*Boom!* In the sky, Xiao Yan’s fist collided with the rancid palm of the Great Elder, brimming with a dense, black aura. The blazing fire leapt suddenly, evaporating all the toxic fumes. The powerful force also forced the Great Elder to stagger back several steps. The blood in his body was even beginning to churn. The power of Xiao Yan’s flame was making him feel extremely uncomfortable.
“Great Elder, I think you should surrender. You can’t defeat me, and I suppose your ally, Demon Sky Howl, will be defeated by Demon Ming in ten more moves. When that happens, I’m afraid your fate won’t be very good,” said Xiao Yan, who had transformed into a golden giant, gazing down at the nearby Great Elder with a smile.
Hearing this, the Great Elder’s face twitched, and he quickly cast a glance at the fight between Demon Sky Howl and Demon Ming. His heart sank; Demon Ming was now completely overwhelming Demon Sky Howl, leaving the latter with almost no chance to fight back. From the look of his pitiful state, it was clear he wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer.
“Damn it, so many years of effort, all for nothing!” The Great Elder was filled with anger and unwillingness. He had thought they had completely controlled the Nine Serpent Ground Python Clan, but the harsh reality told them that such control was nothing but an illusion. When a crisis struck, the supposed control became a joke.
“My dear brother, in all these years, you’ve only made this little progress, which is truly disappointing!” As the Great Elder seethed in anger, a sarcastic laughter echoed from nearby. A deafening roar then followed, and immediately after, the pained cry of Demon Sky Howl reverberated through the air.
“Defeated?” Upon hearing the cry, the Great Elder’s heart jolted, and he hurriedly turned around. What he saw was Demon Sky Howl lying on top of a peak like a dead dog, while the once towering mountain had collapsed to nearly half its height. A clash between Dou Shengs could obliterate a peak with a mere gesture.
*Bang.* Demon Ming stomped fiercely on Demon Sky Howl’s body. A terrifying gust of wind radiated from his foot, shattering nearby boulders into powder. Demon Sky Howl spat out a mouthful of blood, with some shattered internal organs mixed within.
At this sight, the eyelids of many members of the Nine Serpent Ground Python Clan twitched. The battle between the two had been too fierce. Demon Sky Howl looked miserable, but Demon Ming was equally drenched in blood, with bloody wounds all over his body. Blood trickled down his head, making his face look terribly savage. In the fight against Demon Sky Howl, Demon Ming had truly demonstrated what it meant to fight with all one’s might. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to quickly defeat a one-star Dou Sheng.
“Looks like Demon Ming truly harbors a deep hatred for Demon Sky Howl. Every move was merciless.” Witnessing the blood-soaked Demon Ming and Demon Sky Howl, Xiao Yan was somewhat astonished. This was what it meant to fight with all one’s strength.
“Brother, brother, spare me! I was also tempted by the Great Elder and strayed that day!” Demon Ming’s foot firmly pressed on Demon Sky Howl’s chest, and a look of terror appeared on his originally vicious face as he shouted.
“Only now do you recognize me as your brother? My suffering over hundreds of years was all because of you!” Demon Ming’s voice was icy as he slowly crouched down, stroking Demon Sky Howl’s head. His blood-soaked face momentarily softened. “Back then, I truly treated you as my own brother. If you hadn’t betrayed me, the position of the clan leader would have been yours…”
“From childhood, everything good was first for you. If you want me to die, don’t expect to live happily either!” Feeling Demon Ming’s touch, Demon Sky Howl trembled violently, sensing the murderous intent in the other’s heart. His eyes flashed with a sinister glint, but just as his battle energy was about to reverse and explode, Demon Ming’s eyes turned cold, and his hand stabbed into Demon Sky Howl’s head, blood and brain matter bursting out in an instant.
*Boom!* As his hand entered Demon Sky Howl’s head, Demon Ming remained emotionless and slowly withdrew his hand, holding a fist-sized, jet-black orb in his palm. The orb was extremely smooth, and faint black mist swirled inside, forming a screaming face, unmistakably Demon Sky Howl’s.
