Chapter 1338

"Last winter, about three months ago, the Southern Frontier sent a Jin-surnamed sect master of the Xing Sect, who secretly came to our Hai Ma tribe's land, delivering four portions of Fortune Grand Medicaments and six portions of Grand Medicaments, stating these were merely gifts, to make friends. Whether the matter succeeds or not, the items will be given, and if agreed upon, as long as it can hinder the Great Shun's flood control progress, there will be additional generous gifts."

"Big brother! You fucking got poisoned by a monkey? Talking nonsense."

The Little Horse King raged wildly, speaking without restraint.

It endured fear, painstakingly merging its form underground, just wanting to help quickly, but who knew that upon emerging, it would encounter Big Brother confessing as if repenting, blurting out everything.

Can such words be spoken to the Demon Kings?

With so many Demon Kings, all assuming Bai Yuan was barbaric, coming to help out of rabbit-dead-fox-sorrow sentiment, now telling them it was the Hai Ma tribe who first set a trap, gained benefits, and used everyone as pawns? How will they face themselves henceforth?

"Second brother! Don't make the same mistake again!"

The Great Horse King bellowed low, then turned his head aside, his bloodied face streaked with two lines of clear tears, the agitated Little Horse King firmly held down by the Great Horse King, roaring as he waved his dragon claws, digging into the seabed.

The Whale King demanded: "So you truly accepted the Southern Frontier's benefits, deliberately seeking trouble with the Ape King?"

The Great Horse King shook his head, then nodded.

"What does that mean?" the Black King impatiently said, "Yes is yes, no is no! Where is there nodding and shaking?"

"The Ape King is the hegemon of Jianghuai, capable of driving away the Flood Dragon King and the Iron-Head Fish King, a rare hero in the world; even we Hai Ma tribe's two kings are mostly no match, so initially we had no intention of seeking trouble with the Ape King, only thinking someone was freely giving benefits, and later we also had no desire to contend—little did we expect—"

The Little Horse King collapsed limp onto the ground, murmuring: "It's over, it's over, everything is over——"

"What is it that we didn't expect?"

"Mumbling and hesitating, speak quickly!"

The Black King and the Horned Shark King both spoke in ill temper.

Bai Yuan first "killed" the Little Horse King, yet still came with mighty aura to the Southeast Sea to demand justice, combined with the Great Horse King's attitude, full of confidence, already able to prove the truth of the matter, most likely exactly as the Great Horse King said!

"Who would have thought the Hai Ya King sent his finned subordinates up, making me believe there was an opportunity, greed rising to my head." The Great Horse King closed his eyes, "The Hai Ya King also accepted bribes from the Southern Frontier, but he devised a plan, one that could avoid direct confrontation with the Great Shun and the Ape King, instead using the pretext of seeking marriage with the Hai Fangzhu to hinder the Ape King's progress.

If the Ape King thus shouted for battle and slaughter, it would appear as making a mountain out of a molehill, narrow-minded, damaging its Jianghuai hegemon prestige, so at most it would end in entangled fighting and a beating, no major incident, while the Hai Ya King feared accidents, thus secretly seeking other Demon Kings who also accepted Southern Frontier bribes, agreeing that once the Bai Yuan King erupted, they would come as friends to lend aid, to ensure——absolute certainty."

"Villain, I, Huang Sha, practice water control, you dare listen to the Southern Frontier, obstruct my Great Dao, Kai Yu Fangzhu, ah! Come die!"

Bai Yuan burst forth with a boom, five fingers clenched into fists, tearing open the water flow, as if silk were ripped apart.

Amidst the Demon Kings' anger, they did not forget to stare at Bai Yuan; seeing this, they all stepped forward to block.

The Whale King embraced the waist, the Black King coiled around the left arm, the Horned Shark King hooked the right arm, all together pulling Bai Yuan.

The earth cracked inch by inch, the Hai Ma tribe's land again split apart.

"Ape King! I know you're urgent, but first don't rush!"

"Calm down, calm down! The Great Horse King now can fully lay bare his admission of error, without stubbornness, proving he still has remorse, everyone's cultivation to this day is not easy, at least now no major mistake has been made, matters that can be discussed sitting down should not involve killing, today delaying the Ape King for one day can be compensated!"

"Yes, the Great Horse King merely used the Ape King to want to delay the Great Shun's flood control progress, unaware you are practicing water walking, seeking the Great Dao, ultimately the fault lies with the Southern Frontier!"

