimes are immense! Still trying to run? Get down here!"

The Black Ox roared, soared into the air, and grabbed the Golden Condor King, who was seeing stars and about to shoot skyward, pulling it forcefully down.

The Black Ox then delivered a punch, making the Golden Condor King's eyes roll back as it flew sideways and landed again.

The Golden Condor King knew it was in big trouble this time. It couldn't fly into the sky and was completely suppressed. Its nest had been raided, and now it couldn't escape.

It transformed into human form, holding a gleaming long saber. With a hum, it slashed towards the Black Ox. As a being who had broken five shackles, it wanted to fight the Black Ox.

From the stone wall, Chu Feng delivered a punch through the air, making it cough up blood. It transformed back into its true form, golden feathers scattering.

There was nothing more to say. First, they needed to beat it and "tame" it. Even ordinary people training falcons have the saying of "taming the hawk," meaning they must first subdue it until it becomes obedient.

The Golden Condor King shrieked, seething with anger. Being beaten down like this, even by Devil King Chu, was unacceptable. It resisted with all its might, taking to the air again.

The Siberian Tiger attacked, its body like a small mountain. With a sweeping paw, it swatted the Golden Condor King down.

The Golden Condor King rolled on the ground, in excruciating pain. Then it took another hit—a donkey's hoof that landed with a clang on its head, making its eyes roll back and nearly causing it to faint.

It was then that it saw the Donkey King.

"It was you..." The Golden Condor King roared with fury, flipped violently, and leaped up. It was truly incensed, immediately realizing that this donkey had led Chu Feng and the others here.

"Brother Great Condor," the old donkey said solemnly, "as the saying goes, 'a wise person adapts to the times.' The supreme Devil King Chu wishes to invite you to join him in a great endeavor!"

"I ambushed him and nearly took his life; will he let me go?" The Golden Condor King suppressed its anger, refraining from attacking again. Even with its fierce nature, it didn't want to die.

In the current situation, if it truly fought, it would undoubtedly die. Aside from the others, Devil King Chu alone could crush it.

"Of course, Devil King Chu let even me go, let alone an exceptional talent like the Golden Condor King," the old donkey said.

"Let's be direct," Chu Feng interjected, stopping the old donkey from spouting nonsense about "great endeavors." "I'm here to subdue you as my mount."

"You... you're going too far!" the Golden Condor King raged.

"I'm not here for idle talk; I'm here to collect a debt! Choose for yourself whether to surrender. If you do, you'll follow me and gain many benefits. If not, then die!"

Chu Feng truly didn't want to say more. The Golden Condor King was a main force in the ambush that night. If not for its outstanding flying ability, he would have exploded it with a punch long ago.

"Old Jin, take it easy. Don't let your temper burn away your life. I even offered to be Devil King Chu's mount, but he didn't want me!" the Donkey King advised.

"You spineless creature, who doesn't know about you! I never imagined that you, a coward, would know my secret residence, you traitor!" The Golden Condor King grew angrier with each word, its temper flaring.

"Are you choosing death?" Chu Feng's fist slammed down. The Golden Condor King flew sideways again, spitting blood.

It had no chance to spread its wings and soar into the sky, completely suppressed.

"Great Condor, if you don't seize this chance to live, don't blame us for killing you," the Black Ox said coldly, drawing his purple-bronze long saber with a clang, ready to strike.

"Let me do it. I'll swat it to a pulp!" the Siberian Tiger said.

Only the Yellow Ox remained quiet, not making a move from beginning to end. Everyone else had already dealt the Golden Condor King a few blows.

"Fellow Daoists, please show mercy." A ripple came from afar; it was the old tree near the waterfalls, transmitting its voice through the ice and snow from over ten li away.

"Little Condor, just humble yourself. I watched you grow up in Lushan; I truly can't bear to see you die like this," the old tree transmitted.

"Grandpa Tree, he wants to make me his mount! I refuse!" the Golden Condor King was somewhat stubborn.

"It's better than dying. Besides, you ambushed him first, which wasn't honorable anyway. Arguing about acceptance or refusal is meaningless," the old tree advised.

Clearly, the old tree's words significantly influenced the Golden Condor King. In the end, it lowered its head resentfully, as it truly didn't want to die.

Chu Feng also didn't want to embarrass it too much and said, "I won't make things difficult for you, nor will I treat you as a servant. You'll be free all the time, except when carrying me on long journeys."

As for whether the Golden Condor King would try to escape, Chu Feng didn't consider it. If this bird king feigned agreement and then fled, it meant that the next time they met, it would surely be blasted to death.

Finally, the Golden Condor King carried Chu Feng and the others soaring into the sky, leaving the Lushan area.

Originally, Chu Feng wanted to visit the old tree, but it politely declined, stating that it was currently undergoing a tribulation. The ice and snow were harming it, and there might be other disasters later, so it didn't want to be distracted.

Destination: Hangzhou!

Chu Feng and his companions embarked on their debt-collecting journey, visiting several major financial groups.

They arrived in Hangzhou overnight. The West Lake area in this region was also snowing, and the lake was frozen.

After the cosmic upheaval, West Lake had greatly changed. It was now an enormous area, spanning a hundred li, and was separated from the urban district.

The Tonggu Alliance, a major financial group, was located in Hangzhou.

That evening, Chu Feng and his group settled in Hangzhou, preparing to visit the Tonggu Alliance first thing in the morning.

The human king captured on Yunluo Mountain had already confessed. He was from the Tonggu Alliance and had been made to talk by professionals dispatched by the Jade Void Palace.

Therefore, Chu Feng's first stop was here; he intended to make an example of this financial group!

In fact, events in Jiangxi Province were still unfolding, with various matters yet to settle. For instance, King Peacock, the Sea Race, and others were still present, and many great demons from Kunlun Mountain had also arrived.

Furthermore, the Master of the Jade Void Palace, the old grandmaster from Wudang Mountain, King Golden Crow, King Nine-Lives Cat, and others had also reappeared.

Chu Feng had originally intended to meet with those individuals, but he couldn't hold back. As soon as he learned which human financial groups had conspired against him, he immediately came to take action.

"First, we'll collect debts from the financial groups, and then we'll go for a seafood feast, roasted peacock, stewed Golden Crow, and express our gratitude to the old master from Wudang Mountain and the others," Chu Feng said.

Being plotted against and harmed by financial groups of his own species filled him with surging anger, as these people were even more insidious and terrifying than non-humans. They had to be dealt with immediately.

In the early morning, the West Lake area was a world of ice and snow, with a hundred-li radius covered in silver-white.

Meanwhile, in the urban district, the weather was clear, the sky was pristine, and it was pleasantly warm.

In front of a skyscraper, Chu Feng, with his hands clasped behind his back, directly approached the entrance. This was the headquarters of the Tonggu Alliance!