Chapter 139: Chapter 139 Fierce Lightning Method
Ao Dian revealed his true form while speaking, a giant python tens of zhang long and as thick as a water tank, opening its mouth to spit out shining blue venom.
Roar!
Great Tiger King let out a long howl to the sky, transforming into a hanging-eyed white-forehead giant tiger.
The other Demon Kings each underwent changes, a black-furred giant wolf several zhang tall, a leopard with spotted skin, and a pheasant spirit fanning out a wild wind with its colorful tail feathers.
Outside the formation.
"Demons don't understand formations and don't have magic artifacts, but relying on their strong demon bodies and strength, it's not certain whether the six demons can break through the formation. However, my formation is not just one layer..."
Zhou Yi urged the Array Plate, and within the formation, a blazing sun appeared, spewing out surging Divine Fire.
Wherever the Demon Kings passed, the ground either cracked open or sharp spikes emerged.
Howl! Screech!
Two agonizing screams came out, the Black Wolf King's abdomen was pierced with a bloody hole, and the pheasant spirit collided into the blazing sun's Divine Fire as it soared into the sky.
The remaining three demons were agile and quick, enduring the attacks from the Golden Lock Formation, and violently crashed towards the Formation Flags. They felt their strength dissipate into nothing as the golden pillars twisted and vanished, only to reappear not far away.
Ao Dian, having seen much of the world, exclaimed in shock, "Fake? An Illusion Array!"
The Four Symbols Sumeru Formation specializes in defense, misdirection, and transformation!
Divine Fire and earth tearing apart, there was nowhere to hide above or below the heavens. In just a moment, each of the six Demon Kings was severely injured.
At this moment.
A voice entered the formation, "Swear allegiance to me, make a Blood Covenant and Soul Covenant, and your life shall be spared!"
"Dream on!"
Great Tiger King, with skin split and flesh open, losing half of his tail, knew he couldn't escape and thus invoked his wild nature, spitting out a bright yellow Demon Core.
Boom!
The Demon Core self-destructed, its power reaching the limit of Foundation Establishment, causing the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation to break open a gap.
Great Tiger King suddenly self-detonated, and the first to react was actually the Great Pig King, who had been lying on the ground grunting and groaning, rolled over and became a gigantic wild boar. Its black hair sharp as thorns and spewing out two long tusks from its mouth, it ran wildly on its four short legs like a small mountain, charging out.
"What wild nature! What scheming!"
Zhou Yi exclaimed in admiration and waved his hand to halt the blockage, opening his mouth to spew out the Mountain and River Cauldron.
It swelled in the wind to more than twenty zhang, appearing like a five-colored hill outside the formation.
The Great Pig King could not dodge in time and collided head-on with the Mountain and River Cauldron, the latter remaining unmoved while the former screamed as half of its body turned into a bloody pulp.
"Not in vain I refined it for three hundred years!"
Zhou Yi beckoned the Mountain and River Cauldron back, which, after three generations of the He family's diligent refinement, had finally advanced to a top-tier Magic Artifact.
"Submit, or die!"
The voice permeated the formation, and the remaining four demons showed varying expressions. Ao Dian and the pheasant spirit hesitated.
"I would rather die!"
"Attack!"
Black Wolf and the leopard demon were driven by their ferocity, enduring the burn of the great sun's Divine Fire as they rode the demon wind toward the source of the voice.
"After testing the magic artifacts, let's try the Lightning Method."
Zhou Yi's fingers danced rapidly, and dozens of thunderbolts rained down like a downpour, the rumbling sound incessant, weaving a net of lightning that enveloped the two demons.
But this was only the beginning; what followed were thunder spears, thunder swords, thunder knives, and even a great seal condensed from thunder, bombarding them continuously for a whole quarter hour before it stopped. Two demon bodies lay in the formation, charred all over, devoid of life.
"Too weak! After four hundred years of cultivation, am I considered unrivaled among my peers?"
Zhou Yi was quite satisfied with the Lightning Method he had comprehended the essence of for one hundred and fifty years and had finally mastered its form and control.
The pheasant spirit, looking at the two charred corpses, was the first to kneel and beg for mercy, "Great King! Please spare my life! My life, please!"
A red and a black Blood Covenant and prohibition fell into the body of the pheasant spirit.
A gap opened in the formation, and the pheasant spirit continuously flapped its wings, hurriedly fleeing out.
Seeing this, Ao Dian also lowered his snake head, "Great King, please spare my life, I am willing to serve."
The covenant was set, and the formation dissipated.
Zhou Yi said with a smile, "Dragon King, I didn't expect to see you so soon."
"Golden friend?"
Ao Dian looked toward the bowing ox and suddenly realized, "So it turns out that His Majesty is indeed the Master of Mo Cloud Cave." Find exclusive stories on m_v l|e'm-p| y r
With four Demon Kings dead and two having submitted, the minor demons lost their will to fight.
After slaying a few stubborn demons, the remaining seven hundred were all incorporated into the forces; the count of demon soldiers in the Mo Cloud Cave then surpassed one thousand.
In the third-floor hall.
Zhou Yi sat upon a stone chair, setting down rules for Mo Cloud Cave.
"In my domain, cannibalism is forbidden. If anyone dares to break this ban in secret, they will be turned to ash under the Lightning Method!"
These words were naturally directed at the snake demon Ao Dian and the wild chicken spirit Hu Xi, who had long been aware of the ox's deeds. They took it as Zhou Yi setting the boundaries and hurriedly nodded in agreement.
