Chapter 1371: I Am Also a Whale (Two-in-One)

Bubbles drifted lazily, water plants swayed gently.

A multitude of snakes coiled throughout the gorge, every gaze converging on the small scroll.

The scroll unfurled; Lin Jie recited its contents word by measured word, his orange-yellow snake pupils contracting as he abruptly turned back to look at the messenger snake.

"Are you sure? Sure that Bai Yuan said this."

"Absolutely certain!" The great snake bowed its head and kowtowed. "This scroll was issued by the Jianghuai Dragon-men; I took it from a Dragon-man's own hands. Right now, throughout the rivers, lakes, and seas, there is no beast that does not know, no beast that has not heard.

And during this period the imperial court will not interfere, saying they hope to achieve merit in a single battle, and that we must not disturb the human populace again — a duel in the center of Jianghuai will suffice; the various Demon Kings need not present formal challenges, they may simply go on their own."

"What about the time?"

"The time runs from the moment this scroll is seen until September 28th, before the celebration banquet opens. Coming alone is fine, coming together with other Demon Kings is fine; daytime, nighttime, wheel battles are all acceptable — ready to receive at any time, no notification needed.

If you win, Bai Yuan will hand over the position from now on; if you lose, there will be no further pursuit, it will merely be treated as a sparring match, but for each loss one must leave behind a mid-grade Creation Great Medicine."

"Arrogant!" The pale-white great snake whipped its tail, shattering rock, bared sharp venomous fangs and angrily rebuked, "This is a challenge letter? Just because it got a single Minor Position Fruit, that white-haired monkey thinks itself invincible under heaven?"

"Exactly, clearly a shrimp trying to steer a boat, a mayfly shaking a tree — overestimating its own strength!"

"Lin Jie, since it dares do this, then grant its wish. Demon Kings wanting the Lord position are surely not few; let the seven Overlords all go up together — I don't believe that Bai Yuan has any way to handle it!"

"Right, kill the monkey, Lin Jie, what do we do now?"

Hearing the scroll's contents, everywhere they looked, snake hearts stirred, rage blazing.

Lin Jie secretly thought: this is bad.

This is roasting the snake clan on a fire — where is any fair competition for the Lord position? This is clearly a challenge letter, a challenge letter specifically addressed to the Flood Long Wang!

Last time we could find reasons — Bai Yuan had helpers, had preparations; we could bide our time.

But this time? Wheel battles allowed, forming alliances allowed, even no pursuit afterward — just treated as sparring. If we don't go, one cannot imagine to what extent snake hearts would disintegrate.

However, obtaining it — no, refining it — obtaining and refining are two entirely different things. The Bai Yuan that has refined a Minor Position Fruit truly possesses extraordinary strength; one on one, perhaps only the White Long Wang could steadily suppress it right now, especially since Bai Yuan proactively issued the challenge, making it all the more unfathomable.

Lin Jie completely did not know how to handle it; he could only roll up the scroll, temporarily soothe the restless snake swarm, and hurriedly report to the Flood Long Wang.

Flesh entwined; inside the dark-red nest body, azure flesh continuously proliferated.

"Holy shit, this white-haired monkey — a mad dog biting the sun, a rat climbing a scale? How dare it? Big Brother! No wonder, hahaha, no wonder it just came out of seclusion and went looking for Yan Tou, piling up with Hai Fangzhu, shameless, adulterous couple — as expected, it's swollen with pride from refining the Position Fruit, seeking its own death!"

Little Horse King's face was excited. "It thinks itself invincible under heaven? In the East Sea alone there are seven Overlord-level Demon Kings; they could pile up and crush it to death — hmm, Big Brother?"

Big Horse King's face held not a trace of joy. "Second Brother, don't get happy too early. Bai Yuan only said wheel battles are allowed, finding helpers is allowed, past grievances not pursued, just treated as sparring — it didn't say it also cannot find helpers."

Little Horse King froze. "What do you mean —"

"Second Brother, look at the scroll." Old Three inside the nest body spoke. "Big Brother is right; from start to finish it never says Bai Yuan must handle it alone. In other words, it can also pull in other Demon Kings."

Little Horse King flipped through the scroll, discovered there was indeed no word "single combat" written on it, brows furrowed tight. "Then what is it doing this for? If it truly relies on just one monkey, I'll rate it highly — number one under heaven, the Jianghuai Lord position rightly belongs to it. But if it can pull helpers, winning doesn't count for anything."

