Chapter 700: You're Worthy Too?

"These two, why do they seem a bit familiar?"

Tang Luo looked at the two leaders leading the horde of demons, feeling he had seen them somewhere before.

Not in the scenes just replayed, but further back, during the time in the Realm of Mountains and Seas.

"Probably not met face-to-face, perhaps I've heard of them or something." Tang Luo was pondering.

The demon army had already pressed to the border, lightning striking down as usual.

Facing this lightning, the demon horde responded quite skillfully, avoiding most of it, with only some too powerful to dodge.

Those were blocked by the strong among them; though injured, it wasn't severe, and they still maintained considerable combat strength.

Before long, they rushed onto the cliff top — there were roads on both sides of the cliff, and even if there weren't, they couldn't stop this group of formidable demons.

The Black Flood Dragon transformed into human form, descending from the sky to stand before Tang Luo alongside that tall, loose-haired man.

"Celestial God?"

The tall, loose-haired man asked.

Tang Luo shook his head.

"Demon?"

The Black Flood Dragon asked; his human form was gloomy and unruly, cheeks sunken, frame gaunt, a hideous scar on his face.

Aside from the scar, one couldn't help but be reminded of a certain TV drama's rock-star-like "Buddha Wutian."

Tang Luo continued shaking his head.

"Cultivator?" The tall, loose-haired man asked again.

Tang Luo nodded.

"Heh, no wonder you could get in." The Black Flood Dragon snorted coldly, "Outside, are Celestial Gods gathered?"

"Yes." Tang Luo nodded.

The tall, loose-haired man nodded, a savage expression on his face, revealing a mouthful of incomparably sharp teeth, "Are you a Celestial God's envoy?"

"No, I just came in to take a look."

"Excellent!"

The two leaders walked past Tang Luo, the demons behind following; many bared their teeth at Tang Luo, looking ready to pounce at any moment, but in the end none made a move.

The tall, loose-haired man and the Black Flood Dragon simultaneously turned to glance back, eyes narrowing, not stopping.

Only their pace slowed, step by step forward, figures vanishing into the mist that suddenly surged up.

They certainly hadn't restrained the demon horde behind them from attacking this suddenly appeared little baldy.

Those demons still retaining some reason could still curb their bloodthirsty impulses, venting anger and hatred on the Celestial Gods outside.

But those demon beasts couldn't.

Some were once spirits or demons, fallen into mindless powerful demon beasts.

Some were born in the Nine Netherworlds, never having awakened sentience.

They actually didn't pounce and tear that little monk to shreds? What means did the other party use?

However, this isn't what they care about most right now; since this little monk could appear here.

At least it proves he isn't a Celestial God, and holds no great hostility toward them.

Otherwise, he definitely couldn't have entered the Nine Netherworlds.

Though the demon clans cannot freely enter and exit the Nine Netherworlds, at certain moments they still can go out.

Like now, a leopard spirit left, its roar echoing back into the Nine Netherworlds.

The demon clans understood — it was time to leave again.

This kind of chance to leave, to see the outside world truly full of vitality, had happened more than a few times.

Only, besides the first two times, afterward the Celestial Gods appeared every time, blocking and slaying them.

This time, it's different.

The demon clans have reached a precarious edge; continuing to survive in the Nine Netherworlds, they will perish.

Becoming a horde of mindless demon beasts.

【43】 Perhaps a tiny fraction of exceptionally gifted demons might grow stronger.

It is possible that a small portion of exceptionally talented demons could become stronger.

But it's only a tiny fraction.

For survival, for continuation, and for freedom, this is the demon clan's do-or-die battle!

A battle concerning life and death.

Even if all die in battle, it's better than slow death here.

Exuding astonishing killing intent and baleful qi, a group of demons appeared on the stone bridge.

The shrouding mist "dispersed" with their advancing steps, letting them see the scene ahead.

