Chapter 459: Fishing for Each Other

The Eight-Hundred-Li Flame Mountain, since Su Chen took away the Six Ding Divine Fire within it, no longer blazed with endless flames—only its temperature remained higher than surrounding areas.

Deep within the Flame Mountain, the Great Peng King sat upon a crimson rock in a stone cave, a long spear lying across his knees, its shaft dark and heavy, with demonic runes writhing along its length, and murderous aura swirling around its tip.

Not far away, Hong Haier was bound to a stone pillar by black chains, eyes tightly shut, his fiery essence sealed, his face pale.

After Niu Mowang deliberately spread the news, the Great Peng King soon received word that Su Chen and others had arrived.

“Su Chen has reached the Banana Cave. The murderous aura within Niu Mowang ’s body… he dispelled it with a mere wave of his hand. Niu Mowang ’s injuries are no longer critical; Jiao Mowang and Shituo Wang are also inside the cave.”

The blue flames in the cave flickered, casting shifting shadows across his face.

The Great Peng King wiped the spear resting on his knees; this spear was a fearsome weapon from the Demon Master’s Palace, named the Devouring Demon Spear.

For years it had been forged, swallowing countless demonic bloods; any ordinary Taiyi Jin Xian who touched it would have their primordial spirit corroded by its murderous intent.

Niu Mowang ’s thick hide allowed him to escape back to Cuiyun Mountain, which already counted as luck—but dispelling the spear’s murderous aura could not be accomplished in a short time.

Yet Su Chen simply dispelled it afterward.

The Great Peng King pulled out a message jade token, rubbed his thumb along its edge twice, then activated his demonic power.

From the other end of the jade token came the voice of Kunpeng.

“Speak.”

The Great Peng King bowed his head. “Master, Su Chen has left Huaguo Mountain and arrived at Cuiyun Mountain. He dispelled the Devouring Demon Spear’s murderous aura for Niu Mowang .”

The jade token fell silent for a moment, then Kunpeng’s laughter came like spring wind.

“Good. Very good.”

The Great Peng King asked: “Master, will you come to the Flame Mountain yourself?”

“Why the rush?”

Kunpeng’s voice came through the jade token.

“Su Chen is no fool. If he dared leave Huaguo Mountain, he surely has plans. Send the challenge as planned—force him to come to the Flame Mountain.”

The Great Peng King lowered his brows. “What if he doesn’t come?”

“He will come.”

Kunpeng’s tone was certain. “The Demon Alliance was founded under the guise of unity. Niu Mowang is deputy leader; Hong Haier is his only son. If Su Chen does not come, the Demon Alliance will fall apart.”

After a pause, Kunpeng added: “But I will not reveal myself first.”

Hearing Kunpeng would not come, the Great Peng King’s heart sank.

“Master’s meaning is…”

“I will send Yuanhai first.”

Upon hearing that name, the Great Peng King secretly exhaled in relief.

Yuanhai was the patriarch of the Fuhai Demon K’un-Peng clan, an ancient monster of the Demon Master’s Palace, at the mid-stage of Pretender Saint, who long ago trained under Kunpeng in the Northern Abyss, his mastery of devouring oceans cruel and overwhelming.

With him, the Great Peng King felt considerably more at ease—otherwise, he himself would never dare face Su Chen directly.

Kunpeng said: “Let Yuanhai probe whether Su Chen has allies. If only Su Chen is there, have Yuanhai hold him off while I arrive. If there are ambushes, retreat immediately.”

The Great Peng King murmured: “Disciple understands.”

“One more thing.” Kunpeng’s voice carried more killing intent. “Su Chen possesses the Chaos Bell. If you don’t want to die, be careful.”

The Great Peng King swallowed hard and replied: “Yes.”

The transmission ended; the cave fell silent once more.

The Great Peng King looked at Hong Haier and suddenly laughed.

“You’ve got a good uncle.”

Hong Haier’s eyelashes trembled slightly; he said nothing, only glared hatefully at the Great Peng King.

“Come to think of it, I’m your uncle too—but…”

The Great Peng King stopped mid-sentence, rose, picked up the Devouring Demon Spear, and walked to the mouth of the cave.

Outside the volcano, crimson sand filled the sky.

“Someone!”

He called to the demonic soldiers guarding outside. “Deliver a challenge letter to Cuiyun Mountain…”

…

The next morning, outside the Banana Cave on Cuiyun Mountain, demonic winds swept low across the ground.

The mountain guard barely reacted before a blood-red gourd-shaped figure rolled out of the wind.

It was one of Niu Mowang ’s demonic generals, normally responsible for patrolling the Flame Mountain region.