"The Water Sovereign should have the Water Sovereign's breadth!"

"That is the Water Sovereign, I am not yet the Water Sovereign, the Southern Frontier's fault I must seek myself, but the Great Horse King's life I also want! Today I must take its life! Even the Whale Emperor cannot dissuade me! I say this! The sensible would release me! Today I rashly intervened in one matter, I will not pursue it!"

The Great Horse King left many details unsaid, such as the Hai Ya King's plan indeed being sound, how Bai Yuan discerned it, and suspicion that the Little Horse King did not die, and why the feigned death and dissolution was of the Little Horse King, not the instigator Hai Ya King, but these mostly relate to one's own methods, unsuitable for probing; setting these aside, the overall event's context is already quite clear.

The Southern Frontier, to target the Great Shun, added resistance, themselves not daring to appear, spending money and objects to bribe the Eastern Sea Demon Kings, the Eastern Sea Demon Kings then sought out Bai Yuan, the Southern Frontier is thus the black hand behind everything.

Heinous beyond measure!

The seabed erupted in chaos, the Great Horse King butted his head against the ground, tears and snot flowing: "Everyone, all matters arise from me, the Ape King wants to kill or flay, entirely at your discretion."

"No!" the Little Horse King wailed tears and snot, it still does not understand what happened up to now, why Big Brother suddenly wanted self-destruction, but matters have come to this, all plans fully exposed, it leapt up suddenly: "Don't kill my big brother, Ape King, it's me, it's all me, the big brother was motivated to cultivate me and the third brother, I am the root of disaster! Kill me instead!"

"Good, good, good, what deep brotherly affection, elder friendly, younger respectful, feeling the monkey to the depths, today this king satisfies you, you all have seen! They themselves demanded death!"

"If killing, then kill me!"

Off-screen voice suddenly intruded.

At the edge of vision, silver light and shadow flowed, it was the Hai Ya King just arrived from Jianghuai!

All Demon Kings seeing the Hai Ya King, seeing his toad-like skin, all startled in unison.

So ugly, this fellow, where are the scales?

In the mental link, the Hai Ya King far away at the horizon, already aware of current developments, only pretending to hear the last few sentences, then plunged headfirst onto the ground, voice and tears streaming: "Whale King, Black King, everyone, all matters arise from me, it was I who first harbored crooked thoughts, then dragged the Horse King into water——"

The words had not finished when a white shadow leapt out.

"Second brother!" the Great Horse King exclaimed in alarm, anguished at his momentary carelessness, having relaxed vigilance.

The Little Horse King with crimson red eyes, suddenly charged out, entangling with the Hai Ya King just arrived: "You traitor! Not that you temporarily rebelled, defected to Bai Yuan and leaked secrets, how could I and my big brother have fallen to this state!?"

"Second brother! What nonsense are you spouting? Still not repentant?"

"Bold! Fundamentally not sincere repentance!" Bai Yuan roared angrily, shaking off the Black King and charging out.

The scene, barely calmed, again descended into chaos, the Whale King and other Demon Kings hurried forward to block.

Later arrivals unaware of the situation could only listen to the other kings' narration, the more they listened, the more confused: what is meant by the Little Horse Kings being in the wrong, the dead Little Horse King not dead, now the three kings are the Little Horse King?

"Don't say more, first go up and intercept!"

With many Demon Kings, wanting to fight but unable to, the farce was again forcibly suppressed.

Bai Yuan was firmly held down by three Demon Kings, eyes wide with anger, as if able to stare several Demon Kings to death with his gaze.

The Whale King spoke again: "Hai Ya King, since you also arrived, then say it again, exactly what happened?"

"Last winter————who would have thought the Ape King's strength formidable, I feared in my heart, thus revealed the full account, wanting to shift blame onto the Hai Ma tribe——"

The Hai Ya King truly wanted to slap himself hard.

Now it's done, the Demon Kings' reputation and face are utterly lost, here fish bite fish, a mouthful of scales.

