As the saying goes, “If you have done no wrong, you need not fear the devil knocking at your door.” But Lian’er had something to hide, so naturally her heart was in turmoil.
The two demonic beasts transformed into green-haired human figures, both taking the appearance of middle-aged women.
One of the demons, with a voluptuous figure, looked Lian’er up and down and disdainfully remarked, “So she’s a demon immortal after all, and even a butterfly demon from the Realm of Rakshasa.”
“Since we’re all demons, let’s not make things difficult for her,” said the other, who was prettier and looked more kind-hearted. She bowed to Lian’er and said, “Little sister, don’t be afraid. We just want to ask you a few questions. Have you seen anyone suspicious around here? Also, what brings you to this desolate place?”
“Speak up! Why would you come here for no reason? There must be something wrong,” the voluptuous demon glared fiercely at Lian’er.
Lian’er immediately realized they were searching for information about the Fire Kirin’s death. She quickly replied, “Esteemed friends, I was sent by the Dream Demon Sister from the Realm of Rakshasa to visit the Old Matriarch of the Heaven Demon Sect. I haven’t seen anyone suspicious along the way. Please, honorable elders, have mercy and understand my situation.”
“Oh, so she’s heading to the Heaven Demon Sect…”
“Forget it, let her go.”
The demonic beast clan had suffered a major setback with the Fire Kirin’s death. To provoke the Heaven Demon Sect at this time would be extremely unwise.
As minor demons, how could they dare to bring trouble to their clan by opposing the Heaven Demon Sect?
Lian’er thanked the demons and continued on her journey.
The two demons resumed their search in the area, looking for any travelers.
But all the cultivators from the various sects nearby had vanished without a trace.
“Report! No suspicious activity found in the southeast squad!”
“Report! All cultivators from the Three Saints Sect have disappeared!”
“Report! All cultivators from the Tianyi Sect have also vanished!”
…
On a platform atop a mountain summit, countless demonic beasts bustled about busily. In the center of the platform, an army of over ten thousand demonic beasts had gathered. They had set up a grand formation, and in the heart of the formation sat a massive throne. Upon it, cross-legged in meditation, was Ao Hong, the Second King of the demonic beasts, the Azure Dragon Beast.
“Report! We encountered a butterfly demon from the Realm of Rakshasa. She claimed she was sent by the Dream Demon Sister of the Rakshasa Realm to visit the Old Matriarch of the Heaven Demon Sect. Nothing else was discovered.”
The scouting demonic beasts returned one after another.
“How outrageous! Who dares kill my third brother!?”
Ao Hong slammed the table furiously and stood up. His tall figure radiated a fierce killing intent, and his voice thundered like a bell, shaking the heavens and chilling the hearts of all present.
“Second King, perhaps we should seek help from General Li. He possesses the Qiankun Mirror; surely he can help us identify the killer.”
A small old man stepped forward. He had a long face, black skin, wore a shiny black armor, had a dozen arms, and sported two long, thin mustaches. He was the advisor who had followed Ao Hong for over a thousand years—the Myriapod Monster.
Ao Hong’s eyebrows twitched at the suggestion. “Fine. We’ll march our army to see General Li. If he’s willing to help, that’s good. If not, I’ll just devour him and ascend to Immortal Emperor. Then who would dare oppose me?”
“Whoosh!”
The demonic beast army set out, ready to besiege the General’s Mansion.
Beyond the Ten-Thousand-Mountain Range stood a sacred mountain, fully equipped with defensive formations, where three thousand celestial soldiers and generals were stationed. Normally, all the local factions paid tribute regularly to the General, who would then divide the spoils and pass them upward, ensuring that everyone from top to bottom received their share. Thus, no one dared to trouble these celestial bandits and demonic beasts.
General Li, a Celestial Venerable cultivator, spent his days indulging in pleasures atop the sacred mountain, surrounded by beautiful women, living a life of ease and comfort.
