After Crossdressing and Provoking Long AoTian

“It still isn’t enough.”

The Mountain-Shaking Ape King braced his hands on his knees and looked toward the horizon, though no one could tell what he was staring at.

“Peak Integration still isn’t enough.”

“Apart from the handful of ancient monsters at the Mahayana stage hidden away in the few great sects with truly deep foundations, the strongest experts active in the world today are only at peak Integration!” The Peacock King frowned, clearly unable to understand. “With your strength at peak Integration, how could it possibly not be enough unless you planned to throw your life away challenging one of those old monsters?”

“I do not intend to contend against men,” the Mountain-Shaking Ape King replied in a low voice. “I intend to contend against heaven.”

The golden python raised her head. “You believed what that person said?”

“I did.” The Mountain-Shaking Ape King’s gaze shifted, unexpectedly settling on Yu Qingtang and the others. “They are the best proof.”

Yu Qingtang asked cautiously, “Huh?”

“It has been a long time since so many prodigies appeared at once,” the old Fox King explained. “And not only among you humans. Several unusual cubs have appeared among the demonfolk as well.”

“There’s that atavistically reverted Thundercrest Leopard beside you, the little dragon the dragon lineage keeps hidden from everyone, and even the Deceit Beast born in that rabbit warren...”

“An age of chaos is approaching. The sky is going to collapse again.” The Mountain-Shaking Ape King clenched his fist. “That is why Integration is not enough. Mahayana is not enough either. One must ascend through Tribulation Crossing and become a demon god before one can hold up this world.”

“Ten million years ago, Tianxuan Nü and the Nine Nether Demonic Sovereign held up the heavens. Now there are neither true immortals nor true demons left in this world. Someone must go.”

“I have always prided myself on being peerlessly gifted. I fought my way across Great Wilderness Mountain without ever meeting an equal.” He slowly raised one hand and touched the invisible chasm before him. “But in the end, I am not the one capable of holding up the heavens with a single hand.”

No one spoke.

The golden python said slowly, “Had you not rashly taken this step, you could have lived for another thousand years.”

“A thousand years without advancing another inch would be worse than staking everything on one final attempt.” The Mountain-Shaking Ape King did not turn around. “I fell just a little short. This is as far as I can go.”

“My friends, those disappointing juniors of mine... from time to time, could you...”

“Go in peace,” the old Fox King said with a laugh. “We have already dealt with the troublesome ones. As for the rest, the mountain-ape clan has plenty of capable fighters. They can handle matters themselves.”

The Mountain-Shaking Ape King closed his eyes. “That is good.”

His earlier, world-defying aura seemed to have been nothing more than a final flare of life. Now his decline was showing little by little. Though he claimed to be reassured, worry still weighed heavily on his face.

“There is no need to worry.” The old Fox King put away his smile and stood beside him, looking into the distance. “I had them remain here so you could see for yourself. When chaos rises, heroes will naturally emerge.”

The Mountain-Shaking Ape King chuckled. “Of course I know the world never lacks prodigies. I only fear the chaos will arrive too quickly, before those heroes have time to grow.”

“We cultivators defy heaven and struggle for our lives. Had old fellows like us been a little stronger, perhaps we could have bought them more time.”

“You worry too much.” The golden python closed her eyes. “The younger generations will find their own fortune.”

The Peacock King kept his mouth shut, his brow tightly furrowed. Judging by his expression, he likely had nothing kind to say, but since the Mountain-Shaking Ape King probably did not have long to live, he restrained himself.

The old Fox King suddenly pointed at Ye Chenyan. “Can you tell who he is?”

“You would not ask unless he had some connection to me.” The Mountain-Shaking Ape King studied him, then slowly shook his head. “I cannot.”

“I am almost dead. Stop keeping me in suspense.”

“The child left behind by Tianxuan Nü and the Nine Nether Demonic Sovereign.” The old Fox King laughed. “Remember? That great serpent from the demon race once brought him here to seek a little good fortune.”

Ye Chenyan had not expected the conversation to turn to him. “What good fortune?”

