It took almost a whole day to finally circle the entire Ming Palace.

Every five meters or so, the city walls were engraved with black bird patterns, and the armor of the demon soldiers guarding the city was also carved with black bird images and a sharp sword. Furthermore, the city center should have been the most prosperous place, but the main street became narrower and narrower as it approached the Ming Palace, and even pedestrians became sparse. Regardless of whether they were demons or monsters, they all hurried past the Ming Palace, as if afraid of attracting some trouble.

Lu Zhaozhao strolled along the street, recalling the details of the route she had seen.

She opened her palm, revealing a neatly folded piece of yellow paper.

This piece of paper was pasted on the wall next to the Ming Palace, with one every two steps. It read: "The conflict between humans and demons is intensifying. The Demon Lord wishes to select a team of personal guards to be directly led. Anyone can apply, regardless of their identity."

Her personal guards would naturally be by her side, making it easier for her to gather information. However, demons are physically strong, so being selected would be extremely difficult. Her immediate priority was to improve her strength.

Lu Zhaozhao shrugged and looked up at the sky.

She has been stuck in the late stage of the Golden Core realm for more than three years, and she doesn't know when she will be able to break through this barrier.

After finding a place to stay, Lu Zhaozhao began to inquire about the selection of personal guards.

The Thirteenth Sister and the Butcher she met when she first arrived at the Ming Palace happened to be right next to where she was staying, and they became neighbors after a while.

Lu Zhaozhao said she had run away. The Nuwa clan did not like to have contact with the outside world, but she was a wild person. She heard that Minggong City was the most prosperous place in the Western Region, so she wanted to come and see it. She also heard that the Demon Lord was recruiting personal guards. If she could achieve some fame and success, she would be less scolded when she returned to her clan.

These words left them both stunned. The butcher immediately slapped the pig leg in front of him, put his arm around Lu Zhaozhao, and said boldly, "Don't worry, girl. I, Tu San, am the most kind-hearted. You can stay here and I'll get you some information."

As he spoke, he lowered his voice and said smugly, "There's nothing in the Ming Palace that I, Tu San, don't know."

Thirteen, who had changed into a new outfit today, said in a sweet voice, "Since you are my guest, young lady, there is naturally no reason for me not to help you."

"How do you plan to help? By twisting your waist and sticking to someone else?" Tu San retorted.

"Hey, what are you talking about? I'm an upright woman, it's none of your business how I help you. But you, all you know how to do is sell that lousy meat."

"At least this is a skill!"

"I can change my skin too!"

...

The sounds grew louder and louder, and Lu Zhaozhao knew in her heart that something was wrong; this infamous couple was at it again.

She looked left and right, not knowing where to begin to persuade him, so she sighed and went out.

Fortunately, although they bickered every day, they were exceptionally capable when it came to getting things done.

“This time there are no restrictions on identity, so there are indeed many people who signed up, a real mixed bag. But while there are some ordinary demons with some strength, most of them are from the eight major clans,” Tu San said to Lu Zhaozhao while chopping meat.

"The Eight Great Clans?" This was a new concept for Lu Zhaozhao.

"You don't even know the eight major clans corresponding to the Eight Directions Commanders?" Thirteen Sister said casually, touching her newly done nails. "That's true, there were originally nine major clans, but you Nuwa didn't want to get involved with them, so it became eight major clans. It's normal that you don't know."

"But then again, why are you Nuba so reclusive? You are so powerful and your clan is quite large. If you came out, you would definitely have a place in this Ming Palace."

Thirteen looked at her curiously, her eyes sparkling, as if she really found it fascinating.

Lu Zhaozhao twitched the corner of her mouth: "It's not that we don't want to come out, it's just that there are some special reasons."

"What? Tell me quickly!" Thirteen Sister grabbed her arm and shook it, and Tu San also put down the bone scraper in his hand and looked at her.

Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and said, "The Nüba clan is born with a cultivation speed faster than ordinary demons, and the clan values ​​bloodlines and never intermarries with other clans, so they are exceptionally united. Even in seclusion, the name Nüba is known throughout the Western Region. However, our clan has a secret that is not to be told to outsiders, and it is for this reason that we have to choose to live in seclusion."

Lu Zhaozhao paused here, and Thirteen Sister and Tu San stared at her with wide eyes.

"Legend has it that a great battle took place tens of millions of years ago, and the ancestor Nüba also participated in this struggle. She fought against tens of millions of people all by herself, and finally won after months of fierce fighting. However, although she defeated everyone, she was also seriously injured and lost all her magic power. Wherever she went, the spiritual energy was automatically absorbed by her, and all things withered. She had no choice but to find a place with abundant spiritual energy to hide from the world."

"This is really..." Thirteen Sister sighed, resting her chin on her hand.

Tu San stared at her silently for a long time, then suddenly seemed to realize something: "But aren't you also a Nüba? Why don't you..."

As if struck by a revelation, Thirteen Sister sat up straight: "Oh right! You're a female demon too."

Lu Zhaozhao rolled her eyes and flicked each of them on the forehead: "What is my cultivation level, and what is the Ancestor's cultivation level? How can they be the same!"

“That’s true.” Thirteen Sister’s back went limp again, and she twirled a strand of hair in her hand. “So that’s why you cultivate so fast.”

Lu Zhaozhao nodded: "You could say that."

Seeing that the two of them didn't seem to have any questions, she spoke up again: "So, gentlemen, can we continue discussing the selection process?"

"Oh, oh." Thirteen Sister realized what was going on and chuckled awkwardly. "Your story is so interesting, I had completely forgotten about it."

"Where was I... Oh! The Eight Great Clans, right! The Eight Great Clans of the Western Region will definitely be here for this selection. Today, the members of the Gu Diao, Lu Wu, and Tai Feng clans have already settled near the Ming Palace, and the Ji Meng and Di clans should arrive around tomorrow."

While Thirteen Sister was catching her breath, Tu San added, "The Yu Pei, Lu Shu, and Gu Huo Niao tribes will likely arrive one after another."

"Do you know the strength of the candidates from the eight major clans who will participate in this selection?" Lu Zhaozhao stroked her chin as she sorted out the information.

“Each of the eight clans commands a demon army, and the capable ones have long been established within them. Besides, those old fogies and some of the stronger ones also have to guard their fiefdoms.” Thirteen Sister rubbed her eye sockets, pressing her skin tighter. “So, those who came this time are probably some young people from the clans, roughly the same age as you?”

Thirteen Sister glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, somewhat uncertain.

Tu San then added, "Today, a man from Luwu came to my shop to buy meat and got into a conflict with the people next to him. That man was a newcomer to the Golden Core realm but was sent flying by Luwu's man with a single palm strike. I think he must be in the late Golden Core stage or even the Nascent Soul stage."

Hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao felt a sense of urgency. Although she was only one step away from the Nascent Soul stage, this seemingly small difference represented a vast disparity in strength. If the Golden Core stage signified becoming a powerful cultivator, then the Nascent Soul stage represented becoming a powerful figure in one's own right.

Therefore, Lu Zhaozhao was extremely troubled by the fact that her only emerging competitor was a Nascent Soul cultivator.

After seeing Tu San and Shisan Niang off, she sat by the window and began to ponder matters related to cultivation.