Chapter 4: Alligator Madness (Part 2)

Guo Shierou pulled Eagle Demon back again.
The flames on Qi Nanshan’s body had spread throughout his entire body. It was evident he was in great pain, his body moving constantly as the color of the flames kept changing—black flames gradually turning purple-black. The black runes on his chest, abdomen, and back also began to spread across his whole body.
Guo Shierou felt a chill run down his spine. He suddenly remembered something and said, “Oh no! If all his body is covered in black runes, once he starts fighting, Won’t Grandpa Nanshan be completely naked? Will his opponent be scared off?”
Eagle Demon burst into laughter. Guo Shierou quickly covered his mouth, saying repeatedly, “Uncle Eagle Demon, don’t disturb Grandpa Nanshan…”
At the thought of Qi Nanshan fighting with those black flames burning across his naked body, Eagle Demon couldn’t help but laugh. After all, Qi Nanshan was a master he admired greatly. He pushed Guo Shierou’s hand away, his face turning red. After a while, he said, “Shierou, you’re too crude!”
Guo Shierou wondered, “How am I crude?”
Eagle Demon replied, “How dare you speak like that to an elder?”
Guo Shierou said innocently, “I didn’t say anything…”
Eagle Demon held back his laughter. He was just trying to save face—his earlier laughter had indeed been rude. He said, “Never mind… Uh, wow… He’s advanced again!” He stared at Qi Nanshan in astonishment. A purple rune flame had enabled Qi Nanshan to advance once more. In just a few days, he had seen Qi Nanshan advance twice—this time from Saint to Grand Saint. It was a huge hurdle, and it was astonishing that he had crossed it so easily.
The black flames on Qi Nanshan’s body gradually receded, sinking into the runes on his skin. The painful expression on his face also calmed down, and he seemed quite comfortable.
After a while, the black flames rose again, and the runes on Qi Nanshan’s body began to change little by little.
Guo Shierou and Eagle Demon exchanged glances. After a while, Guo Shierou asked, “Is it not over yet?”
Eagle Demon replied with a wry smile, “It’s not that easy. Wait a bit.”
Monael said from not far away, “Baby, come here.” She was standing alone behind a huge rock, feeling bored. Guo Shierou said, “Uncle Eagle Demon, keep an eye on Grandpa Nanshan. Call me if anything happens.”
Eagle Demon nodded. “Okay, no problem. I’ll keep watch.”
Guo Shierou went over to Monael and asked, “Teacher, what’s wrong?”

Monier said, “Baby, come sit here.” She laid out two thick furs as cushions and asked, “Has he advanced again?” A hint of surprise and fear appeared in her eyes.
Guo Shier thought for a moment before immediately understanding what Monier was worried about. When he was forcibly taken away byDeadwood (Kumu) is translated as **Deadwood**. back then, Qi Nanshan was there. At that time, he was a high-ranking Great Talisman Martial Artist, with no chance of resisting—resistance meant death, without any doubt.
Now, Qi Nanshan had successfully advanced to a junior Great Sage, and he had inherited the notorious legacy of the Ancient Black Talisman People. Monier knew well how powerful they were; how could she remain calm?
Guo Shier shook his head and smiled, “Masteress, don’t worry. Grandpa Nanshan won’t do that.” He would never let Qi Nanshan harm Monier.
From the moment she met Guo Shier, Monier had taken a liking to him. Guo Shier wasn’t a real child, but he could clearly distinguish between good and bad treatment. Even MasterDeadwood (Kumu) is translated as **Deadwood**., though stern, was very kind to him. He would never allow Qi Nanshan to harm them.
Monier said with a bitter smile, “The Black Talisman People are truly powerful… It’s strange. With their abilities, how come they haven’t grown stronger… Judging from Grandpa Nanshan’s progress, one Black Talisman Person could destroy an entire continent. So why are there so few of them?”
Guo Shier replied, “I don’t know either. According to Grandpa Nanshan, the Black Talisman People… are a clan that fights among themselves. Maybe that’s why they can’t grow stronger.”
Monier sighed, “We can only dominate our own continent. Once we encounter higher-level continents or special races, we’re at a disadvantage.”
Guo Shier smiled, “But if we often venture to higher-level continents, our vision and strength can improve rapidly.”
Monier said, “Yes, but it’s also dangerous. Just like that bastard before—if it weren’t for Grandpa Nanshan, we would have been in trouble. Heh, that guy probably didn’t expect to be killed either. Otherwise… we would have had to flee back.”
Guo Shier said, “It might even be hard to flee back.”
Monier said, “Life is tough on higher-level continents. We’ve only been here for a few days, and we’ve already been hunted twice, both times for no reason.”
Guo Shier said, “Masteress, I don’t know if I can find Master Luo Jie, but I must try my best. In the wilderness… there are few chances to find him. I plan to go to the territory of the Star Sect.”