When the upper echelons are corrupt, the lower ranks inevitably follow. Thus, General Li’s subordinates, the celestial soldiers and generals, spent their days drinking, gambling, and indulging in sensual pleasures, living in a drunken stupor.
When the demonic beast army arrived and surrounded the sacred mountain, Ao Hong personally led hundreds of Immortal Elders directly to the General’s Mansion. There, they found General Li completely drunk and incoherent.
A leech demon transformed into a beautiful woman and kissed General Li. Soon, all the alcohol was sucked from his body.
General Li awoke, startled to see a massive demonic beast army. “You… what do you want?”
“General Li, my third brother, the Fire Kirin, was killed within your jurisdiction. I need to borrow your Qiankun Mirror to find the culprit and avenge my brother!” Ao Hong was furious, his voice roaring like thunder. He roughly sat down on the General’s throne.
Seeing Ao Hong’s audacity, General Li was shocked. Looking around, he saw only demonic beasts, not a single ally.
All his celestial soldiers and generals were drunk and asleep.
General Li had risen to his current position through his cunning. Realizing the danger, he quickly said, “Such a grave matter! Second King, please calm down. I’ll fetch the Qiankun Mirror immediately. Once we identify the killer, I’ll dispatch troops to avenge the Third King.”
With that, General Li hurried to the inner palace.
“Second King, I’ll go with him…”
The Myriapod Monster bowed to Ao Hong and followed Li inside.
At the entrance to the inner palace, General Li tried to stop the Myriapod Monster. “This is my private area. How dare you enter?”
The Myriapod Monster sneered, “General Li, you’re a smart man. Can’t you tell I’m here to help you?”
“What do you mean?” General Li’s heart quickened.
The Myriapod Monster grabbed Li’s hand and transmitted his voice into his mind, “The Fire Kirin is dead. Second King Ao Hong is hot-tempered and bloodthirsty. Do you really think he came only to borrow your Qiankun Mirror? I’m concerned for your safety and hope to gain a position under you in the future. That’s why I risked my life to warn you. Ao Hong will kill you, he will devour you to ascend as an Immortal Emperor. With the imminent Celestial and Demon War, Heaven won’t have time to avenge you. So, I advise General Li, you should escape with your treasures now. If you delay, you’ll never get another chance.”
“Your kindness is beyond repayment. Once I summon the heavenly troops, you shall be my Deputy General.”
General Li’s eyes flickered, and he believed the Myriapod Monster’s words.
Immediately, General Li took his treasures and fled the sacred mountain using a Dunjia Talisman.
“Second King! Bad news! General Li has fled with his treasures!” The Myriapod Monster returned, pretending to be in a panic.
Ao Hong’s fury erupted, “Damn it! Could General Li be the one who killed my third brother!?”
“Second King, I think General Li’s escape will surely bring a massive heavenly army to destroy us. We might as well go all the way—kill all the celestial soldiers and generals here, invite our Great King out of seclusion, and rebel against Heaven during the Celestial and Demon War!”
The Myriapod Monster incited chaos, unafraid of the consequences.
Ao Hong, impulsive and reckless, immediately ordered the capture of all celestial soldiers and generals, and the looting of the sacred mountain’s treasures.
Soon, the three thousand heavenly soldiers and generals were captured. Ao Hong, in his brutality, slaughtered and devoured them all. Gaining their celestial powers, his cultivation soared, breaking through his bottleneck and reaching the Immortal Emperor stage.
“Boom!”
A thunderclap suddenly echoed across the sky. Yellow lightning clouds gathered—the Imperial Tribulation was approaching.
In the Immortal Realm, ordinary Immortals usually didn’t need to undergo tribulations to ascend.
But to become an Immortal Emperor, one must endure the Imperial Tribulation.
The Imperial Tribulation required enduring three Heavenly Lightning Ordeals: the Virtue Sage Lightning, the Law Sage Lightning, and the Karma Sage Lightning.
Surviving all three meant becoming a true Immortal Emperor.
Failing meant annihilation by the sacred lightning.