"We shall heed the Great King's command!"
With soul and blood covenants established, they were now dependent on Zhou Yi and dared not rebel.
"Everything else is to remain as usual. Remember to have the demon soldiers mine more in the mountains. I shall refine some blades and Magic Artifacts to increase the strength of the demon soldiers."
Zhou Yi had seen the demon soldiers in combat; aside from using their innate magical abilities, they relied on claws and teeth to fight, and couldn't compare to Qi Refinement cultivators of the same rank. Merely equipping them with lower-grade Magic Artifacts could significantly boost their strength.
"This humble snake, I thank the Great King for his gracious gift."
Ao Dian asked, "There is another matter. The death of the four mountain demons will surely prompt the Jade Fang Cave to send envoys to inquire. We need the Great King to decide how to handle it."
"What do you know about the Jade Fang Demon King?"
Zhou Yi had heard from the ox that Flying Cloud Ridge was part of the Jade Fang Demon King's territory; theoretically, every great and minor demon of each mountain peak was under its jurisdiction.
The Jade Fang Demon King was not a mere upstart monarch but a genuine transformed demon of the shape-shifting kind. Since the ox had followed Zhou Yi's advice to act humbly and cautiously, it seldom went out to explore, and its knowledge of the Hundred Thousand Mountains was limited to the vicinity of Mo Cloud Cave.
Ao Dian replied, "The Jade Fang Demon King's true form is a rare kind of divine elephant. He is naturally somnolent and seldom inquires into the affairs of his subordinates. However, his envoy is a cunning and greedy toad spirit."
Zhou Yi did not fear others' greed, but rather their righteousness and integrity, "Normally, how do you deal with that envoy?"
Ao Dian said, "The death of the four mountain demons will surely make that toad spirit demand a high price, asking for a hundred-year-old Spiritual Medicine."
Zhou Yi waved his hand and threw out two hundred-year Spirit Ginsengs: "You take care of sending him away. The remaining one is your reward."
Ao Dian's face lit up with surprise, and he bowed repeatedly, "This humble snake will take care of the matter, and the Great King can be at ease!"
"Hm."
Zhou Yi inquired, "From your appearance, it seems you know quite a lot about the Hundred Thousand Mountains?"
"Great King, this humble snake has some dragon blood in my ancestry and has also mingled at several Green Wave Lake Dragon Palace feasts. I've heard many stories from demon kings."
Ao Dian said, "The Hundred Thousand Mountains are vast and extensive. Although the thousands of mountains and rivers seem chaotic, each mountain and peak has its own order. For example, the demon group of Flying Cloud Ridge is under the Jade Fang Demon King, and beyond that is the Green Wave Lake Dragon Palace."
Green Wave Lake is one of the four great Imperial Clans, with a Nascent Soul Stage Dragon Emperor residing within. It had engaged in several major battles with the Dan Ding Sect.
Zhou Yi asked, "How many Demon Kings are there in the mountains?"
Ao Dian replied, "There are thirty-six officially acknowledged by the four great Imperial Clans, corresponding to the thirty-six major and minor Spirit Veins in the mountains. There are rumors of many other Loose Cultivator Demon Kings who are either reclusive or lazy, occupying mountains for secluded practice, not under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Clans."
Zhou Yi nodded slightly, noting that the Hundred Thousand Mountains was almost the same size as the Cloud Continent but had spawned far more Golden Core experts.
The Dan Ding Sect ruled Cloud Continent with an iron fist, treating the Spirit Veins as private property and harshly exploiting Loose Cultivators, delaying who knows how many would-be Golden Core cultivators.
Moreover, demon clans pass down through bloodlines without worry for cultivation methods, and with their lengthy lifespans, it's easier for them to accumulate strength and reach the peak of great demons.
With an abundance of Spiritual Energy and Cultivation Techniques, naturally there were more demon kings who successfully transcended tribulations and transformed.
"Even though genuine immortals are at a clear disadvantage, the Dan Ding Sect has always been able to suppress the Hundred Thousand Mountains. At the same rank, demons likely cannot match cultivators!"
After some contemplation, Zhou Yi realized that the pride he felt for effortlessly winning a six-to-one battle had significantly diminished.
Human cultivators possess countless Wonderful Techniques, aided by Magic Artifacts, pills, and talismans, far beyond what demons could match with mere demon bodies and innate magical abilities.
"These thoughts are too remote. Mo Cloud Cave is rich in Spiritual Energy, enough for cultivation up to the peak of Foundation Establishment. For now, I shall seclude myself for quiet cultivation, while also searching for Solidifying Pill Spiritual Objects to ensure a one hundred percent success rate!"
With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Yi gave orders to the six demons by his side.
"While I am in seclusion, the five mountains and one river around Mo Cloud Cave will be your domains. Any outside great demon must be carefully scrutinized."
"Your command shall be followed!"
The ox and the other demons bowed to accept the order, with the turtle chancellor being the most delighted, finally able to command a mountain all to himself.
Zhou Yi glanced over, then continued speaking.
"Leopard Head Peak and Wolf Mountain are connected, so only one needs to be guarded. Turtle Chancellor, your strength is too weak. Remain in the cave and await my orders."
The turtle chancellor dared not refuse, sadly accepting the command before having a thought.
"I'm now the Great King's close minister. Besides coming and going, I am Mo Cloud Cave's envoy. Won't they all have to respectfully bring me tributes?"