Chapter 366: Do You Even Deserve to Scheme Against This Emperor?

"My Lord, array formation requires drawing inferences from one instance, possessing spiritual flexibility, not... rote memorization."

Shenxu Laozu offered the reminder with considerable tact.

Shen Yi sat within the empty cave dwelling, rubbing his brow vigorously.

Array diagrams swept through his mind, leaving his spirit slightly listless.

After nearly two thousand years of deduction.

Shen Yi had finally integrated and comprehended those seven array books.

With his current attainment in array formation, he could barely be called a master.

However, only when he began deducing the Xu Family Array Diagram Compendium.

Did he suddenly realize that all of this was merely the entry level.

The Xu Compendium recorded a total of thirteen hundred array patterns.

A single Dragon-Locking Array could derive nearly a hundred variations; what seemed like trivial adjustments could lead to entirely different results.

In Shenxu Laozu's words, this matter relied on talent.

Master one technique, master ten thousand techniques.

It emphasizes acting according to one's will, with arrays having no fixed form.

Shen Yi truly could not sense the so-called "spiritual flexibility," so he chose the most crude method.

Since he could not comprehend it, he would simply memorize it by force.

As long as he memorized all the variations, that would be equivalent to comprehension.

Shenxu Laozu claimed he did not understand, but was greatly shocked.

The Master had learned the exquisite array arts with a wild and primal beauty.

Just as Shen Yi persisted in pouring his lifespan into the arrays, two new faces arrived at the cave dwelling.

"Congratulations to the Lion Emperor on your great advancement in cultivation!"

Before drawing near, they had already shouted loudly.

Hearing that the lion had returned to slaughter the Barbarian Mountain Demon Emperor, then immediately seized the Youwei Demon Emperor's treasure, displaying nothing but ferocity and greed.

It was better not to let the other party misunderstand them for trespassing in the cave dwelling.

"We brothers serve under Jin Chi, the Nine-Tattooed Demon Emperor, and have specially prepared fine wine to offer our congratulations."

The Deer Demon held a huge wine jar, walking ahead with a smile.

Behind him followed a great demon with a high crest, who, though not smiling, still respectfully clasped his hands.

"Originally, we wished to invite the Lion Emperor to gather at the Eight Directions Dining Pavilion, but times are unstable recently. Anyway, this fine wine was taken from the dining pavilion; please forgive the inconvenience."

Having spoken, both looked forward simultaneously.

Within the simple cave dwelling, the Golden-Eyed Lion leaned casually against a stone platform, his leisurely manner clearly indicating he had already claimed this place as his territory.

Seeing the two demons approach.

Shen Yi glanced over, raising a hand casually: "Sit."

Regarding the news of these two demons, the Lion Soul had mentioned it previously; there was no need to ask further at this moment.

The Deer Demon was a formidable demon from the twenty-something caves; though not comparable to Lei Ti or Youwei, he was beyond what the former Golden-Eyed Lion Emperor could have ever reached.

The Chicken Demon was even more so, ranking in the Eighteenth Cave, having reached the late stage of Soul Transformation.

"I have long heard the Lion Emperor's name; indeed, you are imposing."

Seeing the lion too lazy to even give him a proper look, the Deer Demon quietly glanced at the Youwei Spear in the other's hand, then nodded and sat down cheerfully.

Yet he inadvertently met the Chicken Demon's gaze for an instant.

A Demon Emperor from the fortieth cave; only this much time has passed, and he is already putting on airs.

"..."

The Chicken Demon shook his head lightly, showing not the slightest anomaly.

Becoming arrogant when gaining power is the most normal thing.

In the Thousand Demon Caves, there have been countless such examples over the years, yet those who survive to the end are few and far between.

Today, they came carrying Jin Chi's orders.

Plus, the lion's background is currently unknown; even Youwei fears him, so enduring a bit is no harm.

Thinking thus, it stood up, slapped the wine jar, filled three large bowls with fine wine, and toasted the lion sitting high above: "We brothers admire heroes like the Lion Emperor the most; perhaps in the future, we will have the honor of becoming one family."

