Is that all? Such sluggish feathers.

The Young Roc King took a deep breath. "The bone age detector cannot be wrong. You... have only been alive for forty-eight days?!"

Lu Wu replied, "As long as you know how long I've been alive, that's enough. But I have a question: why are you so sure this bone age detector can't be wrong?"

Hearing Lu Wu's question, the Young Roc King answered, "It's no secret."

"This bone age detector has one or more rune arrays inscribed within it, and these arrays are used to detect age."

Lu Wu could more or less imagine it; these rune arrays were like the circuit boards from his previous life.

The entire device was, in essence, a machine that operated according to mystical laws, using spiritual energy as its power source. In nature, it was no different from a flashlight or an infrared thermometer—just that it was the fantasy world's equivalent of electronic equipment.

Lu Wu didn't know the principles behind this object, so he shifted his perspective to consult the Book of Knowledge.

The Book of Knowledge merely displayed the words "bone age detector," without providing any further information.

"Perhaps I need to dismantle it for the Book of Knowledge to analyze its functions and principles? Or maybe I need the design blueprints?"

There was little point in studying this further because the Young Roc King soon explained the principle: "The runes inside the bone age detector can sense the runic patterns of every organ in a living being."

"The duration of life is an unchangeable mark... at least at our level, we cannot alter it."

"A great many secret realms with age restrictions use this type of device for verification."

Lu Wu felt a sense of melancholy.

Tai Xu Palace was a human sect, yet they were ignorant of the technology of the Holy Capital, barely able to use a few mechanical devices like flying boats.

In contrast, the Hundred Thousand Demon Mountains, though a demon force, lay closer to the Holy Capital and thus understood the contemporary human world better than Tai Xu Palace did.

The Young Roc King grew more cheerful and didn't mind saying more. "Lu Wu, is it? Only forty-eight days old, and already a guest elder of Tai Xu Palace—that is truly remarkable."

"I am thoroughly impressed."

"Are you interested in joining our Hundred Thousand Demon Mountains?"

"You are a beast-form being. Cultivating as a demon is much easier than cultivating as a human."

Lu Wu looked at the grinning Young Roc King. "You seem... very happy?"

The Young Roc King couldn't help but laugh, then composed himself, looking serious. "Sorry, I couldn't hold it in."

"Pfft... hahahahaha!"

Lu Wu rolled his eyes—if he had any to roll.

Are you trying to cosplay as Nicolas Cage?

The Young Roc King suppressed his laughter, though not entirely. "Sorry, I remembered something amusing."

Lu Wu realized, he wasn't cosplaying Nicolas Cage; he was playing the mermaid police officer.

"How long do you plan on laughing? When will the fight start?"

Lu Wu wasn't afraid of his laughter. What he feared was that the Young Roc King had caught some illness—what if it was contagious?

The Young Roc King turned serious again. "Lu Wu, why don't you step down and pretend this match never happened?"

"With your talent, reaching the Soul-Gathering stage only forty-eight days after birth is beyond ordinary cultivation—such innate talent is rare."

"Your future is long; there's no need to battle me on this stage."

"If I'm not careful, I might severely injure or even kill you."

Not everyone present could hear Lu Wu's words, since his Divine Soul Transmission had limited range.

But the Young Roc King's words were heard by all.

As soon as he spoke, the expressions on both sides changed.

The Little Flood Dragon King realized, "That's right! Lu Wu has only been alive for forty-eight days. Even if he's a prodigy, even if he were a true dragon's offspring, he could only be at the Soul-Gathering stage—he can't possibly be a match for my big brother!"

Bear Yu slapped his thigh. "That's right! Why didn't I think of that? Doesn't that mean we're certain to win this round?!"

Kong Cheng, tied up tightly and with a perpetually green face, shouted excitedly among the Tai Xu Palace disciples, "It's in the bag!"

A disciple in charge of escort duties slapped the top of Kong Cheng's peacock head so hard he nearly knocked his feathers off. "In the bag, my foot!"

The other Tai Xu Palace disciples started discussing, "Elder Lu is actually less than a hundred days old?"

"How can he possibly face the Young Roc King?!"

"Even if Elder Lu is a naturally gifted beast, with innate abilities and special racial talents, he can't possibly be a match for the Young Roc King, who has cultivated for so many years!"

Yi Ya raised his right arm. "Brothers and sisters, don't worry. Martial Uncle is no ordinary man. Just watch."

A disciple whispered beside him, "Senior Brother, aren't you being a bit too melodramatic this time? Elder Lu is only forty-eight days old—he can't have mastered many advanced martial skills or secret arts. How can he fight the Young Roc King?"