“It is a rustic mortal custom,” the Peacock King said, glancing at him. “They believe a child born weak can receive some good fortune if a powerful demon pats his head. That serpent must have been desperate enough to try anything. After exhausting every other method and leaving the rest to fate, he brought you to the Demon Kings of Great Wilderness Mountain and made us pat your head.”

He muttered, “No wonder this brat looked vaguely familiar.”

The old Fox King’s eyes curved with amusement. “Come to think of it, we even held you when you were little.”

“We did not,” the golden python lazily contradicted him. “Candle Nine Yin would not even let a breeze touch him. How could he possibly have allowed anyone else to hold him?”

As they reminisced about the past, the atmosphere relaxed slightly. Even the Mountain-Shaking Ape King’s expression softened.

“So it was him.”

“Let me put it another way,” the old Fox King corrected with a smile. “We all patted his head when he was little.”

“He grew this large in the blink of an eye.” The Mountain-Shaking Ape King sounded puzzled. “Did humans always grow this quickly?”

He beckoned.

“Boy, come closer and let me take a look.”

Ye Chenyan hesitated briefly, then walked toward them one step at a time. He cupped his fists in salute.

“Thank you, Seniors.”

“There is no need.” The Peacock King snorted. “I did not pat you willingly. I simply could not defeat that damned serpent.”

The old Fox King said cheerfully, “The two of them fought you together. There was no shame in losing.”

“Otherwise, you could find yourself a wife no weaker than Elder Green Snake...”

The Peacock King raised his head arrogantly. “What woman beneath heaven could possibly be worthy of me?”

The old Fox King was not surprised in the slightest. “Yes, yes. You old peacock do possess a few scraps of beauty. In that case, I will find you a peerless hero and marry you off to him.”

The Peacock King flew into a rage. “I knew you would—”

“Stop arguing. You are giving me a headache.” The golden python sighed. “Could you behave with a little dignity in front of the juniors?”

The Mountain-Shaking Ape King stared at Ye Chenyan.

“Tianxuan Nü’s son.”

He slowly extended a hand. His enormous palm resembled a small mountain as it descended, blotting out the sky.

Ye Chenyan frowned, but did not dodge.

Carefully restraining his strength, the Mountain-Shaking Ape King used a single finger to gently pat Ye Chenyan’s head.

“We are linked by some measure of fate.” A faint smile appeared on his face. “My great-grandfather often told me that when he was still a young mountain ape, he once happened to meet that immortal. He said she even patted his head.”

He burst into laughter.

“He met her once, yet spent the rest of his life endlessly repeating, ‘The immortal laid her hand upon my crown.’”

“Karma turns in cycles. Now it is our turn to pat your head.”

His rough palm gently brushed over Ye Chenyan’s hair. Then he rose unsteadily to his feet.

“How strange. After seeing you, I somehow feel much more at ease.”

“Old Fox, can humans learn the divine abilities of demonfolk?”

“Hard to say.” The old Fox King laughed. “It depends on their comprehension.”

The Mountain-Shaking Ape King nodded lightly.

“It is time.”

He stretched out his long arms and leaped in a single bound to the highest point of Great Wilderness Mountain. As he assumed his true form, the towering giant ape seemed to stand between heaven and earth.

He threw back his head and roared.

All of Great Wilderness Mountain trembled. Beasts crouched low, birds fell silent, and not a sound could be heard.

“Watch closely!” His deep voice resounded through the mountains. “There will be only this one punch. How much you learn will depend on your own ability!”

He slammed both fists against the ground and launched himself into the sky, putting all his strength into a single punch toward the heavens—

The winds and clouds were swept away.

Even the sun seemed to lose its light.

For one instant, it was as though he had punched a hole through the sky.

After delivering the blow, he remained frozen in that posture as he fell backward.

That punch seemed to linger endlessly in everyone’s eyes, containing some profound and mysterious power. Each of them gained a different insight from it.

Chi Yantian stared at his own hands, then sat cross-legged and entered meditation.

Scholar Xiao spread out paper and brushes and began to paint, his expression intensely focused, no longer paying any attention to his surroundings.

