Chapter 970

Supreme Demon Kingdom.

Supreme Demon Capital.

Supreme Demon Hall.

The current Demon Emperor, who is also among the thirty-six Demon Venerables of the Supreme Demon Kingdom, with strength solid enough to rank in the top five, the Supreme Demon Venerable stood with hands behind his back before a huge, black jade‑carved Nine Dragon Jade Disc.

A thousand zhang high and ten thousand zhang wide, the Nine Dragon Jade Disc exuded a grand aura; nine black demon dragons ran across the disc, spewing torrential demonic flames.

This is the "Nine Dragon Loss Stele," the supreme demonic scripture of the Supreme Demon Kingdom; everything of the demon royal family originates from it.

This stele is called "Heaven‑formed"; unless one possesses the pure bloodline of the demon clan, anyone who dares to comprehend it will surely lose flesh and blood, turning into an intangible demonic head that the jade disc devours, thereby increasing the disc's malevolent power and deepening its foundation.

Since that day when the thirty-six Demon Venerables jointly launched a surprise attack on the Fu Feng Imperial Capital, seized the "Heaven‑Earth Pure Wind Banner," and shattered the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty's national guarding formation, the Supreme Demon Venerable also suffered grave injuries; his indestructible demonic body was battered to broken bones and torn tendons, and his demon soul was severely wounded. He has been crouching within this Supreme Demon Hall, relying on the power of the Nine Dragon Loss Stele to recuperate and rest.

Strand after strand, wisp after wisp of intangible yet pure and powerful demonic qi continuously surged from the Nine Dragon Loss Stele, frantically devoured by the eighteen demonic meridian wheels within the Supreme Demon Venerable's body, resembling a black sun.

Bones thundered, muscles writhed, and the five viscera and six bowels emitted resonant roars like dragon cries.

Standing sixteen chi tall, with a dark‑gold complexion and a fleshly body as translucent as glazed porcelain, the Supreme Demon Venerable looked less like a demon and more like a cultivated Buddha who had attained fruition.

Within the Supreme Demon Hall, which spans hundreds of li, the rich heavenly‑earthly essence had already turned into a viscous slurry, soaking the entire hall.

With each breath of the Supreme Demon Venerable, a large amount of demonic qi from the Nine Dragon Loss Stele was sucked into his body, while boundless heavenly‑earthly essence surged in frenziedly; under the impetus of the supreme demonic art, it transformed into nourishment to repair his demonic body and nurture his demon soul.

Within the Supreme Demon Hall, covering hundreds of li and standing several li tall, the liquid essence, like mercury, constantly surged up and down in violent fluctuations.

When the Supreme Demon Venerable drew a deep breath, the liquid essence abruptly sank downward by three to five li.

Outside the Supreme Demon Hall, countless Demon Kingdom experts activated formations, incessantly drawing earth‑vein essence and void quintessence, and continually crushing piles of elemental crystals the size of small hills to instantly replenish the essence consumed within the hall.

The Supreme Demon Venerable's consumption from a day and night of cultivation within the Supreme Demon Hall could sustain the elite forces of a million‑strong demon army for more than half a year.

Had it not been for these years of seizing vast territories of the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty, plundering the immense wealth painstakingly accumulated by generations of its people, and enslaving countless of its citizens to toil day and night in service and support, even the Supreme Demon Venerable could never have afforded such extravagant cultivation and nourishment in the past.

The vast Supreme Demon Hall gave a low "hum" and trembled slightly.

"What is it?" the Supreme Demon Venerable, whose visage was stern and whose eyes were flecked with gold that occasionally flashed with golden demonic flame, barked in a low voice.

A figure five to six zhang tall, clad in ghost‑faced heavy armor and bearing two massive great axes on his back, appeared out of thin air behind the Supreme Demon Venerable: "There are some interesting matters, Your Majesty, perhaps you would be interested."

"No interest." The Supreme Demon Venerable snorted coldly: "What in this world could still pique my interest? Hmm, Giant Spirit, did your old‑mother slip over the wall and give you a younger brother or sister? If so, I'd be quite interested."

The Supreme Demon Venerable burst into laughter, "Hahaha": "If that's the case, I'll issue an edict right now to grant your old‑mother several excellent tonics for pregnancy."

The hulking figure, the Demon Kingdom's royal spy chief Giant Spirit Demon, let out a low roar, spitting two sparks from his nostrils that shook the ground with a rumbling "boom‑boom‑boom" and ignited a wide blaze.

"Your Majesty, my old mother's bones are sturdy enough to beat a drum."

"That means your wife has stepped out, anyway, it's either your mother or your wife." The Supreme Demon Venerable gave a weary "heh‑heh" laugh, his tone filled with a vulgar slickness even baser than that of Li Ergouzi.

"Your Majesty, the Eight Great Conquest Envoys have encountered trouble." Giant Spirit swiftly changed the subject, knowing that, according to the Supreme Demon Venerable's nature, this fellow would not yet know how many nasty words he might utter.