"Exactly. Even if Elder Lu's talent is sky-high, it's like someone born with divine strength but never trained fighting an ordinary cultivator—there's no way he can win!"

Yi Ya smiled mysteriously. "Martial Uncle hasn't practiced any secret arts? You're thinking too simply."

Ziyu and Chu Xu, who had both been taught by Lu Wu, knew best how terrifying his mastery of martial arts and secret techniques was.

Ziyu spoke up, "Martial Uncle's martial skills are refined to the point where few can match him."

Chu Xu was even more direct. "Martial Uncle is unfathomable—he's definitely not a novice who hasn't trained in martial arts."

Soul-Gathering cultivators all had excellent hearing, so several powerful figures on the Hundred Thousand Demon Mountains' side overheard their mutterings.

The Little Flood Dragon King laughed. "What a joke! Our big brother, the Young Roc King, is a genius with extraordinary cultivation talent. He has practiced the Golden Roc Technique for five full years. Even if Lu Wu's talent is twice as high, what could he possibly achieve in just forty-eight days?"

Bear Yu said, "I think Lu Wu was just duped by the people of Tai Xu Palace. He doesn't know his own limits and is only here to be cannon fodder."

The Little Monkey King cackled weirdly. "Not necessarily! What if this little bug is a once-in-an-age prodigy, practicing a top-tier secret manual a day for fun?"

Hearing the Little Monkey King's mocking tone, the crowd erupted into laughter, the atmosphere lively and cheerful.

Yi Ya snorted. "Is a contest fought with words? It's about real skill!"

With that, he shouted to cheer Lu Wu on, "Martial Uncle is invincible!"

Yi Ya's theatricality made most of the Tai Xu Palace disciples clutch their heads in exasperation.

On the platform, the Young Roc King slowly began to transform. Two roc wings unfurled, their feathers exuding a sharp, elusive aura.

As the feathers spread and quivered, it was as if a primordial beast was surging across the land—truly terrifying.

The Young Roc King asked seriously, "Are you sure you want to fight me?"

"I value talent—I could go easy. I see your remarkable gifts; why not join the Hundred Thousand Demon Mountains? In the future, you could be the new Little Demon King, perhaps even rise higher and lead the mountains yourself."

At these words, reactions among the audience were mixed.

The Little Flood Dragon King immediately saw the implications.

In just forty-eight days, Lu Wu had reached the Soul-Gathering stage. Given time, he would surely become truly formidable.

This strange insect could participate in the Moon-Chasing Operation three more times.

If they recruited him, victory in the next three Moon-Chasing Operations was all but assured.

But if Lu Wu remained with Tai Xu Palace, then in the next three Tai Xu Operations, their own side would be in danger.

And with his talent, Lu Wu would inevitably become a grave threat to the Hundred Thousand Demon Mountains in the years to come.

With this realization, the Little Flood Dragon King urged anxiously, "Big brother, stop showing mercy. If he won't turn to our side—"

There was no need to finish the sentence.

The Young Roc King raised his right hand, signaling the Little Flood Dragon King to be silent, then looked at Lu Wu.

Suspended in the air, wings fluttering, Lu Wu replied, "Young Roc King, this is the first time I will fight seriously. I hope you won't disappoint me."

Hearing Lu Wu's words, the Young Roc King couldn't help but sigh. "Still too deeply brainwashed. Fine, let me show you the gulf between a cultivator who has trained for years and so-called innate talent!"

"The art of cultivation and the myriad mystical martial techniques are the most elusive things in the world. Talent is important, but cultivation is the true foundation!"

As he spoke, the Young Roc King's shadowy wings unfurled behind him. Hundreds of feathers shot forth like arrows, their speed astonishing.

In flight, the feathers ignited, burning with golden flames so brilliant they seemed to rend space itself, the searing heat surging toward Lu Wu!

All eyes were on the stage as the heat wave swept across Lu Wu's position.

In such blazing flames, even a typical Soul-Gathering cultivator would find it hard to withstand.

Golden Roc Technique: "Burning Feathers!" The Young Roc King was indeed terrifying!

Seeing his attack sweep unimpeded across the stage, the Young Roc King was stunned. "He didn't dodge? Has his brain been addled by Tai Xu Palace's brainwashing? What a pity—an insect with such innate strength is truly rare. He could have been the progenitor of a new beast-king lineage, but now it's lost."

Meanwhile, those below, human and demon cultivators alike who could see the whole scene, widened their eyes.

On the stage, the Young Roc King heard the buzzing of Lu Wu's wings behind him, and the sound of his Divine Soul Transmission:

"Is that all? Too slow."