In the vast world, all members of the Nine Serpent Ground Python Clan watched the mountain, feeling the complete disappearance of Demon Sky Howl’s aura and bloodline.
Those who were initially fighting the elder generation of clansmen paled and began to tremble, not daring to make any further moves.
Holding the black orb, a sorrowful expression flickered in Demon Ming’s eyes. While he felt no great joy at avenging his grievance, there was no greater sorrow than fratricide.
*Gulp…* In the sky, the Great Elder swallowed hard. He never expected Demon Ming to be so ruthless, showing no mercy to Demon Sky Howl, not even sparing his demon core, clearly not wanting to give him any chance of revival.
Xiao Yan looked at the motionless Demon Ming standing beside Demon Sky Howl’s corpse, refraining from disturbing him. Having brothers himself, he understood the pain that would come if he had to harm Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. Despite Demon Sky Howl’s betrayal, they still shared the same blood.
“Great Elder, it’s your turn next…” Demon Ming took a deep breath, flicked his sleeve, and retracted Demon Sky Howl’s corpse. Lifting his head, he fixed his ferocious gaze on the Great Elder, speaking grimly.
Seeing the grotesque gaze of Demon Ming, the Great Elder trembled. He knew that if he fell into Demon Ming’s hands, his end would be far worse than Demon Sky Howl’s.
“Devil Snake Celestial Explosion!” The Great Elder’s eyes darted between Demon Ming and Xiao Yan. Suddenly, he clenched his teeth, swiftly formed a strange seal, and his body expanded, his skin writhing as if something was about to burst out.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan frowned and backed away anxiously.
“You dare to self-destruct!” Shocked, Demon Ming quickly retreated as well.
*Boom!* As Xiao Yan and Demon Ming retreated, the Great Elder’s body exploded, the terrifying energy instantly leveling all peaks within a thousand feet.
*Swish, swish!* As the energy waves erupted, countless pitch-black serpents burst forth, spreading in all directions. These serpents vanished as soon as they touched the ground.
“Not a self-destruct? This old fiend is sly. He discarded his flesh and hid his demon core in a clone…” Watching this, surprise flickered in Xiao Yan’s eyes. This old man had truly made a quick decision, but without his flesh, his strength would plummet, and it would take who knows how long to recover.
“Hmph, this old ghost got off easy…” As the energy waves dissipated, Demon Ming flashed to Xiao Yan’s side, barking at the Nine Serpent Ground Python Clan, “Search within ten thousand miles. Find that old ghost!”
“Yes!” Some elders hurriedly replied. Demon Ming, despite being gone for centuries, still commanded fear, especially after killing Demon Sky Howl.
“Congratulations, Clan Leader Demon Ming, on your return. We will swear to follow you to the death!” The elderly elders stepped forward, bowing respectfully to Demon Ming.
“Thank you, elders. Deal with the clan matters. Those who should not stay, need not stay,” Demon Ming said calmly, intending to eliminate Demon Sky Howl’s loyalists to solidify his rule.
“Yes!” The elders quickly answered.
Xiao Yan, observing Demon Ming handling the clan affairs, nodded in approval. Despite being sealed for so long, he still had presence. If developed properly, he would be a significant figure.
*Whosh!* As Xiao Yan released his Vajra Lustrous Body, Cai Lin and others flew out of the ravine, hovering beside him. They had not intervened in the earlier battle, thus did not reveal themselves.
“Brother Xiao Yan, thanks to your timely assistance,” Demon Ming turned to Xiao Yan, bowing sincerely.
Xiao Yan smiled and waved a hand.
“Brother Xiao Yan, I am deeply indebted to you. Though I cannot repay you sufficiently, I must offer some compensation. Please, don’t refuse. I believe you will find my offer interesting,” Demon Ming pondered and smiled.
“Oh?” Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow.
“Have you heard of the Yellow Spring Demon Saint?” Demon Ming asked.
“Yellow Spring Demon Saint?” Xiao Yan paused, then his expression changed. “The Yellow Spring Demon Saint who, in ancient times, nearly reached the level of a Battle King?”
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