Chapter 461: The Twelve Demon Gods

Hoo hoo hoo—

Demonic Qi surged and intertwined, and the terrifying aura of the Black Bull Demon God leaked out, as if the very space itself was subtly warping continuously.

This time it was his true form that appeared; upon sensing something amiss, the Black Bull Demon God chose to send his true body, the unease in his heart stemming from his demonic soul's intuition.

He trusted his intuition, but when he arrived outside the courtyard where the Bull Demon was and found the Night Bat Demon God, the unease vanished like smoke.

The Black Bull Demon God was awash with demonic Qi, showing only a black bull's head, eyes scarlet, brows knit, staring at the Night Bat Demon God before him.

"Night Bat, has anything happened?"

"Did that Bull Demon strike you?"

The Black Bull Demon God could not help but ask.

However, the Night Bat Demon God was very respectful, clasping fists and bowing: "I have been constantly monitoring the underworld Bull Demon's situation and have not noticed any abnormality."

Hearing this, the Black Bull Demon God's doubts gradually faded; he gave the Night Bat a glance, feeling the other was unharmed, not looking severely wounded, and thus did not ponder further.

The Night Bat was one of his most important confidants; when the inheritance of Qitian Temple is activated in the future, Night Bat will still need to scout and plunder resources, which is of utmost importance.

Because of the divine infection from the Guiyi Miao, many demonic races have been born among humans; to date, even within nations such as Dàjǐng and Dàlí Royal Court, large numbers of demonic races have emerged.

Beyond the various nations, the demonic race, imitating the uncanny palace's strange demon cave, established the Hundred Thousand Great River, gathering even more demons; with their numbers increased, their thirst for resources naturally grew.

The Black Bull Demon God encouraged the Night Bat for a moment.

The Night Bat seemed to sense something; after taking leave, it vanished back into the void, leaving only a hair‑thin fissure.

The Black Bull Demon God turned his head and met the gaze of the massive Bull Demon in the courtyard, towering like a tower mountain, its cold, sweeping eyes fixed upon him.

One black bull, one cute bull, the two bulls seemed to stare at each other across the void.

The Black Bull Demon God gave a faint smile; unfortunately, he truly is a bull.

And the Bull Demon… is merely a counterfeit wearing a mask.

Boom boom boom—

Black winds roared, demonic Qi surged, and the Black Bull Demon God retreated directly, returning to the City Lord's Residence, taking his seat inside, extending his perception to the three great city gates, identifying all human strongmen entering the city.

As the challenge progressed, more and more strongmen set foot within the city.

Because the demon gods guarding the three city gates are all at the One Calamity, One Tribulation realm, and among the human strongmen arriving, many are at the One Calamity, Two Tribulations level.

Moreover, with the death of the Crane Demon God looming, many demon gods became apprehensive, unwilling to risk their lives; falling like the Crane Demon God would be a loss not worth the risk.

After all, the temple‑god resonance of Qitian is about to commence; as a demonic race, within Qitian's Demon Saint temple‑god resonance, they already hold a great advantage.

At this moment, fighting human cultivators and getting wounded is tolerable, but if one falls and misses the Qitian temple‑god resonance, losing further opportunity, that would truly be a loss.

The temple‑god resonance of a Three Purities Strange Temple offers tremendous benefits!

If one truly inherits the Qitian temple‑god resonance lineage, in the future one might even be guided into the strange demon cave, becoming a member of the pantheon of gods!

Outside Qitian City, in the courtyard.

Li Che, wearing a Bull Demon mask, watched the great black bull depart and let out a slow breath.

Yet the murderous intent hidden in his eyes was unmasked.

From the moment this great black bull began scheming against Xixi, intending to capture her and deliver her to the strange demon cave within Gui Que, Li Che developed a lethal resolve toward the great black bull.

After all, it is a great black bull Demon God at the Two Calamities realm.

The divine tribulation of the Two Calamities realm is called a 'Venerable'; what is a Venerable? In cultivation, one who is taken as a model of respect is called a Venerable.

