Inner Demons

The fierce wind generated when Kun Wuzi's physical body exploded took a full two quarters of an hour to dissipate.

If it were on the ground, this wind would have destroyed all man-made structures within a hundred-mile radius, leaving no trace. However, they were currently a kilometer up in the sky, and the wind could only blow upon two people—Feikongzi and Linliang Zi.

But neither of the two seemed to fear such a strong wind. They even conversed amidst the fierce wind.

Linliang Zi frowned, seemingly not pleased by killing Kun Wuzi so easily: "Did you catch it?"

Feikongzi was silent for a moment—his eyes were unfocused, as if his Spiritual Soul was traveling outside of Heaven, searching for something. Three breaths later, his eyes regained their luster, becoming vibrant again.

"No. This is troublesome," he sighed with a frown, "The Great Accomplishment Profound Realm is indeed unfathomable."

Feikongzi—this Daoist Orthodoxy cultivator, who was of the same generation as Yue Yunzi and was considered Kun Wuzi's candidate for the next Grotto-heaven Sect Master... was now talking to the mysterious and strange Linliang Zi as if they were old friends!

Linliang Zi thought for a moment: "But his physical body was destroyed by the Life-Death Heavenly Dipper Array—his Spiritual Soul must have also suffered heavy damage, right?"

"That is true. But we didn't expect him to be able to escape before, and it's hard to say now if he has any protective treasures that prevented his body and spirit from being completely annihilated. Just now, as soon as his physical body was destroyed, I sensed a trace of his Spiritual Soul heading east—" Feikongzi squinted and looked towards the east, then sighed again, "Never mind. A trace of Spiritual Soul. At most, he can become a mindless Ghost Cultivator, and he won't be able to cause trouble."

Linliang Zi accepted his explanation.

The two stopped talking and remained silent in the air for a long, long time. It was not until the fierce wind in the sky gradually dissipated—

Linliang Zi then floated forward and stopped a few meters away from Feikongzi.

Then he solemnly cupped his hands and bowed to Feikongzi. He said: "Then—Junior Brother Fu Liangzi. You have been undercover in Daoist Orthodoxy for forty-six years, and now you have finally succeeded. It has been hard work. Congratulations."

Feikongzi, who was called "Fu Liangzi" by Linliang Zi, was silent for a moment, then a slight mocking smile appeared on his face: "Is this considered success? According to the Elders, this is only a small step, right? It's just..."

He raised his head and let out a long breath: "It has indeed been hard work."

"What's the next step?"

"Junior Brother must continue to lay low in Daoist Orthodoxy," Linliang Zi said, "But not as Feikongzi, but as Kun Wuzi."

Feikongzi was slightly stunned: "Kun Wuzi?"

"He is a Great Accomplishment Profound Realm cultivator," he frowned, "When I possessed Feikongzi, I helped him cultivate from the Illusory Realm to the True Realm he is now. Now you want me to be Kun Wuzi—I can say that I'll restrain my realm and avoid revealing flaws during conflicts. But this physical body—don't you know that a Great Accomplishment Profound Realm's physical body is difficult to destroy? Just that strike from the Life-Death Array consumed the life force of one hundred thousand people. How can this body of mine impersonate Kun Wuzi?"

Linliang Zi smiled and raised his hand, tossing something out.

The object looked small, about the size of a fingernail. But it grew when it met the wind—by the time it reached Feikongzi, it was as big as a human.

And it was indeed a person.

It was Kun Wuzi. Or rather, a person who looked exactly like Kun Wuzi's physical body.

"An Elder contributed their body," Linliang Zi said with a tone of admiration, respect, awe, and emotion, "In terms of strength alone, it is even better than Kun Wuzi's physical body, so you can use this body."

"Impersonate Kun Wuzi and stay by Dongting. After we capture Li Yunxin, follow Kun Wuzi's plan. Kill as many demons as come, and preferably..." Linliang Zi chuckled, "Make Daoist Orthodoxy, Sword Sect, and the demons fight until corpses pile up everywhere."

Feikongzi stared at the physical body in front of him for a long time, then sighed helplessly.

After this sigh, "Feikongzi's" body suddenly lost its vitality and began to fall from the sky.

Linliang Zi raised his hand and shattered it in mid-air.

"Kun Wuzi" came back to life.

He coughed a few times, stretched his limbs, and sighed again: "Alas. When will this ever end?"

He thought for a moment, and added: "Fu Liangzi, Fu Liangzi. It's been a long time since anyone called me that—I almost forgot my own name. Now that I think about our Daoist titles, they always feel strange."