Seeing the tribulation arrive, the Myriapod Monster quickly sneaked away. He was certain Ao Hong couldn’t survive the sacred lightning.
But Ao Hong was ecstatic. He laughed at the sky and roared, “Come on! Strike me! I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. You think you can kill me? Let me tell you, I’ve already figured out how to survive your sacred lightning tribulation!”
As he roared, Ao Hong suddenly stretched out his hands, and dozens of celestial maidens were pulled to his side through his magical power.
Ao Hong intended to use others’ virtue to survive the tribulation.
“Boom!”
A yellow lightning bolt suddenly tore across the sky. As it struck, an old man suddenly appeared above Ao Hong’s head.
This old man was a righteous mortal, once an ordinary Immortal, who had long been captured and imprisoned within Ao Hong’s magical treasure (法宝). Now, during the tribulation, he was just in time to be used.
Indeed, thanks to the old man, Ao Hong emerged unscathed, but the old man and the celestial maidens all perished.
“Boom!”
Another lightning bolt struck. Ao Hong endured the Law Sage Lightning, his body scorched black by the lightning, but he survived due to his immense magical power.
Then came the third Karma Sage Lightning. Ao Hong suddenly released thousands of pitiful Immortals imprisoned within his magical treasure, instantly earning their immense gratitude, which allowed him to survive the third Karma Sage Lightning!
“What! He actually survived!?”
The Myriapod Monster was shocked beyond belief. He never expected Ao Hong, a bloodthirsty killer, to truly become an Immortal Emperor.
No, he must die!
Such a person could never become an Immortal Emperor!
General Li would return with the heavenly troops to kill him, and I will become Deputy General. My plan will succeed.
The Myriapod Monster had long awaited the day to become a true Immortal.
But he never imagined Ao Hong, this evil fiend, could ascend to Immortal Emperor!
“Hahaha! Hahahaha…”
A yellow light appeared above Ao Hong’s head, slowly spreading across his body, solidifying his status as an Immortal Emperor.
This yellow light was sacred, descending from the First Heaven, a sign of Heaven’s recognition.
Gaining this sacred light meant receiving Heaven’s official recognition.
An Immortal Emperor would receive a vast territory.
“Ugh! What!?”
Suddenly, Ao Hong’s expression froze, and he could no longer smile. Moments ago, through his consciousness, he had received recognition from Heaven—his territory was the barren wilderness of the Ninth Heaven! This area included both the demonic beasts’ domain and the Heaven Demon Sect’s land. The demonic beasts’ territory had originally belonged to his elder brother, the Thunder Dragon God. As a younger brother, how could he possibly replace his elder brother? And even if he did, what would it truly signify? The Heaven Demon Sect was filled with powerful experts, particularly the Heaven Demon Matriarch, whose strength was unfathomable. Even if Heaven had granted him control over the Heaven Demon Sect’s domain, how could he ever seize it? Moreover, even if he succeeded, what value would that desolate land hold for him?
This recognition left Ao Hong deeply disappointed.
This recognition was the most humiliating one possible.
A mighty Immortal Emperor, trapped in a place not even a bird would defecate on—how could Ao Hong accept this?
“I refuse! I refuse this fate!”
Ao Hong roared in fury, pointing at the heavens, “Old Jade Emperor, you treat me unjustly! I will rebel! I will overthrow your rule…”
The lightning clouds dissipated, and everything returned to normal.
The yellow light above Ao Hong’s head vanished as well. This was Heaven’s punishment—denying him even the Imperial aura.
“Hehehe, pitiful, truly pitiful. This Immortal Emperor must be the most pitiful in the Immortal Realm!”
The Myriapod Monster secretly laughed. Having followed Ao Hong for years, treated like a dog or pig, he harbored deep hatred and sought revenge. He silently plotted, I will find the expert who killed the Fire Kirin and destroy this most pitiful Immortal Emperor. You say Heaven treats you unfairly, but when have you ever treated me fairly?
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