Chapter 469

Su Chen and the others did not stay long, soon riding clouds back to Cuiping Mountain.

When the group landed their demonic clouds on Cuiping Mountain, the lesser demons before Bajiao Cave froze upon seeing Niu Mowang carrying Hong Haier back, then erupted into cheers.

“The Great King and the Young Master are back!”

“Quick, report to Lady!”

“No need to report—Lady’s already come out!”

Lady Tie Shan burst from the cave; the once dignified and elegant Rakshasi now had her hair slightly disheveled.

She saw Hong Haier slumped over Niu Mowang ’s back, and her eyes instantly reddened.

Hong Haier had been trying to play the hero, but when Lady Tie Shan seized him in a tight embrace, all his youthful bravado vanished.

“Mom, I’m fine, really fine—just held captive for a few days by that feathered bastard…”

Lady Tie Shan slapped him once on the back.

Hong Haier yelped, grimacing in pain.

Niu Mowang muttered beside them: “Be gentle—he’s still wounded.”

Lady Tie Shan shot him a glare: “You shut up too! Your son was kidnapped, and you still have the nerve to speak?”

Niu Mowang fell silent, humbled—though he was the mighty Ping Tian Great Saint, outside he commanded wind and rain, but back in Bajiao Cave, he still had to bow his head.

Shi Tuo Wang watched with great amusement, about to tease, but when Lady Tie Shan’s gaze swept over him, he clamped his mouth shut.

A victory feast was quickly set up inside Bajiao Cave.

Lanterns blazed brightly within; copper lamps hung on the stone walls, their flickering flames casting long, dancing shadows of the demons.

Roasted goats, golden-brown and crisp; steamed spiritual fish, fragrant and savory; jars of strong liquor piled like small hills.

Su Chen, clad in a green robe, sat beside the head table.

Niu Mowang lifted a whole jar of liquor, not even bothering with cups.

“Brother Su Chen, I’m a blunt ox—I can’t say pretty words. Today, without you, Hong Haier wouldn’t have been saved, Peng Wang wouldn’t have been killed, and that old bastard Kun Peng wouldn’t be dead.”

He raised the jar with both hands.

“This jar—I, Old Niu, toast you!”

Saying this, he tilted his head and drank deeply.

Strong liquor streamed down Niu Mowang ’s beard, soaking his chest, yet he drank with wild abandon, as if draining all the pent-up rage from his chest.

Su Chen lifted his cup.

“Niu Brother, what are you saying? Peng Wang kidnapped Hong Haier precisely because he was targeting me—you were dragged into this. Besides, we’re brothers; if my nephew’s in trouble, how could I stand idle?”

“That’s true, Brother Su Chen.”

Jiao Wang also raised his wine bowl.

“Between brothers, there’s no such thing as ‘dragged into it.’”

Shi Tuo Wang slammed his fist on the table, making the roasted meat in the dishes jump three times.

“Exactly! Today was truly satisfying! Especially when Big Brother smashed Peng the Third’s skull with one blow—I’ve never felt this good in my life! Come on, Brother Su Chen, I toast you too!”

Hong Haier sat beside Lady Tie Shan, munching on roasted lamb, his big eyes fixed on the liquor jars, clearly eager to drink—until Lady Tie Shan smacked him on the back of the head, making him settle down.

Lady Tie Shan turned to Su Chen, raised her cup, and spoke plainly, without pretense.

“Brother Su Chen, if Hong Haier had not returned, I’d remember your kindness for life.”

She said no more, and drank the cup dry.

The atmosphere inside Bajiao Cave grew livelier with every exchange of cups.

Outside, the lesser demons celebrated; some beat drums and gongs, the rhythmic thuds echoing through the mountain walls.

Someone began singing a wild demon song—coarse in tune, yet brimming with joy.

After three rounds of wine, Su Chen set down his cup.

The bottom of the cup clinked softly against the stone table, yet it silenced Niu Mowang and the others instantly; all turned to look at him.

Niu Mowang wiped the wine from his beard: “Brother, speak plainly.”

Su Chen gazed at the flickering flames in the cave and said: “Now that Peng Wang is dead and the Deep Sea Ancestor is dead, the Demon Master’s Palace has lost most of its elite. The remaining demon kings in North Julu Zhou are surely broken remnants. North Julu Zhou is now a fat, unclaimed piece of meat.”

Shi Tuo Wang’s eyes lit up: “What are you suggesting, Brother Su Chen?”

Su Chen lifted his gaze, sweeping it across the faces of Niu Mowang , Jiao Wang, and Shi Tuo Wang.