Linliang Zi frowned and looked at him, saying warily: "The Elders have their profound intentions. Junior Brother, what you just said... I don't like it. Don't let those people and things in Daoist Orthodoxy cloud your heart. The Great Tribulation is approaching now, Junior Brother, do not choose the wrong side."

Feikongzi was stunned for a moment: "The Great Tribulation? Didn't the Elders say there was still—"

Linliang Zi did not want to discuss this topic further. He smiled coldly: "Do your job well. Our era is coming soon."

...

...

Li Shan was traveling through the lake.

According to Li Yunxin, his true form was an electric eel, not an ordinary White Eel. But he himself did not mind this—demons rarely truly cared about their origins.

Also according to Li Yunxin, he was to gather the demons in the lake and then carry out a great mission.

This great mission was part of the Wei River Dragon King's strategy. He wanted to unite the demons and use them for the Dragon King.

He first chose to go to his former cave dwelling, Sunken Ship Valley.

Although most of the high-cultivation demons there had been killed by Li Yunxin, there were still some nascent minor demons. Gathering these minor demons and having them spread his orders throughout the lake would likely be much easier than doing it himself.

After all, the great demons in the lake had been cleared out, and his reputation as the Tenth Prince was even more widely known in Dongting than that of the Wei River Dragon King.

The first one he selected was a well-behaved eel demon named Chi Tiao. Its cultivation was passable; it could transform into a human form. Originally, he was going to appoint it as a Demon General, but he was too lazy to bother. Unexpectedly, this saved its life, and it could be used now.

He first gave the instructions to this Chi Tiao, gave it many tokens. Then he instructed it to gather useful minor demons to carry the tokens and go to various parts of the lake. They were to report back if they encountered anyone causing trouble.

Otherwise, Dongting was so vast and wide; relying on him alone, it would take a month to complete this task.

Chi Tiao took the order and left, disappearing into the dark depths of the lake in a flash.

Li Shan waited patiently.

He waited until two days later.

All the considerable demons in the lake had gathered.

The Lord of Dongting had managed the lake for thousands of years, so the lake was rarely disturbed by Taoist priests and Sword Cultivators. Also, because of the Dragon Soul and the Lord of Dongting in the lake, the demonic energy was naturally dense. Therefore, the number of aquatic demons in Dongting was extremely high. Not counting those killed by Li Yunxin that night, there were now three hundred demons capable of transforming into human form gathered before Li Shan—for the limited area of Dongting, this was already a terrifying number.

Li Shan had always wanted to see such a result—for the demons of Dongting to submit to him. Now, this wish was half-fulfilled... because the other half belonged to the Wei River Dragon King.

He left his Sunken Ship Valley and "saw" the aquatic demons huddled together, whispering and not knowing what they were discussing.

He also saw the eel demon, Chi Tiao, come to his side and say: "Tenth Prince, everyone is here—we are waiting for the Tenth Prince's instructions on what to do next."

This Chi Tiao spoke clearly and eloquently, even more so than his former errand-running minor demons. Li Shan thought that he had previously overlooked a good talent, but it also resulted in today's good fortune.

He "scanned" the crowd of demons in the water briefly, then slightly frowned: "What about the Toad King and Old Turtle?"

Chi Tiao smiled ingratiatingly and leaned closer: "Reporting to the Tenth Prince. The Tenth Prince's prediction was correct. I went to the two Great Kings with your token. Although they did not stop me, they only said that the demons under their command were not the Prince's people, and told us to look elsewhere—"

Li Shan sneered: "I expected as much. Hmph, never mind. Let them keep their heads down!"

But the minor demon Chi Tiao had not finished speaking. He continued to smile: "The Prince is a brilliant strategist. But I thought that the demons under the two Kings also number quite a few, and many are brave. If we cannot use them, wouldn't it delay the Prince's great mission?"

"So I killed both Kings—and the demons under their command have also arrived."

Li Shan didn't understand for a moment and was stunned.

Only then did he once again extend his electric current to carefully count the crowd of demons. Two or three hundred demons were densely packed on the lake bottom, and it was difficult to pick out a few individuals. But Li Shan had dealt with the Toad King and Ao King, and he knew that the demons under their command mostly wore hard shells. Therefore, he quickly found them—indeed... the demons under their command were also present.

He was stunned for a moment again, then turned to examine Chi Tiao. He scrutinized him up and down: "What did you just say? You killed the two Kings?"