Shen Yi took the large bowl, swirled the wine slightly, and said noncommittally: "Perhaps."

With his current strength, relying on the magical robe, survival might be sufficient, but he certainly could not be counted among the first tier.

To establish a firm foothold, he indeed needed a backer.

Currently, he knew nothing about the great demons of the top ten caves; making a rash decision would easily lead to trouble.

His goal was not to become another Lei Ti Demon Emperor, but to truly penetrate the interior of the Thousand Demon Caves.

Shen Yi, sensing the rich aroma of the wine, silently used the Illusion Form Technique to spill the wine.

Then he smacked his lips: "Another bowl."

"The Lion Emperor is generous."

The Deer Demon hurriedly refilled the other's wine bowl.

Soon, the entire cave dwelling was filled with the scent of alcohol.

Seeing the lion's increasingly lazy appearance, the Deer Demon spared no effort in offering flattery, nearly praising the other as a being second only to the great demons of the top ten caves.

"Tsk."

The Chicken Demon sipped the fine wine leisurely.

This old deer is still unconvinced.

The Golden-Eyed Lion Emperor had just made an enemy of the Dark-Tailed One, which was tantamount to offending the Spider Emperor.

If it did not restrain itself now, the losses it suffered later would be even greater.

To praise to the point of destruction was to seek the lion's life.

This did not align with the orders given by the Golden-Winged Demon Emperor.

But the Chicken Demon merely smiled, having no intention of speaking up to interrupt.

The two brothers had served the Golden-Winged Demon Emperor tirelessly for years; suddenly, a lucky lion had appeared, posing a clear and grave threat to their status.

It was finally late at night.

The wine jar was empty.

The Deer Demon finally shook its head, eyes blurred with drunkenness: "Lion Emperor, wait a moment; allow me to go back and fetch more wine."

Just then, purple lightning flashed outside the cave dwelling.

Four dark-green eyes looked into the cave dwelling.

The Thunder-Hoof Demon Emperor glanced at the two demons, then offered the lion a cold smile: "It seems this Emperor has arrived at an inconvenient time and spoiled your mood."

"If you have something to say, spit it out."

Shen Yi still had no intention of rising; he had become increasingly adept at handling relations between demons.

It was far less difficult than he had previously imagined, and suited a personality like his, which suffered from some social anxiety.

Upon hearing this, the Deer Demon and the Chicken Demon both displayed a strange expression.

It seemed the relationship between the two was worse than they had imagined.

"This Emperor is truly curious how I ever took you in."

The Thunder-Hoof Demon Emperor had grown accustomed to the other's arrogance; instead of the anger from before, he merely sighed with slight emotion.

He then summoned a bolt of purple lightning and slowly sent it before the lion.

His four eyes opened and closed slightly, filled with mockery: "By order of the Xuanming Spider Emperor, you are dispatched to guard the cave dwelling; depart immediately."

The Thunder-Hoof Demon Emperor made no attempt to conceal anything.

He plainly presented this as a lesson.

He simply wanted to see the lion's expression upon realizing there was a trap ahead yet being helpless to do anything about it.

"Damn it..."

The Deer Demon looked away; if he had known the Spider Emperor would react so quickly, he should not have come today.

Now that he had heard of this matter, to pretend ignorance... upon returning, he would surely be beaten half to death by that Nine-Striped Tiger.

"Lion Emperor, rest assured; we brothers are willing to share the burden," the Chicken Demon said, rising at the appropriate moment.

Seeing this, the Thunder-Hoof Demon Emperor's eyelid twitched slightly.

He had never expected the Golden-Winged Demon Emperor to value this lion so highly.

However...

If that jade slip was truly as precious as the Spider Emperor claimed, even adding these two stupid demons would accomplish nothing.

The Thunder-Hoof Demon Emperor continued to stare at the lion, his eyes filled with even greater mockery.

Yet he saw Shen Yi casually swat away the bolt of purple lightning and slowly rise to his feet.

His scarred muscles rippled slightly, the scent of wine spreading from his body, yet his golden eyes were utterly clear: "Understood. You may get lost."

(End of this chapter)