How wicked! This scoundrel, despite being only a few thousand years old—a mere "tender age"—has actually taken the throne of the Supreme Demon Kingdom's Demon Emperor, and sits there rock‑solid.

"Were they completely annihilated?" the Supreme Demon Venerable snapped around, eyes bright with excitement as he looked at Giant Spirit: "They're all dead? That's great news—let's have a drink… someone, bring the liquor, heh‑heh‑heh‑heh. To celebrate the demise of those old fogies, the Yin Wu Eagles, let's down a cup heartily."

Giant Spirit wore a troubled expression as he looked at the Supreme Demon Venerable: "They're not dead yet, but close enough? They've been lured in by a stratagem, drawn deep into enemy territory, and now they're being caught in a 'close‑the‑door‑beat‑the‑dog' trap."

After a cold snort, Giant Spirit said in a deep voice: "The scouts I planted among them have just reported that their rear base has been raided, and their retreat route is cut off."

"Impossible." The Supreme Demon Venerable waved his hand: "How could a retreat be cut off while marching and fighting? Unless they were surrounded by tens of times their number on all sides… but you're saying that all eight of them ran into trouble together, and the combined strength of their main legions—useful or not—amounts to nearly a billion troops!"

"Can the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty still muster ten million mobile troops?" the Supreme Demon Venerable scoffed: "Unless the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty has given up on living, arming every remaining civilian on its dwindling lands to fight to the death… otherwise, cutting off a retreat like that…"

Giant Spirit's face flickered with strangeness as he said in a low voice: "They've discovered another continent, and found a state whose land area and population rival, if not exceed, those of the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty."

"They used a massive teleportation array to launch a distant campaign against that state… but ended up having their retreat cut off, and now a dozen or so of those huge teleportation arrays are under the enemy's control."

Giant Spirit said in a deep voice: "They didn't just bring their own direct subordinates; they also summoned every sect, family, and wandering demon that had ties, associations, dependence, or vassalage to them."

The Supreme Demon Venerable opened his mouth, lifted his gaze to Giant Spirit, and said in a deep voice: "Tell me the full story, quickly."

Giant Spirit went "pa‑pa‑pa," recounting how the Yin Wu Duo discovered the teleportation array, leading his vanguard forces and Li Ergouzi into a fierce battle, after which some mysterious news spread, causing the Supreme Demon Kingdom's Eight Great Conquest Envoys to abandon their mission to attack the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty, join forces, and invade the territory of Wuguo, which he related in full detail, point by point.

The Supreme Demon Venerable fell silent for a long while, then let out a lingering sigh: "Damn it, what talent!"

"Are you saying the Yin Wu Eagles are too stupid?" Giant Spirit rubbed his head: "I also think they're plenty stupid; they actually just charged in headfirst without a care, and I thought…"

The Supreme Demon Venerable cut off Giant Spirit's words: "I mean that guy, the commander who slaughtered demons in the 108th City, nicknamed Li Ergouzi… tsk, this is real talent—his methods are so base, he managed to lure the Yin Wu Eagles entirely into a pit… if he's willing to surrender, I'll make him a prince."

Giant Spirit shut his mouth, exhaling "huff‑huff" as two sparks shot from his nostrils.

After a while, Giant Spirit finally said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I have served you loyally for thousands of years, yet I am merely a petty marquis!"

The Supreme Demon Venerable waved his hand: "You're just a spy chief—what do you need such a high rank for? Spies that stick their necks out die faster; don't you get that?"

"Don't worry, don't worry—if you ever die in the line of duty, I'll surely grant you a posthumous prince's title."

Giant Spirit spat a mouthful of phlegm laced with sparks onto the ground, and instantly the entire hall shuddered as if heaven and earth were moving.

The Supreme Demon Venerable waved his hand: "Um, I'll dock your half‑year salary; keep track of it yourself, so you don't end up short of cash and go beat up that bunch of idiots in the household hall again… uh, where were we just now?"

Giant Spirit spoke in a muffled, resonant tone: "You want to give a prince's title to an enemy kingdom's commander!"

"Well, remember this: if we can capture Li Ergouzi alive, be sure to persuade him to become my lackey." The Supreme Demon Venerable looked at Giant Spirit with a bright smile: "Of course, this matter will likely take a while… uh, seal the news, completely seal the news. In half a month… no, make it seven days."

The Supreme Demon Venerable mused: "For Wuguo to dare use such a 'close‑the‑door‑beat‑the‑dog' tactic and actually succeed shows they aren't weak… at most seven days, I'd estimate the Yin Wu Eagles could hold out for about seven days."

"Seven days later, whether they live or die, relay this news to the eight families' old monsters." The Supreme Demon Venerable stroked his face, muttering low to himself: "Wuguo must be human, surely; that's why this bunch of fools assumed they wouldn't face any venerable old monsters, and thus dared to recklessly invade human territory."