The eel demon Chi Tiao smiled broadly: "That is correct."

Then he reached behind and pulled out two heads... they were indeed the heads of the two Kings.

About this Chi Tiao—he had a scaled face and a flat nose. His facial features were barely human-like, but his mouth was wide, and some sharp teeth were exposed. He wore a worn-out water tunic and carried a bundle on his back. He held a wrought-iron boat oar, which he found somewhere.

Such a minor demon...

Killed the two Kings?!

Even if he, the Tenth Prince, had personally acted, he wouldn't have been able to guarantee killing the two Kings in two days... without getting hurt himself?!

Li Shan was a demon, and his mind was not as intelligent and clever as a human's. But even the dullest was still a great demon—at this moment, he realized something was wrong. He immediately extended small electric currents from his body and asked: "Who exactly are you?!"

It was impossible for him to have such a fellow under his command. Such powerful strength was enough for him to be a Demon King!

He heard the Chi Tiao still smiling broadly: "Tenth Prince, what are you saying? I have followed the Tenth Prince for more than two hundred years, and now you don't recognize me? Oh... no wonder. I was unwilling to reveal my ability when the time was not right. But now that the good opportunity has arrived, I must advise the Great King not to miss this chance."

The more Li Shan listened to him, the more alarmed he felt. He quietly raised his demonic power and was fully on guard, asking: "What good chance? What time?"

Chi Tiao chuckled: "It's naturally the good chance to capture that Li Yunxin. That Wei River Dragon King, Li Yunxin, ruined our plan. He is currently in Dongting—wouldn't capturing him be a great accomplishment!"

Li Shan's eyes widened—although his eyes couldn't see anything: "Who—are you exactly? If you don't explain clearly, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Chi Tiao smiled and sighed: "Tenth Prince. Two hundred years ago, you accepted our benefits and cultivated the Celestial Heart Orthodox Law to achieve what you have today. And now you don't recognize us anymore? I'll let you know, we are members of the Mutual-Aid Association. We have nurtured you for two hundred years, shouldn't you finally repay the favor?!"

Li Shan was truly stunned upon hearing this.

The secret event from two hundred years ago... how did this minor demon know about it?!

Was what he said... actually true?!

He was shocked and stood rooted to the spot for a moment. He subconsciously asked: "...How should I repay the favor?"

The minor demon Chi Tiao laughed loudly: "Repay it with the Tenth Prince yourself!"

Li Shan hadn't figured out what the eel demon meant—but the eel demon had already swung the wrought-iron boat oar in his hand fiercely.

Li Shan was blind and relied only on the electric current on his body to perceive external objects. Logically, his reaction should have been even more timely than "seeing." But who would have thought—Li Shan, a Manifestation Realm demon... couldn't keep up with the speed of the minor demon Chi Tiao?!

With a loud bang, Li Shan's head burst open!

The dark lake bottom rumbled with a loud sound. Before the demons could figure out what had happened, the entire Sunken Ship Valley turned crimson.

After a long time, a demon suddenly rushed out of the lake—it was Li Shan's appearance. This "Li Shan" paused in mid-air, then shouted into the water: "All of you listen carefully—that Demon General Chi Tiao under my command disobeyed orders and has been executed by me on the spot! If any of you dare to disobey, you will suffer the same fate as Chi Tiao!"

Another wave of commotion stirred in the water. Two or three hundred demons either stood on the waves or swam beneath the surface, responding noisily.

This Li Shan then laughed three times and directed the demons straight towards Jun Mountain.

The horde of demons moved majestically, seemingly unafraid of the Vicious Flood Dragon in the lake. They left a wide and long wake on the water surface, like a gigantic ship passing through.

Originally, as they passed, birds were startled and fled, and aquatic creatures hid. But unexpectedly...

Another person emerged from the water.

As soon as this person came out of the water, she hurriedly spat and instinctively tried to smooth her fur. However, she was in human form at the moment and couldn't reach herself by turning her head. She struggled in the water for a while, running and walking, until she found a solitary rock sticking out of the water to stand on.

She first violently shook her head to get rid of the water, then stared blankly at the direction the demons had gone for a while.

Then an indescribable expression appeared on San Hua's face—even Li Yunxin would probably find it hard to figure out what she was thinking.

She first looked into the distance, then slowly shifted her gaze to the sky.

"Little disaster," she muttered softly, not knowing who she was talking about, "Hmph, a little disaster. Oh my... they're all the same!"

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