Chapter 412: Demon King Melee

Ah~

The Sky Ant King cried out miserably, continually retreating; its neck was completely severed by Mu Yi's fatal strike, and it could only maintain continuity by relying on divine power.

Along with that, the emitted gravity multiplier sharply dropped to around a hundredfold.

Mu Yi crawled up from the ground somewhat embarrassedly, feeling a bit unwilling; even with all his strength in that strike, he still couldn't take the opponent away.

The opponent's vitality was a bit too tenacious; the power of death kept eroding the wound on its neck, preventing its recovery, yet the Sky Ant King was still gradually healing its injury.

At this moment, Mu Yi no longer had the ability to continue fighting desperately.

His body, due to high-speed movement in a super-heavy environment, had exceeded its limits; although it appeared intact, his internal organs were riddled with cracks like shattered porcelain, and he could only continuously draw power to repair the injuries.

"Unlucky, or am I pushing too hard?"

Mu Yi gripped the sword in his hand, about to fight to the death, but he saw countless plum blossoms falling from the sky.

"Looks like I arrived just in time!" Mo Fei appeared before Mu Yi in a white outfit, smiling brightly.

And the Sky Ant King's body was already covered in plum blossoms.

He died amidst desperate wails.

Only after the Sky Ant King's true spirit was suppressed in the Reincarnation Ground did Mu Yi let out a breath of relief.

"How did you end up here? Weren't you being chased by a group of demon kings?" Mu Yi asked, sitting down on the ground.

"I calculated that you would surely face a calamity today, so I rushed back quickly!" Mo Fei said, but then suddenly began coughing up blood nonstop.

"Cough cough cough cough!"

Seeing Mu Yi's surprised expression, Mo Fei's face turned pale, and he said somewhat helplessly: "I originally didn't want to say this, but I couldn't hold it in; this guy's deathbed struggle is really too troublesome, truly lucky you could push him to this point."

"Cough cough cough, were you injured before you came?"

As if infected by Mo Fei, Mu Yi also coughed up a mouthful of blood, wiped his mouth, and asked.

"Those demon kings are not easy to deal with!" Mo Fei sighed.

He had assassinated many demon kings, but only a few succeeded; being hunted down by those crazy demon kings allied together, he also suffered badly.

If it weren't for the calculation that Mu Yi and them would face a calamity, he wouldn't have rushed back while injured.

"Now that's fine, three sickly ghosts!"

Mu Yi, on the other hand, was optimistic, even in the mood to crack a hellish joke.

Mo Fei had no reply; their situation was far worse than Shen Wanqian's.

Following the markers left by Shen Wanqian, Mu Yi and the other successfully met up with Shen Wanqian.

However, they found that the area around Shen Wanqian was also littered with monster corpses, including the nine-headed worm and a black dragon that had previously escaped.

Tang Seng was performing salvation rites for the many monsters, while Shen Wanqian sat cross-legged on the ground, eyes closed, cultivating his spirit; however, his occasional violent coughing revealed that his condition was also at the end of his rope.

"Now we really have a whole ward of sick comrades!"

Mu Yi and the three exchanged a glance, then simultaneously began coughing, their faces all showing a wry smile.

Fortunately, Mu Yi still had First One; although First One's strength, before mastering a great deal of earth vein authority, was basically insufficient to contend in battles of this level.

But after all, it is also a legendary creature, and using the earth veins for rapid movement is still possible.

Thanks to First One's efforts, they continually shifted their position to evade the monsters' pursuit.

Moreover, the troubles didn't end there.

Mu Yi and the three could fast, but Tang Seng could not.

"Cough cough cough, I'll go nearby to seek alms!"

Mu Yi coughed up a large mouthful of blood, sighed, and although Shen Wanqian was currently in the best condition, their portraits were all over the streets, nearly all monsters recognized them, and only by transforming into other monsters could he dispense with seeking alms.

Having run just a few steps from their hiding place, a stalwart figure appeared reflected in their pupils.

The stalwart figure was about eight feet tall, with a nose like a bull, a simple and honest appearance, eyes flashing with ferocity, holding a large axe that gleamed with astonishing cold light.

Meeting on a narrow path, both sides were slightly startled, then reacted together in an instant.

Oh no, it's a monster, not yet transformed!

It's a human!

Almost without hesitation, the stalwart monster's eyes gleamed with even greater ferocity, raising its axe; its whole body burst with light, manifesting the substantial shadow of a water buffalo several zhang tall that enveloped its body.

Then it swung the axe, fiercely smashing toward Mu Yi's head; the water buffalo shadow lowered its head, the axe seeming to contain the force of thousands of jun.

However, when the axe was halfway down, it couldn't move; Mu Yi grabbed the blade with one hand, a barrier fixed the space, and the sturdy cow demon could not budge no matter how hard it tried.

