Chapter Seventy: Mount Huaguo

“Big Brother, you’ve emerged from seclusion as well,” said King Yurong.

Yuan Wuji was slightly surprised that King Yurong had come out so early. Judging by his aura, he seemed to have reached the realm of a Loose Immortal of Taiyi. Though he was now a Loose Immortal, Yuan Wuji recalled that King Yurong’s current aura was twice as powerful as that of a typical cultivator at this stage. Previously, before reaching the realm of a Loose Immortal, King Yurong had been among the weaker ones of his rank, but now, having achieved this breakthrough, he had become something of an anomaly.

“Yes, Big Brother, I never expected my advancement to go so smoothly this time,” King Yurong said, still feeling incredulous. Only he understood the hardships he’d endured when he refined the Ancient Water Ape’s Life Pill last time, but this time, it had felt as natural as water flowing into place. Water and fire ought not to coexist, yet within King Yurong, they merged with perfect harmony.

“Big Brother, the Bull Demon King is waiting for us at Mount Wuzhang.”

“Oh?”

“I told the Bull Demon King you were in seclusion, but he’s already waited for you some days. Should I let him know now?” King Yurong asked.

“No need. Just tell him that I won’t be able to emerge for a while—he doesn’t need to wait for me.”

The Bull Demon King was surely planning to swear brotherhood with Sun Wukong. Uncertain of the karmic consequences, Yuan Wuji preferred to remain a bystander. He transformed his cave dwelling to appear as though he were still cultivating in seclusion, then changed into a fiery red monkey hair and attached himself to King Yurong.

“Big Brother… Will this work?” King Yurong asked, uncertain.

“They won’t notice a thing. Don’t worry,” Yuan Wuji assured.

With that reassurance, King Yurong confidently flew toward a particular direction outside the cave. Now that he had broken through to the realm of Loose Immortal of Taiyi, his speed was unmatched; in only a few breaths, he arrived above the Bull Demon King.

“Brother Bull Demon King, why did the Divine Ape King choose right now to go into seclusion, just when you had important business?” A young man with a dragon’s horns said at the Bull Demon King’s side.

“It’s only the Handsome Monkey King. I doubt the Divine Ape King would even be interested,” the youth continued.

“Brother Macaque King, the Handsome Monkey King is rather extraordinary. You’ll see soon enough,” said the Bull Demon King.

Including the Bull Demon King himself, there were five demon kings. Yuan Wuji sensed that, aside from the Bull Demon King, there was one among them whom even he would find troublesome in a direct confrontation.

“Brother Yurong, you’ve finally arrived.”

“Has the Divine Ape King come out of seclusion yet?” the Macaque King and Bull Demon King asked as King Yurong appeared before them.

“I don’t think Big Brother will be coming out so soon. Let’s go together,” King Yurong explained.

At his words, the faces of the five demon kings darkened. They were all local overlords, used to others waiting on them, not the other way around. Now they’d waited for nothing, and the more hot-tempered among them could barely restrain themselves.

“Are you toying with us?” The Macaque King drew his iron cudgel—a weapon that was assuredly no ordinary item.

King Yurong, angered, was about to retaliate when Yuan Wuji’s voice stopped him: “No need to bother with such clowns. Pay them no mind.”

Though King Yurong didn’t fight the Macaque King, the atmosphere grew tense. The Bull Demon King had to step in to smooth things over.

“There’s no need for such discord, dear brothers. The Divine Ape King must be at a critical point in his cultivation and unable to emerge.”

“Since the Divine Ape King can’t join us, we might as well set out immediately.”

The Bull Demon King was inwardly exasperated—those with true abilities kept silent, while the ones with nothing but bluster always made the most noise.

“I think Brother Bull Demon King is right. Let’s depart,” said a female demon king. Unlike the others, who still bore traces of their beastly forms, she appeared entirely human, dressed in white, graceful and dignified—her every gesture a quiet delight.

“I agree with the fairy’s suggestion,” said the horned youth.

With the three most important demon kings having spoken, the Macaque King awkwardly put away his iron cudgel.

The Bull Demon King took the lead, followed by the other five. At the rear of the group were King Yurong, the Macaque King, and a lion-headed, human-bodied demon king—surely the Lion Camel King.

From their simple cloud-riding techniques, one could roughly judge their cultivation. The Bull Demon King was the strongest, followed by the horned Jiao Demon King and the female Peng Demon King. After them were King Yurong and the Lion Camel King, with the Macaque King bringing up the rear.

The Macaque King felt awkward; according to his information, King Yurong should have only been at the level of a Great Demon, but today’s encounter told a different story.

Led by the Bull Demon King, the demon kings traveled unimpeded. Yuan Wuji, hidden on King Yurong, quietly observed the other four demon kings besides the Bull Demon King.

“The Jiao Demon King and Peng Demon King are tricky. The Macaque King and Lion Camel King are of little concern,” he thought.

The journey from the Northern Continent to the Eastern Continent was nothing for these demon kings. Upon reaching Flower-Fruit Mountain, the Bull Demon King, Jiao Demon King, and Peng Demon King appeared unchanged, while a fine sweat beaded King Yurong’s brow. The Lion Camel King and Macaque King, though struggling to keep pace, held their breaths for the sake of pride, feigning ease.

Throughout the journey, the Lion Camel King and Macaque King had exerted themselves to the utmost just to keep up. The other demon kings noticed but kept silent, only surprised that King Yurong’s cultivation had improved enough to match pace and even surpass the Macaque King.

“Just ahead is Flower-Fruit Mountain. Let’s land and proceed on foot as a show of respect to the Handsome Monkey King,” said the Bull Demon King.

The Macaque King, his face flushed, wanted to protest, but when the Bull Demon King took the lead and landed, he had no choice but to comply.

Yuan Wuji observed that Flower-Fruit Mountain harbored many powerful auras. He circulated his Celestial Gold Core to minimize his presence as much as possible. Judging by the looks of the Jiao Demon King and Peng Demon King, they had noticed as well but seemed to be in on some secret, following closely behind the Bull Demon King.

Only the Lion Camel King and Macaque King believed their visit was a simple courtesy call. Prompted by Yuan Wuji, King Yurong also became cautious.

The first thing that caught the eye was the monkeys—so many monkeys, everywhere. Next was the spiritual energy of Flower-Fruit Mountain, the richest Yuan Wuji had ever seen in the mortal world, rivaling even the Heavenly Court.

No wonder the monkeys here could all speak and reason like humans. In such an environment, even a pig could attain enlightenment.