I am truly foolish, truly, if not for greed for the Southern Frontier's Fortune Grand Medicaments, I would not have come to Jianghuai, not come to Jianghuai, would not have encountered the Heavenly Gods, not encountered the Heavenly Gods——although following the Heavenly Gods is not bad either, but the Eastern Sea Demon King is even more vast and boundless——

"Everyone, now the matter is roughly clear." The Whale King drew a deep breath, "My realm is highest, I will speak a fair word——"

"Ape King, Hai Fangzhu, Hai Ya King, Whale King, Great and Little Horse Kings——plus the absent Frog King, my heavens, in an instant nearly fourteen Demon Kings have gathered!"

Within the Bureau of Astronomy, clerks exclaimed in alarm.

Lan Jicai secretly felt alarm, but still considered it expected.

The demon kings are not like humans; humans are a great race, born with wisdom, and can even become different factions due to culture and customs.

Demons cannot do this; the differences among each clan are essentially equivalent to the distinction between humans and demons. Where imperial authority does not reach, "local worthies" will appear. There is always a higher heaven beyond heaven, and greater people beyond people. A martial sage fears two martial sages joining forces. Everyone's instinct is to seek reliance, leading to spontaneous organizational frameworks. Without frameworks, there will still be customary rules. Jianghu gangs value righteousness, and righteousness is the rule. All purposes aim to suppress senseless killing and plundering, ensuring one's own safety.

The white ape's struggle with the flood dragon is for seeking the Dao. Seeking the Dao is the greatest rule. Without room for relief, yet refusing to seek the Dao and instead killing demons wantonly, the beasts, unbound by the Wang Chao's laws, will instead face collective resistance from the demon kings!

What will happen next? Can the white ape withstand it?

"It should be ending————"

In Nanjiang, the papers on the desk were completely soaked with sweat. Ying Ye took a sharp breath, and his body felt much more comfortable. Only then did he realize he had held his breath for several moments.

So many demon kings, acting because of his plan, felt like a mountain pressing down on his head. Ying Ye never imagined Hai Ya Wang's actions would ultimately trigger a great earthquake among the demon kings, nor did he expect Bai Yuan to be so violent—coming forward and shattering a demon king at once.

Violence is good.

The demon kings gathered together; basically, they can no longer wage great wars. It's just unknown whether they can make Bai Yuan pay a price————

"Are they still fighting? Are they still fighting?"

The Iron-Head Fish King was extremely agitated, rushing to the hippocampus tribe's territory, its heart nearly reaching its peak. The Flood Dragon King kept telling it to wait for the opportunity, wait for the opportunity— isn't now the best moment?

Not just the Iron-Head Fish King; even the flood dragons themselves could hardly restrain themselves.

However, "opportunity" flees in an instant.

At the very moment the two kings were moved, the Frog King's "Stone in the River" had already gathered into a mass. Including the overlap with Bai Yuan and the Harbor Master, the demon kings became fourteen in total. But shortly after the Frog King joined, the "Stone in the River" that had gathered in the southeastern sea suddenly all rushed westward, as if reaching a consensus, their direction being·————

Land, South Sea?

No.

It is Nanjiang!

"Squeak—

Squeak"

Shattered wood embedded into the wall, the stool couldn't retreat in time and directly exploded. Ying Ye suddenly stood up.

"Let me say a fair word————"

"Fair word? On what basis is it fair, not maternal word? Do you think the Harbor Master isn't present? Do you think the Harbor Master is weak, so you can ignore him? The Harbor Master is the one suffering most. Your opening statement already pre-establishes your position—it's already unfair!

Now it's only one side's story from the Little Horse King and Hai Ya Wang. You came out first to obstruct, and I have reason to suspect you, the Whale King, colluded in a scheme! You haven't cleared your suspicion—uh." Bai Yuan rose angrily, shouting, and suddenly extended cerulean limbs from both sides of his shoulders, covering its mouth.

The Whale King's forehead veins twitched. Ignoring Bai Yuan's chaotic meddling, to save face, he spoke first: "The truth is clear. In this matter, the Ape King is most wronged. Since the Little Horse King is not dead, then entirely it is the Horse King and Hai Ya Wang who lack virtue. They should fully compensate the Ape King for the bribes received from Nanjiang!

All destruction caused in battle should also be compensated by the two kings."

"Reasonable!"

"This is acceptable."

"Whale King, it seems this matter was done by you! You brushed me off with just this?" Bai Yuan immediately leapt out.