"Tsk, but they dare employ the 'close‑the‑door‑beat‑the‑dog' tactic—does having a venerable old monster even matter?"

"Or perhaps, what if Wuguo is a bunch of lunatics, just like our Supreme Demon Kingdom, willing to slaughter their own populace as sacrifice for a breakthrough? These idiots aren't worth mourning."

"However, if this bunch of idiots can help me trap and kill a few old monsters, that would be perfect."

The Supreme Demon Venerable laughed while tiptoeing.

Giant Spirit dropped to one knee, lowered his head, allowing the Supreme Demon Venerable to easily pat his crown.

The Supreme Demon Venerable patted Giant Spirit's head, chuckling happily: "You've grown another head, really—what do you eat every day? Hmm, handle this matter more thoroughly; if you really can trap and kill a few old monsters, aren't you gaining a few new daughters? I'll have my fifth son marry them."

Giant Spirit shot up his head, roaring in a deep voice: "Why is it always your son marrying my daughter?"

The Supreme Demon Venerable chuckled, rubbing Giant Spirit's big nose: "What are you joking about? My few daughters—if your sons are willing to take them, I don't care; whichever of your sons is blessed and fortunate, feel free to marry them all, I won't take your bride‑price."

Giant Spirit shivered violently, rose to his feet, turned, and walked away.

I'm stupid…… Heh heh, Your Majesty, just let those few princesses of yours rot in your hands…… Heh heh, in the vast Supreme Demon Kingdom, who would be crazy enough to marry them……

The Demon Sovereign had his hands behind his back, gazing at Giant Spirit's back, sighing softly: "Why not, you share my worries—you marry them?"

With a tremendous boom, Giant Spirit vanished without a trace.

The Demon Sovereign stood dazed, turned to look at the Nine Dragons Fallen Sorrow Stele, and sighed leisurely: "Ah, really…… spare me a little face, after all, I am the current Demon Emperor."

After a moment of silence, the Demon Sovereign suddenly shouted: "Someone! The wine we just talked about—why hasn't it been served? Never mind, I don't want the wine…… Who's in charge of managing the Imperial Clan Jade Register? Hurry up and check—I still have a few daughters unmarried!"

"Prepare a betrothal gift, huh—I've set my sights on the families of the Eight Great Conquest Envoys, pick the one most likely to inherit the family head, and marry off my daughters one by one…… Tsk, regardless of whether they marry, order them to divorce their first wives and let my daughters become the chief wives."

The Demon Sovereign clapped his hands and laughed until his eyes narrowed into slits: "The ancients never deceived me, heh heh—if you want to take revenge on someone, raise your daughter into a shrew, then marry her off to them as the wife…… Tsk, a harmonious home, it will surely make their family prosper and thrive."

After a few strange laughs, the Demon Sovereign's amber eyes suddenly turned ink‑black, like spilled ink, with no other hue visible in his eye sockets. The black light slowly swirled, his gaze becoming like a black hole, exuding an overwhelming terror that made one breathless.

"Someone!" the Demon Sovereign, like a ruffian from the market, vanished, and a true Demon Emperor Demon Sovereign appeared. His voice became low and immensely imposing, each word extremely heavy, every syllable falling like a mountain pressing down, leaving one terrified for no reason.

Several twisted demonic apparitions appeared in the corner of the hall, bowing from afar to the Demon Sovereign.

"Mobilize everyone under your command, whether in the Supreme Demon Kingdom or the Feng Wind Divine Dynasty, and conduct a thorough review to see if anything strange has happened in these two lands recently."

"The key period is the days when Yin Wu Ying led the troops into battle."

As the Demon Sovereign's words finished, a twisted demonic apparition spoke up: "Your Majesty, three months ago something truly strange did happen."

"The Feng Wind Divine Dynasty can't withstand my demon army's vanguard; they're preparing to drop zombie pills in the mountain strongholds of Wind Mountain City, Lake Wind City, Autumn Wind City, and Ice Wind City on the northern front, to fight a decisive battle with my Supreme Demon Kingdom."

The Demon Sovereign raised an eyebrow and said in a low voice: "Oh, not bad, you still have some grit—what's the result?"

That demonic apparition said in a deep voice: "The result—something went wrong with the zombie pills in Wind Mountain City; they didn't turn people into zombies, but instead…… "

That demonic apparition then detailed every change occurring within Wind Mountain City.

Many of those details are likely unknown even to Feng Wind Youran and Feng Wind Yasi.

The Demon Sovereign chuckled lowly: "Wind Mountain City? Exactly…… send someone to impersonate me and lurk here—I'll personally go to Wind Mountain City for a visit."

"Heh heh, the fools of the Feng Wind Divine Dynasty—have any supreme‑rank old monsters from other continents slipped in, and they haven't noticed a trace?"