“I believe the Demon Alliance can seize this chance to establish itself in North Julu Zhou .”

Jiao Wang’s fingers paused at the rim of his cup, his eyes narrowing: “Brother Su Chen, are you proposing to expand the Demon Alliance? But originally, the Alliance was formed for mutual protection—now, expansion might stir unrest.”

Su Chen nodded: “So we need a legitimate cause.”

Su Chen spoke slowly, each word deliberate: “Brother Monkey has received Emperor Jun’s legacy on Demon Emperor Island. The ancient remnants of the Old Demon Court, led by Bai Ze, have acknowledged him as the new Demon Emperor. Once he stabilizes his cultivation, he will reorganize all demonkind under the title of New Demon Emperor.”

Inside Bajiao Cave, the flame flickered sharply.

Niu Mowang ’s wine bowl hung suspended in midair, his face stunned.

Shi Tuo Wang was even more shocked—half a piece of meat dangling from his mouth, forgotten, unmoving.

After a long pause, Niu Mowang spoke: “Seven Di became Demon Emperor?”

Su Chen nodded: “Yes. Originally, when Brother Monkey and I were in the Spirit Void of North Julu Zhou , we encountered the lingering soul of Dong Huang Tai Yi of the ancient Demon Court—he entrusted Brother Monkey with the Demon Emperor Seal. Now, with Bai Ze himself guiding him, Brother Monkey has received the legacy of Emperor Jun, the former ruler of the Old Demon Court.”

“The title of Demon Emperor belongs to none but him.”

Shi Tuo Wang finally swallowed his meat and leapt to his feet.

“Excellent!”

Shi Tuo Wang’s eyes gleamed: “I always knew Seven Di wasn’t ordinary! Back when we swore brotherhood at Huaguo Mountain, I saw his fearless spirit—I knew he’d do something monumental someday.”

Jiao Wang was calmer: “Brother Su Chen, you’re asking us to go to North Julu Zhou to pave the way for Seven Di ?”

“Precisely.”

Su Chen lifted his cup but did not drink.

“With Kun Peng dead, the remnants of the Demon Master’s Palace will descend into chaos—some will flee, others will rebel. If we move too slowly, North Julu Zhou will be carved up by every faction.”

“Brother Monkey, now the Demon Emperor, cannot remain confined to Huaguo Mountain. Among the Three Realms, North Julu Zhou is unquestionably the best place for him to establish a new Demon Court.”

Niu Mowang understood, exhaling hot breath through his nose.

“So we go first, raise the Demon Alliance banner, and absorb North Julu Zhou .”

Su Chen nodded slightly: “But we won’t take everyone. Those who abide by the Demon Alliance’s rules may join; those who’ve committed too many atrocities, we reject.”

Jiao Wang added: “Indeed. To join the Demon Alliance, one must first obey its rules.”

Su Chen raised his cup: “Great Saints, the great calamity of the Three Realms has descended. The demon race, lacking any aura to hold it together, is like scattered sand. If Brother Monkey can reestablish the Demon Court in North Julu Zhou and gather the demon race’s collective aura, the demon race will suffer less in this calamity.”

Niu Mowang fell silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.

“I, Old Niu, understand this!”

He rose, his massive frame blocking half the lantern light.

“I used to only want to guard Cuiping Mountain, keep my wife and child warm by the hearth, and let the outside world fight its own battles. But Peng Wang’s actions taught me: if you don’t seek trouble, trouble grows legs and walks right to your door. Trouble cannot be avoided!”

Hong Haier whispered: “Dad, that’s true.”

Lady Tie Shan shot him a glare; Hong Haier shrank back.

“I, Old Niu, volunteer as the vanguard of the Demon Alliance—I’ll lead the demons of Cuiping Mountain into North Julu Zhou . Whoever dares stand against the Demon Alliance banner, my Iron Staff won’t recognize kin!”

Jiao Wang also rose, his long sleeves falling.

“The Great Saint of the Overturning Sea, Jiao Wang, pledges to go to North Julu Zhou and clear the path for the New Emperor.”

Shi Tuo Wang set down his wine and meat, his expression solemn: “The Great Saint of the Moving Mountain, Shi Tuo Wang, pledges to conquer North Julu Zhou for the Demon Alliance.”

Su Chen rose, took a bowl, and personally poured each of them a full measure of strong liquor.

Su Chen raised his bowl: “To the Demon Alliance.”

Niu Mowang said: “To brothers.”

Jiao Wang said: “To the Demon Emperor.”

Shi Tuo Wang grinned: “To ensure no one ever dares kidnap our children again.”

The four raised their bowls and drank together.