"No, it counts." Old Three explained. "This move of its is a public announcement, but in reality has two benefits. One: it dispels other Demon Kings' thoughts of contending — at least for the next few years, those with designs can stay obedient, won't go stir up trouble in Jianghuai. Didn't Big Brother say Bai Yuan has been in the Yellow Sand River for the past year? It wants to quietly comprehend the Dao, doesn't want some random cat or dog suddenly popping up, overestimating themselves, looking for trouble.

Two: it clarifies friend and foe. Whoever supports Bai Yuan, continues to support it in this battle — they are surely the most die-hard of die-hards. The neutrals can be sorted out. It just swore brotherhood with over a dozen Demon Kings; it's probably trying to further distinguish, unite those who can be united.

Moreover, without this challenge letter, Demon Kings with designs would keep lurking, afraid of becoming the early bird, letting other Demon Kings find an opening, not daring to act rashly. Now they don't need to worry — temporary unity, emboldening each other, using 'sparring' as an excuse afterward.

I deduce the seven Overlords won't all have designs.

If it truly comes for single combat, Bai Yuan will display its own strength; if it truly forms alliances, Bai Yuan will display its own power base. If the Whale King among the sworn brothers supports the Monkey King, that's two versus three or four — difficult, but not that difficult.

As for those seeking the Lord position, opposing one Bai Yuan versus opposing a group of Bai Yuan makes no difference — because this time they've all stepped forward and stood on Bai Yuan's side, showing that when they truly want to seize it later, they'll still have to face these guys. Just like the Turtle King, Frog King, and the future Flood Long Wang's counterattack — would these Demon Kings not move then?"

Little Horse King was stunned, then indignant, looking again at the azure flesh.

"Damn it, this monkey — it really has a belly full of dirty tricks! Adulterous couple, too much unrighteousness — sooner or later it will perish by its own doing!"

"Crash!"

Big Horse King looked up; Little Horse King immediately shut his mouth.

Not long after.

Fat Fish wagged its tail, without greeting, swaggered in on its own, inspecting the flesh growth condition.

Little Horse King gnashed its teeth. It had never seen a human eunuch, didn't know what a so-called "eunuch" looked like, but it could be certain — the current appearance of this black fat fish was exactly it!

Fat as a toad; at first glance last time it thought the Jianghuai Frog Clan had come.

Fat Fish glanced at Little Horse King, always feeling this old fellow was unconvinced, its gaze exactly like Third Prince's.

Hmph.

It noted down this grudge; later when it becomes a Demon King it will surely teach him a lesson. Of course, as a trusted aide's self-cultivation, the Divine Mission comes first; it cleared its throat.

"What? We also have to go help Bai Yuan?" Little Horse King cried out in alarm.

Fat Fish instantly became displeased.

What do you mean help? This is an invitation to a banquet!

The Monkey King bears no grudges, treats us to a meal — what do you mean? Not giving face?

Big Horse King hurriedly agreed. "Wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare — should, should. The Monkey King is magnanimous; a great monkey doesn't hold a small fish's faults against it. Hosting a banquet to invite us is giving us face — we'll definitely go, definitely go."

Fat Fish nodded in satisfaction, pressed against the nest body, confirmed Hai Fangzhu's flesh growth was progressing extremely fast, then leisurely flicked its tail and left the cave, re-entering the waterway.

"Ah!!! This damn white-haired monkey — it's making us go do the heavy lifting!"

Little Horse King roared at the sky.

Big Horse King sighed. "Second Brother, don't keep sinking like this; pull yourself together soon."

The vortex expanded, rotating.

Fat Fish's tail swayed left and right; it burst out of the waterway, flipped through the invitation bundle at its waist, prepared to first go invite Old Big Brother Whale King. Finding the post written by the corresponding Divine Empress, it looked up — and suddenly froze, scanning its surroundings, mouth gaping wide.

"Huh, this big whale, which family are you from?" Tiger Whale Jing Dali, wandering inside the newly opened Jiao-ren shop looking for good things, looked up, greatly startled. "Unfamiliar face — how come I've never seen you before?"

Fat Fish's whole body trembled.

Black back, white belly —

It wanted to rush forward, but its tail had only swam two strokes when it noticed the surrounding environment, felt something off. A-Fei immediately tensed up, twisted its hips, rising and falling.