When such a strongman sets his sights on one's own daughter, how could Li Che remain calm?

Moreover, the great black bull represents not only himself but also the myriad demonic races of the Hundred Thousand Great River, standing for the strange demon cave, a major pantheon of gods!

Li Che lowered his gaze; Xixi's connection with the Prison Lotus faction is unavoidable.

Since Xixi received the Three Princes' temple‑god resonance inheritance, it has essentially determined that her future will involve the Prison Lotus faction.

She even became the daughter of Prison Lotus…

Li Che does not understand the significance of being the Prison Lotus daughter, what status it holds in the Prison Lotus faction, or what it represents…

However, for the strange demon cave to value it so much, the Prison Lotus daughter's standing within the Prison Lotus faction must be considerable!

"Fortunately… Xixi is in the mortal world; the pantheon of gods cannot currently reach the mortal realm."

Li Che pressed his Bull Demon mask.

The mortal world is bound by the will of Heaven and Earth, a protection that safeguards both human cultivators and Xixi.

Buzz—

A sudden shift of spirit carried him into Mo City's Fengdu.

Within Fengdu.

A gigantic bat corpse lay across the uneven, pitted ground of Mo City, cold ink‑colored rain pelting down, continuously washing its body, twisted black blood oozing out.

This was not the blood's original hue, but the color after being poisoned by a deadly toxin.

A poison so lethal that even a demon god at the One Calamity, Two Tribulations realm could not endure.

Beside the massive bat corpse, a slender figure stood, wearing a black hooded coat, looking like a researcher, extracting essence blood and venom from the corpse's body.

"Lord."

Gu Yin Xuan, upon seeing Li Che arrive, immediately halted his extraction of essence blood and venom.

As a Poison Saint, he is fascinated by any toxin, let alone the poison of a demon god at the One Calamity, Two Tribulations realm.

Li Che gave Gu Yin Xuan a glance, a gentle smile on his face.

To save time and swiftly eliminate the Night Bat Demon God, Li Che had to employ his secret weapon: Gu Yin Xuan.

When Gu Yin Xuan struck, one hand wielding Nine‑Turn Ascending Dragon Pillar, the other a Three‑Legged Golden Toad Drop, he instantly stripped the Night Bat Demon God of resistance, allowing the sea‑turning Nine‑Infant and Li Che's full‑power burst to brutally slay it.

Buzz—

A wisp of black smoke twisted, and the Night Bat Demon God's bound spirit form instantly materialized, its wings folded, taking a human shape—though rather ugly, its two fangs snarling.

Li Che did not send the Night Bat Demon God to the Ten Evils Ink Map to feed the Nine‑Infant; instead, he chose the bound spirit.

After all, the Night Bat Demon God's role is still huge; placed beside the Black Ox Demon God Sovereign, whether as a spy or as a back‑stabbing foreshadow, it's all fine.

Originally the Night Bat Demon God was the Great Black Ox's eyes and ears placed next to the Underworld Bull Demon, but Li Che chose a simple, brute method to turn him, and it was a defection of absolute loyalty.

One can only say the Underworld's methods far exceed the imagination of these demon races.

Even the Night Bat Demon God itself felt the shock.

This Underworld—where is it a proper force? It's clearly a demonic sect!

Li Che instructed the Night Bat Demon God on several matters; now under the influence of the Underworld's restraint, it is absolutely loyal and naturally obeys Li Che's orders—a suppression that goes beyond the demon race's rank.

"Lord, when the Qitian Cheng inheritance is activated, my ultrasonic sensing can swiftly detect resources, locate Dao‑Essence Divine Crystals, Divine Essence Crystals, and the like; if we enter the Strange Abyss, we can also find and track Divine Essence Crystal ores!"

The Night Bat Demon God presented its ability as if offering a treasure.

Li Che heard this, his eyes instantly brightened; upon realizing the Night Bat Demon God's huge role under the Great Black Ox, Li Che's mind also became lively.

