As Mo Fan unleashed the Heaven-Devouring Technique, the massive body of the Snake-Headed Demon was finally swallowed into his internal space.
Turning to the other side, he saw only a flying sword on the ground.
The Black-Armoured Demon, seeing the situation turn hopeless, had long fled.
“Master, please save Dali first!”
“He’s almost gone!”
Seeing Mo Fan’s battle conclude, Old Six, who had been dodging the pursuit of flying demons in the sky, immediately swooped down. Enveloped in demonic aura, he transformed into his spiritual form, carrying the barely alive Bull Demon Dali to Mo Fan.
Mo Fan glanced at Dali and was about to act when his expression lit up with joy. The demonic aura vortex within him had finally condensed into its first drop of dark liquid.
Demonic aura turned liquid.
Buzz—
A terrifying force erupted from Mo Fan’s body, an astonishing aura spreading out, causing Old Six’s legs to tremble.
“Master, you… what is this…” Old Six looked at Mo Fan, his face full of uncertainty.
“I’ve broken through to the Demon General realm,” Mo Fan said calmly, gesturing for Old Six to set Dali down. He took a deep breath, and an endless stream of demonic aura poured from his mouth, flowing into Dali’s body.
On the Six-Coloured Vermilion Fruit Treasure Tree, the faces of Black Nether Mountain’s great demons were grim.
All their backup plans had been wiped out, killed by the same demon. This was too much for the Black Nether Demon King, who could no longer stay calm and wanted to go down to eliminate the bald demon himself.
“Blood Bat, what are you doing?” Black Wind Demon King flashed forward, blocking Black Nether Demon King’s path, a smile spreading across his face.
Even he hadn’t expected the toad demon to be so formidable, bringing him countless surprises. With the trial still ongoing, he naturally didn’t want Black Nether Demon King to interfere.
“Move!” Black Nether Demon King said coldly, his voice icy. “Three of my peak Demon Soldiers were killed by that guy. This demands an explanation.”
As he spoke, several figures appeared beside him, all Demon Generals from Black Nether Mountain.
“What, our two mountains’ demons can die, but yours can’t?” Black Wind Demon King sneered, unfazed by Black Nether Demon King’s words, his face full of mockery. “This is the Three Mountains Trial. Do you take it for a game? Shall I call the Envoy to judge?”
At the same time, Golden Armour and White Demon stepped forward, both exuding powerful auras.
Black Cloud Demon King, watching from the side, remained calm, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, almost wishing the two mountains’ great demons would start fighting.
“Don’t use the Envoy to pressure me!” Black Nether Demon King stepped forward, his cold gaze fixed on Black Wind Demon King, brimming with hostility. “No matter the trial’s outcome, that toad demon must die.”
“Blood Bat, have you grown too comfortable in Black Nether Mountain? Speaking so recklessly now?” a voice interrupted. “Care to stay at Phoenix Cry Mountain for a while?”
As the tension between the two Demon Kings peaked, a figure floated down from above, hovering behind them, looking at them sternly.
“Greetings, Lord Envoy!” Seeing the newcomer, both Demon Kings restrained their killing intent and bowed to the black-haired man before them.
“Oh, Lord Envoy, no need for you to intervene in such a trivial matter. I was just about to step in and calm these two Demon Kings,” Black Cloud Demon King said with a smile, though a hint of regret flashed in his eyes.
The black-haired man, called “Lord Envoy,” glanced at him briefly before turning his attention back to Blood Bat and Black Wind Demon King.
“The Three Mountains Trial is a rule set by Her Holiness the Saint King. During the trial, Demon Generals and above are forbidden from interfering, or they will face punishment from Phoenix Cry Mountain,” the black-haired man said, narrowing his eyes at the two Demon Kings. “Is that clear enough? Need me to repeat it?”
“Lord Envoy, I never intended to interfere with the trial,” Black Wind Demon King said, shrugging and explaining immediately.
Blood Bat, however, looked grim. After staring at the black-haired man for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, “Lord Envoy, your words are clear, and I understand. But I have a question for you.”
“Oh?” The black-haired man frowned, a trace of displeasure in his eyes, but he still asked, “What is it?”