Brother! Younger Brother!

"The Ape King's fish?"

The Whale King heard the report from beneath his fins, his face showing hesitation; he really didn't want to meet.

This white ape had just picked the position fruit, issued a challenge to the rivers, lakes, and seas for the throne, and as the "elder brother," if he came knocking—

—

Not helping would damage one's dignity; helping would only mean getting beaten up for nothing.

"Your Majesty, let's meet first—this fish sent by the Ape King this time is no ordinary one; it's the great tiger-whale demon we lost out in the wild!"

"What?" The Whale King blinked, "Our tiger-whale clan still has a great demon lost out there?"

"No mistake, Your Majesty! Our tiger-whale clan is about to rise! That lost brother is actually serving under the Jianghuai Ape King, and now the Ape King has sworn brotherhood with Your Majesty as opposite-sex brothers—it's all fate!" The mighty whale from the market joyfully turned his head, waving his fin vigorously, "Come on, brother, come out and meet Your Majesty, our clan chief!"

The fat fish patted his belly, hurriedly rushing in from outside the main hall, performed a deep kowtow, lay flat on the ground, and spread himself out evenly.

The Whale King was shocked.

So fat!

No.

The Whale King sat up.

This is not just a great demon—it's a supreme great demon, a heavenly demon!

Great demons are rare enough, let alone heavenly demons—this—could it really be from our tiger-whale clan? Black back, white belly, the color is correct, the body is a bit broader, but still vaguely fish-like in streamline—this this this—

The Whale King truly couldn't say what was wrong; the opponent's tail and fish fin bore the same ink marks, carrying a hint of hybrid nature, a touch of strange encounter—perhaps it wasn't impossible.

"Wait, how do you have long whiskers on your face? Hmm? You've been mixing in Jianghuai, and before you even received the Dragon Lord's essence blood reward—are these dragon whiskers?"

The Whale King leaned back, utterly stunned.

"Your Majesty, there's no mistake—this is our lost brother from outside!" Whale Dalili earnestly introduced, "Without kin support, alone as a single fish growing into a great demon in Jianghuai, who knows how much hardship he endured—now he should soon recognize his ancestors and return to the clan, be entered into the genealogy! A great demon deserves his own page."

The fat fish nodded repeatedly, then bowed and withdrew.

Fat, praying for recognition of ancestors and return to the clan!

"

"

Strange.

The Whale King glanced twice, then twice more, then twice again, unable to pinpoint what was wrong; though the heavenly demon was indeed a precious combat force, this fellow looked quite young, his talent possibly excellent—he could only divert the topic: "Since you're now serving under my virtuous brother, this matter must also be reported to him first—you can't act rashly. Let's get to the point—what did your virtuous brother send you to do?"

The fat fish felt slight regret, respectfully presenting the invitation.

The Whale King saw the invitation, his face constipated.

"Damn! I knew this sworn brotherhood would bring no good!"

Whale King, Sword King, Crow King, Horn Shark King—

Whatever the Horse King could think of, the other demon kings naturally could also think of, more or less.

Having just sworn brotherhood with the white ape, although the white ape's letter contained no plea for help, one could pretend ignorance and skip the feast, staying neutral—but one certainly couldn't jump over to the opposing side and join other demon kings in seizing the throne.

Those who could contend for the throne were none other than those few world hegemons; if not a hegemon, ordinary demon kings could only assist, adding flowers to brocade—impossible to hold the throne.

—

In that case, helping the white ape or helping the other hegemons makes no difference—both are service to the Dragon, benefits similar; but helping other demon kings only brings extra loss of face.

After the journey to the southern frontier, I always feel the white ape won't suffer a loss.

Upon this thought, a demon king immediately shouldered his pack.

"The elder brother seems to have to go." The Crow King rubbed his chin.

The southern frontier affair is hosted by the Whale King, mediating between the great Horse King and the white ape, and he is also the eldest brother among the sworn demon kings—eldest brothers are always different; even if pretending ignorance and staying neutral, the Whale King's lifetime reputation would be considered ruined in vain.

"The second brother is truly clever—if this really becomes the Dragon Lord, sigh, this is pointing at the otter as the raccoon dog—I must go—"

"The news has been out for so long, yet no dominance achieved—I don't know if, when fighting breaks out, we'll be able to manage."

Communicating with the Ze Ding, empty as ever.