One can only say the Great Black Ox is truly generous; such a powerful demon talent can even be fed to his mouth.

Letting the Night Bat Demon God return to continue its disguised scouting, nearby Gu Yin Xuan clasped his fists and reported the recent research progress: "Report, Lord, after my three hundred and sixty‑seven deaths, the eighth‑rank Heavenly Poison Divine Pill 'Thousand Sheets Ten Thousand Bones Centipede Powder' has made significant progress."

"I estimate that after about another one hundred and eighty deaths, we can complete the Thousand Sheets Ten Thousand Bones Centipede Powder."

Gu Yin Xuan said with some excitement.

Li Che heard this, his mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but click his tongue.

"Sneakily, you've died that many times?"

"Old Gu, you've worked hard…"

Li Che couldn't help saying.

Gu Yin Xuan's meticulous face immediately broke into a smile: "Lord, you overstate it; I am the one who should die."

Gu Yin Xuan left, taking the Night Bat Demon God's precious blood and venom to research a new deadly toxin.

Li Che, unreserved, extracted the demon pill from the Night Bat Demon God and began to swallow its demon Qi, enhancing the Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit.

The Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit absorbed demon Qi at such a speed that it finished the absorption without Li Che noticing.

Playing with the demon pill that resembled a night‑bright pearl, Li Che's eyes flashed with brilliance.

He contemplated a plan to deal with the Great Black Ox.

For this Demon God Sovereign that threatens his daughter's safety, Li Che would not take it lightly.

Suddenly, Li Che thought of the round‑table meeting of numerous demon gods assembled by the Great Black Ox, and a slight curve formed at the corner of his mouth.

"There are twelve Demon Gods in total; this probably isn't the full strength of the Ten‑million‑river demon race… perhaps it is only the number of demon gods under the Black Ox Demon God Sovereign."

Li Che pondered.

Regarding the Ten‑million‑river demon race, Li Che knows too little; his mind stirred.

The Night Bat Demon God that had left returned again.

"Lord, you wish to know the overall strength of the human‑world demon race?"

The Night Bat Demon God replied without concealment: "The human‑world demon race receives support from the Strange Abyss demon‑god camp 'Strange Demon Cave'; among the Ten‑million‑river, there are two great Demon God Supremes, six Demon God Sovereigns… as for the number of Demon Gods, it is even greater."

"Actually, five hundred years ago, the demon race did not have so many Demon Gods; after occupying Qitian Cheng and communicating with the Strange Demon Cave, the demon race expanded."

The Night Bat Demon God said softly.

Li Che felt a slight tremor in his heart.

Demon race… this strong?!

But that's only Li Che's perception of strength.

After all, this is the number of strong ones among all human‑world demon races; demon race versus human race correspond…

And the human side has forces such as Dàjǐng, Great Li, Wu Shen Mountain, Western Realm Buddhist Land, and so on.

Adding up the strong ones of many forces, they probably aren't much weaker than the demon race.

Supreme is a title for those who have endured a Third‑Calamity level Divine Tribulation; Venerable refers to the Second‑Calamity level.

For example, the Great Black Ox is a Second‑Calamity Demon God Sovereign.

Does the human side have any Third‑Calamity level Divine Tribulation?

Yes, certainly there are, but Li Che has not yet encountered them, and the will of Heaven and Earth heavily restricts strong beings of Third‑Calamity and Second‑Calamity realms, so they rarely appear, and Li Che's channels to learn about them are few.

"Lord, rest assured, in the human world, Demon God Supremes cannot act, even in Qitian Cheng… Therefore, the Demon God Supremes of the Ten‑million‑river operate year‑round within the Strange Abyss."

"Only in camps like the Strange Demon Cave are there truly many Demon God Supremes, even genuine deities…"

The Night Bat Demon God said gravely, having already aligned himself with the Underworld camp; his tone grew heavy.