"Turns out it's just a little monster, scared me!" Mu Yi let out a breath, released his grip, and the sturdy cow demon, thrown off balance by its own force, stumbled back several steps and fell flat on its butt.

The sturdy cow demon's gaze toward Mu Yi was filled with terror, as if it had seen a monster.

It had always prided itself on strength, yet a human could actually seize its axe with a single hand.

"Just use your identity to walk around nearby!" Mu Yi muttered, then walked toward the sturdy cow demon.

The timid sturdy cow demon dared not fight; it opened its mouth and spat out a large chunk of cow bezoar, turning into a streak of light that shot straight at Mu Yi's face, too fast to react.

However, as it approached Mu Yi, the cow bezoar hovered in midair, as if frozen in amber like an insect.

Monster!

The sturdy cow demon turned and fled; even its trump card techniques were useless—if not now, when else to escape?

Mu Yi grabbed the cow bezoar with one hand, covering three steps in two strides, and got ahead of the sturdy cow demon to block it.

The cow demon's eyes flashed with ferocity as it lowered its head, transforming into a giant bovine several zhang tall, its horns flashing with piercing cold light, incredibly sharp.

"Cough cough cough... why bother struggling?"

Mu Yi was neither startled nor fearful; the sturdy cow demon's strength was actually not bad, but unfortunately it met him.

With his empty hand pressed on the bull's head, Inner Qi burst forth, power condensed at a point, actually forcing it to halt and pressing it into the earth.

Just a light pat, and the giant bull's skull shattered, its massive body collapsing with a boom.

"Let me see, why are you appearing here!"

Mu Yi waved his hand, extracted the bull demon's soul, and began to search its soul for memories.

They discovered that their location had already been found by the demon king; although the enemy could not pinpoint their exact position, it had locked onto a general area and was sending its underlings to conduct a carpet‑like search.

"King of Dispelling Heat?"

Mu Yi recalled for a moment and quickly realized which demon king this was—a monster that had long existed on the westward journey, namely the three rhinoceros demons of Jinping Prefecture.

This place is the territory of Jinping Prefecture.

Jinping Prefecture is not far from Ling Mountain.

This is good news, but also bad news.

Their conditions are not good; if they are blocked by demons, they will likely die miserably.

However, Jingliu Yun is probably nearby; if they could meet up with him, things might be easier, after all he has been mixed among the demons for so long and may have some solution.

But relying on others is useless; they must rely on themselves.

Looking at the hulking bull demon on the ground, Mu Yi suddenly had an idea.

After Mu Yi returned from begging for alms, he discussed his idea with Mo Fei and Shen Wanqian.

"Cough cough cough… Is this too risky?" Shen Wanqian frowned slightly; Mu Yi's plan was undeniably bold, almost a case of seeking survival in death.

If they make a single misstep, all their previous efforts could be wasted.

"Cough cough cough, what options do we have now?"

Mu Yi looked at the blood in his palm and said helplessly.

"Just do as you say; we hardly have any choice left! The enemy will surely discover us sooner or later!" Mo Fei also covered his mouth and coughed lightly, but the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth also revealed his condition.

Mu Yi's plan is also simple; the three of them are severely wounded and, facing the demon alliance's pursuit, are utterly powerless to turn the tide.

In that case, they might as well take the initiative and throw Tang Sanzang to these demons, since the demons need a living Tang Sanzang.

On the wanted notice for them, all four are wanted dead or alive, except Tang Sanzang, who must be captured alive.

Although they do not know why, this is also a point they can exploit now.

Before capturing Tang Sanzang, they were allies, but who doesn't have their own little schemes?

Mu Yi is betting that these demons are also rife with deceit and intrigue.

The Kings of Dispelling Heat, Cold, and Dust—the three rhinoceros demons—have decent strength, and they also command many lesser demons.

They plan to actively offer Tang Sanzang to these three demons and then leak the news, perhaps provoking a fight among the demons?

Although it sounds risky, given the circumstances they have no better options.

Without consulting Tang Sanzang, once they had decided, Mu Yi directly transformed into the hulking bull demon, knocked Mo Fei and Shen Wanqian down in front of Tang Sanzang, and then seized Tang Sanzang.

Afterward, they would secretly use a barrier to spirit the two away; Tang Sanzang cannot hide, but these two can be concealed within the barrier.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Great news!"

"I've captured Tang Sanzang!"

Mu Yi, holding Tang Sanzang, shouted as he rushed back to the cave of the three rhinoceros demons.

"What? You've captured Tang Sanzang?" The King of Dispelling Heat stared for a moment, seeing Tang Sanzang in Mu Yi's hand, astonished and unable to believe it was real.

However, at that very moment, a special power fluctuation emanated from Tang Sanzang's body, allowing the King of Dispelling Heat to instantly confirm that this was the genuine Tang Sanzang.

"Hahaha, good, good, good!"