The Black Flood Dragon and the tall man froze instantly.

What's going on?

Zhu Bajie and Ao Yulie turned around, seeing the two leaders.

"Huh, it's you two!"

Zhu Bajie recognized the true identities of these two — the Lion Camel King, Moving Mountain Sage among the Seven Great Sages, and the Flood Dragon King, Overturning Sea Sage.

Counted as Sun Wukong's sworn brothers.

No wonder in the replayed scenes, the stone stirred slightly, stopping the Golden-Hooped Rod from killing in all directions, instead choosing to block the Celestial Gods pursuing them.

Probably at that time Sun Wukong still had some vague consciousness, "scenting" "acquaintances (including the Six-Eared Macaque's remnant soul)" among the fleeing demons, leading to the later "one staff holding the pass, ten thousand men unable to break through."

As for acquaintances among the Celestial Gods.

They've changed too much, truly unrecognizable.

Only because their appearance resembles that of the past could Tang Luo and the others match the God Kings and God Sovereigns to their former identities.

If Manjushri and the others had not taken the "Path of the Heavenly Gods," would the situation have been different?

Of course, if they had not taken the Path of the Heavenly Gods, they would not have opposed the demon race, and would not have sought to exterminate them completely.

"Zhu Ganglie."

"Ao Yulie."

The Flood Demon King and the Lion Camel King also recognized Zhu Bajie and his companions, and at the same time turned their gaze to the three God Sovereigns lying on the ground on the other side of the stone that Sun Wukong had transformed into.

Further away, beyond the stone bridge lay a chaotic battlefield, the massive Heaven-Reaching Golden Cudgel still standing, along with a group of defeated heavenly soldiers and残将.

Without needing to think much, in an instant the Flood Demon King and the Lion Camel King understood what had happened.

They also realized who that little monk from earlier truly was.

Fighting Victory Buddha, the demon monk Tang Xuanzang!

No wonder those demons and monsters did not dare to attack him.

All the way westward, slaughtering demons, monsters, ghosts, and evil spirits, marching forward stained with the blood of countless demon tribes.

Tang Xuanzang's very bones exuded an aura that made the demon race feel a chill, ironically allowing instinct-driven demon beasts to sense it at times.

Was it because they sensed this was a hard bone to chew that they retreated?

Of course, if those demon beasts were given a little time, their bloodthirsty instincts would still overcome their innate fear.

Unless Tang Luo no longer restrained his aura, he could not fully intimidate the horde of demons.

"Ha, ha, hahahaha..."

The Flood Demon King and the Lion Camel King burst into wild laughter simultaneously, laughing unrestrainedly, as if expressing all their dissatisfaction and hatred through laughter.

Later, the laughter almost became bestial roars.

A group of demons behind them also joined in, laughing and roaring.

"Heaven helps me! Kill! Kill all these heavenly demons!" Without another word, the Flood Demon King charged out from the stone bridge, transforming into a black evil flood dragon, and slaughtered toward the remaining heavenly gods.

The Lion Camel King maintained his human form, pointed with his hand, and the horde of demons behind him "emerged from their caves."

The war between gods and demons erupted once again.

Compared to the past, its scale was far inferior.

The heavenly gods were actually stronger than before, but had merely been crippled by Tang Luo.

The demon race had nearly become a group of ferocious, brutal demon beasts—ferocious in excess, yet lacking in strength.

Yet even so, they were not something the current残兵败将 of the heavenly gods could withstand.

The battle reached a stalemate for a while, and the scales of victory gradually tipped toward the demon side.

This was even while one of the strongest, the Lion Camel King, had not participated—he walked to the side of the three God Sovereigns and sneered: "You also have today."

Having said that, he lifted his foot, about to crush the skull of the Heavenly Might God Sovereign.

Zhu Bajie stepped forward and slapped with his palm toward the Lion Camel King.

The Lion Camel King reacted swiftly, his right hand transforming into a beast claw to counterattack.