"Unfortunately, in the demon race, ranks are clear; I have never seen two Supremes of the Ten‑million‑river, but I have heard Demon God Sovereigns say that the Divine Tide will rise, the Era of Great Contention will descend, strong ones will sprout like bamboo after rain, and the human world will face upheaval!"

The Night Bat Demon God said.

Divine Tide…

Li Che's heart gave a shock; this was not the first time he heard of the Divine Tide.

However, he knows little about the so‑called Divine Tide.

As for the Great Contention era mentioned by the Night Bat, Li Che indeed has a sensory recognition.

When the Era of Great Contention arrives, some people stuck at bottlenecks will choose to break through, and breaking through becomes easier; for example Lu Taibai, Ji Moli, have all stepped into Divine Tribulations.

Also the Shendu Temple Governor Ye Pengju and others…

The original Great Deity Register, the unparalleled existence on the Heavenly Gate, have further progressed, beginning to vie for the flow.

After questioning the Night Bat about some matters, Li Che let the Night Bat Demon God return; after all, every three incense sticks' time he must report to the Great Black Ox, and if the timing is off, it may arouse the Great Black Ox's suspicion.

"Only twelve Demon Gods remain…"

Li Che's eyes flickered slightly, his fingers tapped lightly, and a moment later, a faint smile rose at the corner of his lips.

Qitian Cheng is divided into outer and inner city; the inner city is where the inheritance lies, and it has not yet been opened; even the demon race cannot enter it.

"There is half a month left before the Qitian Cheng inner city opens; then the Temple God resonance will occur, and the twelve Demon Gods… can I pacify them all before the inner city opens?"

What is called a surrender is actually a spirit‑binding; in Li Che's view, his spirit‑binding is the most perfect surrender.

Ink rain thundered down, striking the ground and splashing explosively.

Li Che's whole body seemed to generate an invisible field, isolating countless raindrops as if a vacuum had formed.

"The difficulty is a bit high, but it's not impossible to try…"

Thinking of the Black Ox Demon God, the image of a single command and being back‑stabbed by the twelve demon gods into a sieve‑like scene inexplicably amuses him.

"First we must determine the exact strength of the Twelve Demon Gods: Disaster One, Tribulation One; Disaster One, Tribulation Two… even demon gods at the realm of Disaster One, Tribulation Three…"

"As long as they are not second‑Disaster‑level demon gods… they can all be dealt with," Li Che thought.

Moreover, Li Che harbored a bold idea.

He now has a broader perspective; he knows that the true threat to his daughter is not the mortal world's demon clans, but the supreme beings from the Strange Abyss's Weird Demon Cave, even the deities!

Therefore, Li Che's surrender to many demon clans could serve as a future countermeasure against the Weird Demon Cave.

Buzz—

A sudden stir of mind and spirit.

Looking one by one /p>

Li Che withdrew from Ink City.

He instantly returned to the courtyard of Qitian Cheng.

He rose slowly; his jet‑black, sturdy hair crackled like black lightning striking the air, emitting bursts of thunderous sound. On his towering frame, his clothes seemed about to burst, and blocky muscles kept piling up.

Under the bull‑demon mask, his twin pupils burned like golden flames.

"Twelve demon gods, congratulations… you are surrounded by me."

…

…

Hunting the Twelve Demon Gods is a grand scheme.

Moreover, it must be carried out without attracting the Black Ox Demon God's attention, which is not easy.

First, not all demon gods, like the Night Bat Demon God, conceal their aura and demonic qi in the void for surveillance, thus becoming a loophole.

Li Che directly dragged them into Ink City's Fengdu, and they went unnoticed.

The other demon gods constantly exude terrifying demonic qi; once pulled into Fengdu, their demonic qi would inevitably vanish.

The entire Qitian Cheng was shrouded by a massive, mist‑like demonic qi, and this qi was not the work of a single Black Ox Demon God, but the combined effort of the fourteen demon gods under the Black Ox Demon God's command.