Monier said, “That won’t work. If we go there, there’s a high chance we’ll be discovered. Especially you, Grandpa Qinan—there’s no way you can enter the territory of the Star Sect.”
Guo Shier nodded. “That’s true, but… if it’s just the two of us, the danger will be much less.”
Ah! Ah…
Sudden roars rang out. Guo Shier jumped up in fright. He recognized it as Qi Nanshan’s roar and quickly flew into the air to take a look. Qi Nanshan rose into the sky surrounded by flames, roaring again and again. With each roar, the flames grew taller, looking extremely majestic.
Monier also flew up. Her feelings were complex. Qi Nanshan was originally an intermediate Saint Master, just like her, and now he was about to advance to a junior Grand Saint Master—she couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.
Eagle Demon also flew up. He stepped back slightly and came to Guo Shier’s side, saying, “It seems to have worked.”
Qi Nanshan’s roars gradually ceased. He sat cross-legged in midair, with the flames concentrated on his shoulders and head. The hair he had burned off earlier began to grow back from his scalp, extending upward along the blazing flames. In moments, his hair had grown over a meter long.
Amidst the purplish-black flames, Qi Nanshan’s face appeared unusually young. When the flames suddenly retracted into his body, he turned rosy-cheeked and toothy-white, looking like a young man—definitely no older than twenty. The only thing unchanged was his shovel-shaped horse face. His body was covered in fine black patterns, which gradually disappeared from his skin.
Guo Shier smiled. “It worked!”
Qi Nanshan glanced at Monier and calmly took out some clothes to put on. This time they were ordinary clothes—he was confident he wouldn’t burn them again.
Guo Shier said cheerfully, “Congratulations!”
Qi Nanshan smiled. “It was just luck. I never thought a purple talisman flame could help me advance. Hehe, a Grand Saint Master… I never imagined I’d become one someday!”
Guo Shier stared at Qi Nanshan’s face. Qi Nanshan couldn’t help but touch his face and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Eagle Demon also stared at him and said, “Just a fire… and he turned twenty years old.”
Guo Shier said, “Grandpa Qinan, I can’t call you grandpa anymore. You look… just like my brother.”
Qi Nanshan took out a talisman mirror and casually cast a spell. The mirror immediately expanded into a large mirror as tall as a person. He looked around happily and said, “It’s fine to call me brother. From now on, just call me big brother. Haha, hahaha!”
Monier couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “Narcissist…”

Guo Shier smiled and said, “Then from now on, I’ll call you Big Brother Nanshan.”
Eagle Demon laughed and said, “I’m Shier’s uncle. Haha, then what should you call me? Uncle? Haha…”
The mood of the four of them was very relaxed. With a Great Sage Master around, although one couldn’t act arbitrarily on the Star Continent, most professionals would be intimidated. Even on the Advanced Continent, Great Sage Masters were top-tier experts. Therefore, advanced professionals from the Intermediate Continent usually had to advance to Great Sage Master status before considering going to the Advanced Continent, so as to survive better and have a chance of gaining the favor of major sects.
Guo Shier looked around and asked, “I wonder what this secret realm is like. We can’t leave for a while, so we’ll stay here for a while. Well, I think about thirty-odd days should be enough. Grandpa Nanshan… uh, Big Brother Nanshan… what do you think?”
When Qi Nanshan heard Guo Shier calling him Big Brother Nanshan, his mood improved greatly. He shook his long hair, which swayed rhythmically twice, giving an eerie impression—as if his black hair had turned into flames—though it calmed down in the blink of an eye.
Eagle Demon said, “It still sounds better to call you Grandpa Nanshan, haha!”
Qi Nanshan said with a warm smile, “What? Jealous of my youth? Wait until you become a Great Sage Master too!”
Monier said, “Not necessarily! Some people stay young, while others grow older. It’s beyond one’s control. I’ve seen a Sage Master advance to Great Sage Master status—he used to look middle-aged, but after advancing, he became an old man with white hair and wrinkles all over his face.”
Guo Shier was shocked and asked, “Why is that?”
Monier replied, “I don’t know. I heard from an elder that it seems to be related to the characteristics of talismans, but he wasn’t clear about the specifics.”
Qi Nanshan also became curious and asked, “Characteristics? What characteristics?”
Monier rolled her eyes and said, “Every talisman professional has skills they’re good at, combined with their preferences and developed specialties, which eventually form their own characteristics… You guys don’t even know this?”
Guo Shier gave an expression as if it were obvious he didn’t know. Qi Nanshan’s face turned red—he was already a Great Sage Master, yet Monier had looked down on him. Eagle Demon didn’t care at all; he didn’t even know what characteristics were.
Not only did Qi Nanshan’s appearance become younger, but his heart also began to feel younger. He said with a smile, “I came from the Lower Continent. It’s no wonder I don’t know!”

Monier rolled her eyes at him again and said, “Shier, let’s ignore him.”
Qin Nanshan had no choice; he couldn’t argue with a woman. He said, “Since we’ve come to this secret realm, let’s explore it. It’s better than doing nothing…”
Monier said, “You, Nanshan… that big brother, you really talk too much!”
Guo Shier wore a bitter smile and couldn’t say a word. Were these two enemies? How hadn’t he noticed earlier?