"Naturally not." The Whale King continued, "Similarly, this matter was provoked by Nanjiang, and the chief culprit is also Nanjiang. Due to Nanjiang's actions, which harm demon unity, how could we endure? Today we all came here due to ignorance of the truth. Rather, let us join forces to assist the Ape King in going to Nanjiang to seek justice! The compensation obtained shall be split three-seven, as travel expenses—how about that?"

"I'll just take the seven-tenths?"

"Seven-tenths is ours!" The Whale King raged.

——

"Get lost! I see you are just the behind-the-scenes black fin! The one who advised Nanjiang to act is you, Whale King!"

"Then you go alone to Nanjiang to collect debts! See how much you, a single beast, can collect! Do you not have our shared three-tenths more!

"

Bai Yuan gritted his teeth, "Si" burning with rage. The Harbor Master half-detached from his brain, pulled Bai Yuan for a private whisper. "Si" finally persuaded him. Bai Yuan turned his head away, and the Harbor Master apologized to all the demon kings: "Whale King Great Fish, today the Ape King is furious. How about a four-six split? Except for Hai Ya Wang and the Little Horse Kings, the Frog King and I belong to the Ape King's four."

"Good!" The Whale King agreed in one breath.

The words had not yet fallen.

A roar came from the horizon. A dark-red great anchor fell first, directly flinging Hai Ya Wang away.

Shadows shrouded the horizon. A giant frog descended from the sky, webbed feet in one motion, reaching out to recall the Xuan weapons.

"Ape King, I come to assist you!"

In an instant, the fourteen demon kings, thirteen River-Middle Stones, united as one, rushed straight southwest.

"Already ended? What now? Where to go?"

The Frog King mingled in the great troop, unable to grasp his thoughts.

——

"Let's go together to Nanjiang to seek an explanation. Frog King, you just help boost the momentum—later you'll get a share." Liang Qu whispered.

The Frog King's eyes lit up. Looking around at the demon kings, all radiated fierce energy, seeming truly united, furious at Nanjiang's actions. He immediately stomped his frog feet.

Demon king unity?

That's just dog shit, it's wiping-ass algae!

Hai Ya Wang fell behind, pursing his lips. Having cultivated to this day, he had never heard of such a thing. Today, so many demon kings—nothing more than rabbits dying, foxes grieving, acting out of selfish fear, worried there might be one or two, and someday a demon king relying on strength would indiscriminately come to kill him. Such behavior must be eradicated.

Now seeking Nanjiang is absolutely the Whale King, with his thick brows and large eyes, seeing an opportunity along with the other demon kings, wanting to hijack the gathered momentum to profiteer.

Hai Ya Wang and the Little Horse Kings taking benefits from Nanjiang to deal with Bai Yuan—but now they take them, with no rear worries at all!

The thirteen River-Middle Stones advanced tens of thousands of miles, the route becoming ever clearer, straight for Nanjiang.

"After going around such a big circle, we've finally returned!"

Bai Yuan grinned, revealing his canine teeth.

The Imperial Observatory, the Holy Emperor laughed incessantly.

The Tu Si Valley, the Tu Si gripped and broke the handle.

"How many?"

The official lowered his head: "Ten————ten-four Lan, ten-four Lan demon kings, are coming straight to my Nanjiang."

Clearly, the Nanjiang Tu Si himself had long known the situation. Hearing the official's report, immense panic still struck him down, leaving him dazed and confused, unable to cope, as if the stool he had just sat on uncomfortably wanted to leave him.

"Tusi, the matter is urgent — seize Hei Shui Du first! This plan was his idea! He coordinated it! Given the situation, there has clearly been a massive blunder!" an official stepped forward.

"Absolutely not, how can we seize Hei Shui Du? Back then it was clearly Lord Tusi who gave the final approval, and the process was fully known; now that there's a problem, you want to kick away the ladder after climbing up?"

"He must be seized!"

"He cannot be seized!"

"He must be seized! If you obstruct again, you should be seized together with him!"

"You!"

"It's over! It's over!"

In the Xiao Xing Building, Hei Shui Du's face was ashen, sweat pouring down like rain, his fingertips shriveled from long immersion in sweat, his whole body trembling, the table corner he gripped had long since snapped off without him even noticing, before he could think of a remedy.

Bang!

The door was knocked open.

Two Tianren Sect masters, one on the left and one on the right, bringing a clear breeze, carrying black iron chains in their hands, strode in.

"Hei Shui Du, you've caused a great catastrophe — surrender peacefully!"

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