After the Heavenly Crane Demon God and the Night Bat Demon God fell, only the Twelve Demon Gods remained to sustain Qitian Cheng's demonic qi.

Li Che did not act immediately, behaving as usual.

Outside Qitian Cheng.

After many days of watching, Lu Qiankun made his move.

With cultivation at the realm of Disaster One, Tribulation Two, he easily defeated the sword‑antelope demon god defending the city, and although Fang Hanshu possessed Divine Tribulation cultivation, he did not know what method to conceal his aura; he entered the city in the guise of a top‑grade deity, naturally slipping in with ease.

In the end, only Lu Taibai remained.

Whooo—

The wind and waves stirred by the sweeping demonic qi kept blowing.

Lu Taibai's silver hair fluttered, the Taibai Sword hidden in his sleeve humming, and he looked at Li Che and the Xixi he was holding.

"I'm about to act."

Lu Taibai said.

"Shall we bring Xixi and the others into Qitian Cheng?"

Lu Taibai gazed at Li Che with a questioning look.

As for whether Li Che could enter the city, Lu Taibai naturally had no worries; Li Che had too many trump cards.

"Enter the city; we can't just leave the little girl and the others outside. The outside is more dangerous. Entering also spares them from having to partake in any temple‑god resonance; it'll broaden their horizons."

Li Che's ink‑colored shirt fluttered, and a gentle smile graced his face.

Lu Taibai, hearing this, nodded, patted Xixi's head and said, "The master goes!"

In the next instant, the Taibai Sword hidden in his sleeve buzzed and exploded, its brilliant, resonant blade flashing forth, slashing toward the sword‑antelope demon god on the western city wall.

Lu Taibai, whose Dao position is the God‑Extinguishing Wind, entered the Divine Tribulation, possessing extraordinary combat power.

The sword‑antelope demon god had long lost its blood‑fighting vigor; after a few exchanges, it ushered Lu Taibai into the city.

His main purpose in holding the western gate was to block the chaotic humans who sought to breach Qitian Cheng.

Those with insufficient cultivation who covet the inheritance of the Qitian Demon Saint are not worthy, right?

After entering the city, Lu Taibai swiftly reunited with Lu Qiankun and Fang Hanshu.

The three appeared atop the city wall.

Li Che, holding Xixi, had Yun E and Zhou Peng following behind Xixi, along with a tail‑like Golden Tai Sui.

The four little kids obediently stayed by Li Che's side.

The party arrived beneath the city wall.

The sword‑antelope demon god was about to speak.

Rumble—

Demonic qi churned; the Black Ox Demon God's massive demonic qi shrouded Qitian Cheng, gradually revealing its form, with terrifying auras raging and intertwining.

Li Che calmly stared at the Black Ox Demon God.

"The children want to broaden their horizons; may they enter the city?"

Xixi's face also showed tension; even with Li Che's protective aura shielding them, the terrifying pressure of facing a second‑Disaster demon god made the four youngsters involuntarily swallow a mouthful of saliva.

Especially Golden Tai Sui, who already possessed a trace of demonic bloodline, his legs were almost trembling.

"Defeat your opponent, and you may enter the city."

The Black Bull Demon God Lord's voice boomed like a great bell.

In fact, his gaze had already fixed on Xixi, confirming that she was the Prison Lotus Daughter.

His goal was to capture the Prison Lotus Daughter; whether Xixi entered the city or not mattered little to the Black Bull Demon God Lord.

Yet, entering the city was obviously best, for he would not need to leave Qitian Cheng.

Li Che heard this and lightly laughed; he understood the Black Bull Demon God Lord's look, and his smile carried a hint of coldness.

On the city tower, Fang Hanshu's expression also shifted slightly, as if sensing something amiss.

"Ah Che, don't bring Xixi into Qitian Cheng."

Fang Hanshu thought it over and quietly sent a mental message to Li Che.

Li Che glanced at Fang Hanshu, nodded gently, and gave him a reassuring look.

As someone who even knows Old Fang's underwear, Li Che also sensed Fang Hanshu's concern for Xixi.