A black arc of electricity flashed, and both retreated several steps; Zhu Bajie's palm now bore several new scars.

The Lion Camel King's beast claw was scorched black.

Neither gained the upper hand.

Capable of becoming sworn brothers with Sun Wukong as one of the Seven Great Sages.

The Lion Camel King's strength is naturally not weak; having endured many upheavals and fluctuations, he would not lose to Zhu Bajie even now.

"Zhu Ganglie, you're seeking death?" The Lion Camel King glared at Zhu Bajie, low growls escaping his throat, bloodlight flickering in his eyes.

No one can stop his revenge!

"Truly a group of demons and monsters," Zhu Bajie said, frowning.

The demon race returned from the Nine Underworlds, their beastly nature far surpassing reason, each one acting as if gone mad.

This is certainly not a good omen.

The heavenly gods had labeled these demon tribes as "demons and monsters," never expecting the phrase to become literally true.

"Master hasn't spoken, so they cannot die yet," Zhu Bajie said.

The three God Sovereigns were left unliberated—how could they be casually killed by outsiders?

"Sun Wukong calls me 'Fourth Brother,' and you dare to block me?" The Lion Camel King pointed at the stone into which Sun Wukong had transformed and said.

Pulling out his status to intimidate.

The Seven Great Sages sworn brothers, in order: Bull Demon King (Heaven-Plating Great Sage), Flood Demon King (Sea-Covering Great Sage), Roc Demon King (Heaven-Mixing Great Sage), Lion Camel King (Mountain-Moving Great Sage), Monkey King (Wind-Penetrating Great Sage), Monkey King (God-Driving Great Sage), Beautiful Monkey King (Heaven-Equal Great Sage).

Sun Wukong is the youngest, so he is called "Seventh Brother."

The Bull Demon King is the eldest brother.

But to speak frankly, the Seven Great Sages are not truly brothers who share liver and gall; they are more like an alliance among demon races.

Only in name are they called brothers.

Only the relationship between the Bull Demon King and Sun Wukong is somewhat better, and even that is limited.

As for the other "Five Sages," they are truly only brothers in name to Sun Wukong.

Moreover, later on the westward journey, various demons and monsters eyed Tang Luo as "Tang Monk's flesh," drooling over him; along the way, who knows how many demons died from greed.

Their mutual relations grew even colder.

In his daze, Sun Wukong needed only to raise a hand slightly to be nearly done; more face, perhaps, might even come from the残魂 of the Six-Eared Macaque.

Back then, after fighting so many times, they had developed some feelings.

Fourth Brother?

Heh, now if Sun Wukong were to wake up and call out, the Lion Camel King might not even dare to answer.

"Hehe." Zhu Bajie laughed. "Since you're the eldest senior brother 'Fourth Brother,' you should also know that without Father speaking, where would you get the say-so to act on your own as a son!"

The brutality in the Lion Camel King's eyes grew ever more apparent.

Hatred and rage gnawed at his reason.

In the Nine Nether, he had not tempered his mind and spirit well, had not cultivated a compliant-as-desired heart that could be gathered and released at will, nor had he fallen into frenzy and become a mindless demon beast.

It was hatred and rage that supported him as he hovered between the two.

The Flood Dragon King's situation was likewise.

Everything stopping them from taking revenge was an enemy, without a single exception!

The Lion Camel King's body slowly crouched low, showing a tendency to revert to his true form; right now, they preferred to fight in this way.

Just then, Tang Luo, clad in a blood-colored brocade kasaya, walked out from the mist; ordinary footsteps, yet they seemed to tread upon the Lion Camel King's heart.

Causing his movements to instantly freeze.

Tang Luo raised a hand and struck a palm toward the three Divine Lords; the three Divine Lords didn't even have time to speak final words before turning into a mass of blood mist.

"Fourth Brother? You're worthy of that too?"