“You just said that those above the Demon Soldier level cannot participate in the trial. Now that the toad demon has broken through to the Demon General realm, doesn’t that mean he can no longer continue?” Blood Bat asked, his eyes gleaming.
“Blood Bat, you bastard!” Black Wind Demon King cursed. “Laibao only broke through during the trial. He didn’t break the rules. Why can’t he continue?”
With the trial’s outcome and the distribution of spiritual fruits at stake, he didn’t care about the Envoy’s presence.
“Exactly. I also think the toad demon hasn’t broken any rules. Isn’t Blood Bat being a bit too aggressive?” Black Cloud Demon King, who had been watching the drama, chimed in softly.
“It’s up to Lord Envoy to decide if the rules were broken. Why are you two so eager?” Blood Bat sneered, ignoring the other two Demon Kings and looking at the Envoy.
“Hm, I understand the matter. According to the trial rules, the toad demon hasn’t violated anything,” the black-haired man said, putting an end to the dispute, making Blood Bat’s expression even darker.
“Blood Bat, did you hear that? Lord Envoy said there’s no violation,” Black Wind Demon King mocked, inwardly delighted. “If you’re upset, you can leave. Your mountain’s lesser demons don’t seem to have any strong contenders left. You’re bound to come in last.”
“Hmph!” Blood Bat was furious but turned away, refusing to look at Black Wind Demon King’s infuriating expression.
As for leaving, he wouldn’t just walk away.
The Three Mountains Trial was about determining a winner, but the stakes were only the hundred or so Yellow-Grade spiritual fruits. The Mysterious-Grade spiritual fruits were shared among the three Demon Kings, a rule set by the Saint King of Phoenix Cry Mountain. Otherwise, the three mountains would have fought over the fruits long ago.
Yellow-Grade spiritual fruits, though valuable, were dispensable for Demon Kings.
Their real goal was to bolster their mountain’s foundation.
While Yellow-Grade fruits weren’t very useful to Demon Kings, they greatly benefited Demon Soldiers and Demon Generals.
Winning those hundred-plus Yellow-Grade fruits could create one or two more Demon Generals.
For the three Demon Kings, losing lesser demons or Demon Soldiers didn’t matter. What they cared about was Demon Generals.
Only Demon Generals could truly aid them.
With the intervention of the Phoenix Cry Mountain Envoy, the three mountains’ great demons quieted down.
In the battlefield, Mo Fan poured all his demonic aura into sustaining Dali’s life.
But Dali’s injuries were too severe. Even with all his demonic aura, Mo Fan couldn’t pull him back from the brink of death.
“Master, can Dali still be saved?” Old Six couldn’t help but ask.
“Cough… Master, don’t waste your effort on me. I know I won’t make it. Don’t exhaust your demonic aura for me…” Dali said weakly, slowly opening his eyes.
Mo Fan took a deep breath, a hint of madness in his eyes, and said firmly to Dali, “Hold on, Dali. I haven’t allowed you to die yet.”
“I’ll save you now.”
With a low shout, dense demonic aura surged from Mo Fan’s body, enveloping him in a black mist.
“Croak!”
“Roar—!!”
A strange toad-like cry rang out, followed by a deafening roar from within the black mist.
The mist trembled, expanding rapidly before collapsing back, sucked entirely into the mouth of a massive creature.
As the mist cleared, a giant black toad appeared before Dali and Old Six.
This was Mo Fan’s true form.
Standing two zhang tall, merely crouching on the ground, it exuded a terrifying aura that chilled the two demons.
“This guy…” In the distance, Big Horn and Diamond were stunned, the latter frowning, staring at the giant toad with a trace of fear in his eyes.
“Master?” Old Six swallowed hard, looking at the colossal beast.
“Master…” Even Dali, dazed, was seeing his master’s full true form for the first time, so ferocious and terrifying.
“I once watched a deer die before my eyes, powerless to stop it,” Mo Fan said. “How could I let you die now?”
As he spoke, two black tendrils extended from his body, wrapping around Dali on the ground and the stunned Old Six.
“If my demonic aura alone can’t save you, I’ll make every demon here save you.”
With that, Mo Fan leaped, vanishing from the ground and charging toward the distant demon horde.