Fang Hanshu was startled, immediately understood… Li Che had also sensed the Black Bull Demon God Lord's unease, so he said nothing further.

Roar—

The top‑level Demon King under the Sword Antelope Demon God, who guards the western gate, burst forth.

Facing a top‑level Demon King, Li Che chose a simple, brutal method: with a flick of his finger, a stream of light shot out, accompanied by a resonant clang.

The divine machine Qitian Armor with extending arms instantly manifested!

Li Che, with Xixi and three others, landed inside the control chamber within the head of the Qitian Armor, where flashing mechanism seals interwove, bright light dazzling!

"Wow—"

Xixi gasped in amazement, her eyes sparkling.

"Dad, can Xixi control this big monkey brother?!"

Xixi's drool was about to spill out.

Li Che patted Xixi's head: "Xixi needs to become a bit stronger before she can…"

To command the divine machine, one needs a top‑tier Great Deity‑level Heaven‑and‑Earth soul; Xixi is indeed far from that.

Boom—

Li Che's spirit stirred, and he manipulated the Qitian Armor, clenching a fist.

The emergence of such a divine machine instantly shocked cultivators of all camps; Dàjǐng, the Divine Sect and other factions' cultivators felt extreme dread!

The city‑guarding Demon King was nearly blown apart by a single punch!

The Sword Antelope Demon God intervened, its expression grim; a divine embryo of the Four Gods transformation, operating a mechanism, could unleash war‑god‑level power!

That's truly exaggerated…

Humans have actually devised such terrifying mechanism art!

It's like a monster!

The massive Qitian Armor roared and trembled; with each step, the ground seemed to quake.

After entering the city, Li Che stored away the Qitian Armor, led Xixi and three others, and under the copper‑bell‑like gaze of the Black Bull Demon God Lord overhead, he calmly escorted Xixi into the courtyard where Lu Qian Kun and others had gathered.

Inside Qitian Cheng, everyone naturally formed a group.

"Finally entered the city… Prison Lotus Daughter!"

Above Qitian Cheng.

The Black Bull Demon God Lord's eyes glimmered faintly.

A flash of extreme excitement flickered in his gaze; capturing the Prison Lotus Daughter and sending her to the Strange Abyss would be a great achievement, perhaps giving him a chance…

Strike the Three Calamities, become Supreme!

And within the courtyard.

After Li Che arranged Xixi, Jin Taishui and others, it seemed he heard the Black Bull Demon God Lord's low hum.

A cold curve lifted the corner of his mouth.

Anyone coveting his daughter's existence must die.

Even if you are a Second Calamity‑realm Demon God Lord, it is the same.

Li Che placed a brand‑new version of the Flying Thunder Chess piece on Xixi and the others.

Whenever Xixi encounters an invincible danger, the Flying Thunder Chess piece automatically activates, transporting them to Mo City Fengdu.

Inside Mo City, they are naturally safe.

Mo City Fengdu…

Any enemy who dares step inside cannot get out.

Outside Qitian Cheng, the battle continued, and many strong fighters kept attempting to step into Qitian Cheng.

As time passed, the day the Qitian Legacy would be inaugurated drew nearer.

In the courtyard of Qitian Cheng.

Li Che wore a Bull Demon mask, inhaling and exhaling, stirring a great current.

Just as he was about to enact the Demon God pacification plan.

An overwhelmingly powerful force, as if making space tremble and warp, suddenly burst out from beyond the gate.

It seemed an endless great terror was slowly approaching.

His eyes suddenly opened.

His spirit stirred.

The courtyard gate thundered open.

And he saw outside…

A large black dog, moving with elegant steps, swayed its tail left and right and walked slowly.

Under the Ox Demon Mask, Li Che's eyes lit up.

Dog Lord?!

First Update—please give monthly tickets, recommendation votes, and follow‑reads! There's more tonight; Lao Li continues writing, begging everyone for support!

(End of chapter)