The white ape sat cross-legged on the dragon throne, rolling several iron balls in his hand; bending his thumb, one iron ball after another shot into midair.

Great achievements earned illustrious fame; awe-struck the disobedient, virtue spread to Huaijiang; spanning the great river, shining bright like the sun.

Even a mosquito is meat—three methods of obtaining dominance, this time very likely to trigger the latter two.

Doing the next stage often makes the previous stage's requirements much easier—just like before the Abandoned Dragon, obtaining favor was difficult, but after the Abandoned Dragon it became much simpler; during the Abandoned Dragon, dominance acquisition was hard, using heavenly authority to make grand scenes—also became much easier.

The long-right fruit of ten dominance points actually returned a full point— the influence of authority, vast beyond imagination.

"Taking advantage of the current heated atmosphere, use it all at once—beat every demon king senseless; definitely more stirring than teasing the little Horse King, possibly even matching the slaying of the flood dragon, earning two or three points."

"Speaking of flood dragons, I don't know if the Jade Qilin will appear together this time—"

Liang Qu wants to do far more than the Horse King imagines.

At the beginning of this year, Long Binglin went to the North Sea, yet found no clues; he now very much wants to see with his own eyes just what this demon king is like.

Hualala.

White steam rose and fell; molten iron water dropped, landing in the palm—just in time to become an iron ball.

Thumb flicked, the iron ball jumped again—only this time the distance was shorter.

Liang Qu constantly trained his authority this way.

Though divine powers cannot be used, his combat strength is absolutely stronger than before!

"When will the immortal pill be ready— if not, I'll have to evolve Chishan."

"Ah~"

"Ah.

The arm lowered from before the eyes, brought to the mouth; the white ape opened his large mouth and swallowed several thin lotus root strands, as fine as hair.

Long Eying reclined on the white ape's head, her skirt's sheer fabric revealing her bare lower legs; left hand supporting her chin, right hand twisting a bamboo skewer, she pierced the yellow-brown lotus root segments in the porcelain dish before her, one by one, feeding them down to the monkey.

The lotus stems aren't very tasty.

Dry and crumbly, with a mushy texture.

Liang Qu regretted boasting, saying the lotus stems would be fried and still warm when he returned, but he ended up leaving them for half a month by accident.

Long Eying also became petty; in August she fried a big pot, left it for an hour, it went soft, fearing spoilage in the heat she deliberately put it in the ice cellar to chill, and now she's taken it out again—is this even fit for human consumption?

Long Eying narrowed her eyes, taking back the toothpick held to her lips.

"Husband, are you speaking ill of me?"

"How could I? I'm just savoring the deliciousness."

"Not bad, change back, a small reward."

The white current dissipated, the beauty slid gently down his chest, Liang Qu's thighs immediately met soft buttocks, he couldn't help but bounce twice, savoring the sensation; Long Eying held the porcelain tray, lifting the last few stems with her fork: "The last bite, ah~"

Liang Qu let out a long breath.

Damn it, finally finished!

One gulp down.

Long Eying's crescent eyes, she twisted slightly, giving a glance to the little lip dragon on the beam; Liang Qu thought she wanted to hug him, but before he could embrace her, she buried her head, and he saw Long Eying swiftly withdraw, then bring out another plate of brownish-yellow lotus stems!

The little clam dragon stowed its cosmos bag, waddled hurriedly, and scurried off.

"Husband, this is the last plate."

Liang Qu exclaimed: "Just now you said the last bite?"

"Yes, the last bite of that plate just now.

"Oh you, dare to trick the Great King! Eat then eat————" Liang Qu flared, snatched the porcelain tray, about to speak, when he suddenly sensed a water beast approaching, delighted, "Ah Fat!"

Outside the door, the fat whale, just returned full from the whale clan, perked up and came running in.

"Open your mouth!"

The fat whale opened its big mouth.

Then Liang Qu, swift as thunder, dumped the whole plate in before he could cover his ears.

"Close up!"

"Chew————ah, forget it."

"Swallow!"

"Gloop."

"Can you taste it now?"

The fat whale smacked its lips, shook its head.

Liang Qu sighed: "Too bad, you tasted nothing at all? This time you did well, the Empress understands me, personally cooked these little snacks in the kitchen, I couldn't bear to eat them, just now I specially bestowed them upon you."

The fat whale grabbed its long whiskers and pulled hard.

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