Now his armor was shattered; he lay sprawled before the mountain gate, clutching a black letter tightly in his hand.

“R-report… Great King…”

The guards hurriedly carried him into the cave.

Inside the Banana Cave, Niu Mowang sat on the main seat; though his chest wound had healed, the murderous aura on his face had not faded.

After being carried in, the general handed over the challenge letter.

Niu Mowang took it and unfolded it.

“Within three days, Su Chen comes alone to the Flame Mountain, surrenders, and hands over the Chaos Bell.”

“If he dares delay, first peel Hong Haier’s skin, then extract his tendons, and cast his soul into the Nine Heavens of Darkness—never to rise again.”

The signature at the end was only a wisp of demonic aura—left by the Great Peng King.

Tie Shan Gongzhu staggered upon reading the letter, gripping the stone table to stay upright.

Niu Mowang crushed the challenge letter in his fist; white steam spewed from his nostrils.

“Great Peng King…”

Those three words spat from his teeth, murderous intent soaring to the heavens.

Shituo Wang roared in fury and slammed his fist on the stone table.

“What are we waiting for? Mobilize the troops! I’ll chop off that bird-man’s wings piece by piece!”

Jiao Mowang reached out and held him back, his face equally grim.

“Little brother, don’t rush.”

Shituo Wang growled: “What’s not urgent? Then what do you suggest?”

Jiao Mowang said nothing, but turned to look at Su Chen.

All eyes in the cave fell upon Su Chen.

Su Chen sat beside the stone table, watching the letter in Niu Mowang ’s hand, his expression calm.

“It seems Kunpeng is growing impatient,” Su Chen smiled faintly. “Then I shall go to the Flame Mountain.”

Jiao Mowang lowered his voice: “Brother Su Chen, this is a trap. The Great Peng King is merely the blade; behind him stands Kunpeng. If you go alone, how can you expect to return alive?”

Shituo Wang fell silent, his voice dull: “We must save Hong Haier—but we can’t trade you for him.”

Niu Mowang pressed his palm on the table; the table groaned.

“Brother Su Chen, this matter began because of me. Hong Haier is my son—it’s not right for you to go alone into danger.”

Su Chen looked at the three of them and suddenly smiled.

“Brothers, Kunpeng wants me to go to the Flame Mountain—but I also want him to come there.”

Niu Mowang froze.

Jiao Mowang narrowed his eyes. “So Brother Su Chen already has a plan?”

“He wants to kill me. I want to kill him. His trap is not just baiting me—it’s me baiting him.”

Upon hearing this, Niu Mowang rose abruptly. “Then I’m going with you.”

Su Chen shook his head. “Big Brother Niu, your wound just healed. Stay at Cuiyun Mountain to stabilize the situation—it’s safer.”

“Bullshit.”

“My son’s been captured—if I hide in this cave while my brother risks his life, what kind of Great Saint of the Flat Sky am I? I might as well change my name to ‘Cowardly Ox.’”

Tie Shan Gongzhu glanced at him, her eyes still red, but she did not stop him.

She knew Niu Mowang too well: when he acted like a bastard, he could drive anyone mad—but when Shengsi hung in the balance, he never pushed his brothers forward.

Jiao Mowang also stood. “I’m going too.”

Shituo Wang was even more direct: “The Demon Alliance shares the same breath and blood—we’re brothers. How could we let you go alone?”

Su Chen looked at the three of them, his heart stirred. Since he began cultivation, he had seen too much scheming.

But he had also met many true friends and brothers.

Seeing their resolve, Su Chen no longer tried to dissuade them.

“Fine.”

He turned to Tie Shan Gongzhu. “Sister-in-law, I leave Cuiyun Mountain in your hands. Activate the mountain-protection array—no one enters or leaves.”

Tie Shan Gongzhu nodded, took out the Banana Fan, and handed it to Niu Mowang .

“Bring Hong Haier back,” she said, looking at him. “Be careful.”

Niu Mowang , unusually, did not joke—he simply grunted.

Moments later, demonic clouds churned above Cuiyun Mountain.

Niu Mowang gripped his Iron Staff, Jiao Mowang held his long halberd, Shituo Wang carried his great blade; behind them marched the elite of the Cuiyun Mountain Demon Alliance.

All demons clad in armor, weapons in hand, banners snapping, a dark tide rose from the mountaintop, heading straight for the Flame Mountain.

Soon after, a crimson line stretched across the distant horizon—the Flame Mountain.

As the demonic clouds advanced, gales whipped up crimson sand, blanketing heaven and earth.

Su Chen stood atop the clouds, gazing into the depths of the Flame Mountain.