The King of Dispelling Heat excitedly rubbed his hands; he had only wanted a sip of soup, but he never expected this pastry to fall on their heads.

"Quickly go fetch the other two kings!" the King of Dispelling Heat bellowed, extremely pleased with the hulking bull demon.

"You've done well; I will richly reward you, and once we secure the inheritance of Ling Mountain, I will make you the fourth king!"

The King of Dispelling Heat generously tossed Mu Yi a large chunk of incense crystal, likely worth a whole year's incense quota for Jinping Prefecture.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Mu Yi exclaimed gratefully, then without changing expression sent the item into the barrier, giving it to Shen Wanqian and Mo Fei to absorb and recover from their injuries.

The issues with this item can be resolved later; for now it can fully serve as a miraculous elixir.

The news leaked faster than Mu Yi had imagined; it seems someone had already planted their own people among the three rhinoceros demons.

When the three rhinoceros demons and their confidants, having seized Tang Sanzang, set out for the Western Heaven.

They were intercepted midway.

"Kings of Dispelling Heat, Cold, and Dust, you three are being rather unfair—we agreed that all demon kings would advance and retreat together, yet you secretly try to get ahead!"

A demon king unknown to Mu Yi greedily eyed Tang Sanzang, looking at the three rhinoceros demons with slight displeasure.

"It's not your place to tell us what to do!"

The King of Dispelling Heat seized his broadsword and launched a sudden attack; the King of Dispelling Cold also joined in, and ice and fire simultaneously struck the unfamiliar demon king from both sides.

"You dare to act!" the demon king exclaimed, not expecting the three rhinoceros demons to be so ruthless as to move straight to kill him.

At once he revealed his true form—a huge owl—spreading its wings to flee, but he did not see the King of Dispelling Dust descend from the sky, directly sealing his escape route.

The three rhinoceros demons acted in unison, without any warning, and their first strike was a killing blow.

The owl demon king, apparently not as timid as usual, keeping a low profile and occupying his own modest plot, found the three rhinoceros demons surprisingly vicious.

"With such a great opportunity before us, what uncontested path remains!"

Mu Yi silently watched as the three rhinoceros demons surrounded and slaughtered the owl demon king; after several rounds, the owl demon king could not break through their encirclement, his body covered in wounds.

"If you won't let me live, I'll never let you have it easy!" the owl demon king shrieked, expending his last strength to let out a cry.

"Tang Sanzang is in the rhinoceros demons' hands!"

"Tang Sanzang is in the rhinoceros demons' hands!"

"Tang Sanzang is in the rhinoceros demons' hands!"

The voice pierced a thousand li; who knows how many demons heard this cry.

"Go!" the King of Dispelling Heat ruthlessly hacked at the owl demon king's corpse to vent his anger, then summoned his followers to rush swiftly toward Ling Mountain.

However, Tang Sanzang's troublesome nature repeatedly delayed their journey.

Looking at Bichen's eyes that seemed to want to eat Tang Sanzang, Mu Yi secretly felt pleased; after all, this kind of suffering must not be inflicted on them.

If Tang Sanzang could so easily reach Ling Mountain, how could they have been pursued all the way?

「Hey, you three, where are you off to! 」

「Gold Horn King, Silver Horn King! 」 The three rhinoceros demons' faces twitched slightly.

However, this was not the end; another figure descended.

「Azure Ox King! 」

Mu Yi started, wondering how these three had come together, but after thinking it over, it made sense—they were all originally from Tushita Palace, and with the Heavenly Court now unseen, their banding together was only natural.

「Hand over Tang Sanzang! 」 Gold Horn King's eyes flashed a hint of ferocity, his treasure sword already raised high.

「Bishu, Bihan, Bichen, I call you once—do you dare answer! 」 Silver Horn King also directly raised his gourd and shouted loudly.

「We can... 」 Bichen hadn't finished speaking before being sucked straight into the gourd.

「Bichen! 」

Seeing their brother sucked away by a magic treasure, Bishu and Bihan immediately flew into a rage, raised their weapons and charged at Silver Horn King.

Silver Horn King gave a cold smile, completely unmoved.

「Come all of you over here! 」

At that moment, the Azure Ox demon threw out the bracelet on his hand, and the weapons of Bishu King and Bihan King were immediately sucked away.

「Take this! 」 Gold Horn waved the Seven-Star Sword at the unarmed Bishu and Bihan, and after a few moves forced the two rhinoceros demons to reveal their true forms.

「See where you can flee! 」

Silver Horn King threw out the Yellow Gold Rope, directly binding the two rhinoceroses.

「Big brother, Azure Ox, Tang Sanzang is ours now! 」 Silver Horn King looked at the captured two rhinoceroses, laughing triumphantly.

「Is that so? 」 Just as Silver Horn King was rejoicing, several more figures descended from the sky.

Gold Horn King and Silver Horn King's faces changed; only the Azure Ox demon silently picked up the bracelet.