Yu Qingtang had assumed he would not comprehend anything, but for some reason, the tragedy of a hero reaching the end of his road resonated deeply within him. The sorrow settled in his chest and refused to fade.

He had no choice but to summon the Dragon-Crane Zither and place it across his knees. He lightly brushed the strings a few times. The notes formed no melody, only grief.

It was like what his Master had once told him while teaching him the qin: one day, he would compose a melody of his own.

Now, he felt as though he had touched one corner of it.

The emotion was there.

His skill was not.

He turned to look at Ye Chenyan. Ye Chenyan’s hand trembled slightly, repeatedly clenching into a fist as though attempting something.

The old Fox King raised a hand and pointed.

“Strike over there.”

At his words, a white-headed giant ape appeared within the totem behind Ye Chenyan. It resonated perfectly with that punch, merging with him until his strike carried a trace of the Mountain-Shaking Ape King’s heaven-rending might.

Nor did the blow land on empty air.

It smashed directly into a metallic centipede that had somehow concealed itself along the mountainside.

“Argh!”

The creature let out a piercing shriek.

The Mountain-Blasting Ape, his eyes bloodshot, hurled himself forward.

“You dare come back!”

His heart was already filled with grief, making him fiercer than ever. The cries of apes shook the mountain as they rushed from every direction to gather around him.

Great Wilderness Mountain slowly recovered from the lingering might of the Mountain-Shaking Ape King. Its usual sounds gradually returned.

The old Fox King closed his eyes for a moment. Then he picked up a half-toppled wine jug from the chaotic remains of the feast and shook it. Hearing liquid slosh inside, he raised it and poured the wine onto the ground.

Once it was empty, he casually tossed the jug aside and turned around, wearing his usual smile once more.

“Well. This time, he truly is dead.”

“Let us go.”

He had taken only two steps when the Mountain-Blasting Ape called out to him.

The ape had just driven away the metallic centipede, and blood stained his body. With red-rimmed eyes, he bowed and offered over a small bottle.

“Snow-Treading Fox King, His Majesty instructed me to leave this for you.”

“Demon King’s precious blood.” The old Fox King sighed. “He could not have left me something more interesting?”

He reached out and accepted the bottle.

Still bowing his head, the Mountain-Blasting Ape continued, “There is also Madam Xueyao of the Lunar Jade Rabbit clan. His Majesty once promised her a drop. She is still waiting at the foot of the mountain.”

“His Majesty said whether she receives it is up to you.”

The old Fox King raised an eyebrow slightly. “Understood.”

The Mountain-Blasting Ape forced himself to maintain the salute, then turned toward the other two.

“Rainbow-Feather Peacock King, His Majesty wished to give you the portrait of Tianxuan Nü left behind by his great-grandfather. However... his great-grandfather feared offending the immortal and did not dare paint her face.”

As he spoke, he handed over a stone tablet.

Yu Qingtang boldly stole a glance. The crude lines etched into the tablet only vaguely resembled a human figure. Forget the face—he could not even tell whether the subject was a man or a woman.

His expression immediately grew strange.

He turned his head and met Ye Chenyan’s gaze. Ye Chenyan had clearly just sneaked a look as well and wore an equally indescribable expression.

The Peacock King’s mouth twitched several times.

“This is the thing he called a portrait of an unparalleled beauty and refused to show me?”

“He is dead,” the golden python said lazily. “Have some mercy with your words.”

“I do not need anything. I cannot be bothered carrying it back.”

“His Majesty knew that,” the Mountain-Blasting Ape replied neither humbly nor arrogantly. “The gift has already been delivered to your cave residence.”

The golden python sighed. “As I said, he worried far too much.”

The Demon Kings said nothing more and departed in separate directions.

The old Fox King led the others down the mountain. As they descended step by step, he suddenly asked, “I have not yet asked—why did you enter Great Wilderness Mountain?”

“The auction,” Scholar Xiao answered first. “Also, far too many people and cultivators who recently entered Great Wilderness Mountain have vanished without explanation. Senior Sister Tianxin asked me to investigate.”

“I knew that girl would make a move.” The old Fox King did not seem surprised. He lightly shook the small bottle in his hand. “We should be able to get some answers shortly.”

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