Mo Fan was speechless. Barely had they left the two rat demons when they encountered another group of creatures.
This time, it was two demon soldiers, embedded in the stone wall on either side, resembling carved reliefs.
It started with Er Ha’s curiosity.
“My king, look, there are two monsters carved on this stone wall. Wonder what kind of demons they are!” Er Ha’s words drew Mo Fan’s attention. He examined the reliefs, finding them indeed peculiar.
The carved demons each had a single eye, red skin, protruding fangs, and a fierce expression, each holding a cone-shaped weapon.
They looked like two gate guardians!
As Mo Fan studied them, Er Ha reached to touch the fist-sized eye of one “guardian,” intrigued.
But just as his hand neared, the “guardian” relief came alive!
“Outrageous!!”
“What wild demon dares defile your Mountain Monster Grandpa?!”
The sudden shout startled Er Ha, who stumbled back several steps.
Mo Fan narrowed his eyes, seeing demonic aura waft from the wall. The two “guardians” stepped out.
Only then did he realise these weren’t reliefs but actual monsters!
Not just any monsters, but rare mountain monsters!
Mo Fan had heard of “mountain monsters” from Dali when he was a lesser demon, but this was his first encounter.
All things in the world have spirits: those born with intelligence are humans, those driven by instinct are beasts, those with budding awareness are demons, plants adept at evasion are spirits, and those birthed from stone are monsters.
Mountain monsters were “monsters,” but being rare, demons often lumped spirits and monsters together as “spirit-monsters,” referring to creatures born from plants or stones.
To human cultivators, such distinctions were irrelevant; all were simply demons!
In truth, spirit-monsters lacked unique cultivation methods, feeding on moonlight like demons, so their techniques and realm divisions mirrored those of demons.
This explained why human cultivators often conflated spirit-monsters with demons.
The two mountain monsters before Mo Fan were formidable, at the late demon soldier stage, each stronger than Er Ha.
But with Mo Fan’s backing, Er Ha, recovering from his fright, roared, “Hey! Where’d you demon soldiers pop up from? Blind dogs, daring to block my king’s path?!”
The mountain monsters paused, scrutinising Mo Fan, then exchanged glances and shook their heads, clearly unfamiliar with the master and servant.
“Sorry, we’ve never seen you!
That means you’re not native to Red Fire Peak.
Whatever your purpose, you owe us proper courtesy.
Otherwise, how could we let you up the mountain?”
“Right! Think Red Fire Peak is some free-for-all?”
Unfamiliar with them, the mountain monsters dropped their politeness, speaking coldly, raising their cone-shaped weapons, ready to fight if needed.
“Hey! You mere demon soldiers dare speak so boldly before my king? Want to be served as a feast?!” Er Ha fumed, provoked, but hesitated to fight.
“Our cultivation isn’t high, but we serve the Mountain God King of Red Fire Peak, a true great demon king!
If you act recklessly, you won’t leave this peak!” Er Ha’s words angered one monster, tensing the atmosphere.
Mo Fan frowned but then relaxed, smiling at the two, “As newcomers, we’ve been rude. I have some tribute. How about you make things easy for us?”
With that, he spat out ten spirit stones, flicking them to the monsters.
Seeing the gain, their grim faces brightened. Each took five stones, waving at Mo Fan, “You seem to follow rules. Go up! If others demand tribute, mention our names, and they won’t overcharge!”
Mo Fan’s face twitched.
More extortionists ahead?
Was Red Fire Peak full of bandit demons?
“By the way, you can go up, but this tiger demon stays!”
“Right! The tiger wants to pass? That’s extra!”
Their words made Mo Fan laugh in anger, a cold glint in his eyes. He smiled calmly, “We’re new and unfamiliar here. If you’ve time, guide us to a cultivation spot with earthfire, and we’ll offer more tribute.”
More tribute?
The monsters perked up but feigned difficulty, “Caves with earthfire on Red Fire Peak are scarce, usually taken by great demons…”
“Ten low-grade spirit stones!” Mo Fan interrupted.
“I mean ten each!”
The monsters’ faces lit up, but they still hemmed and hawed, “This… friend, it’s not just about tribute…”
“Twenty low-grade spirit stones each!
If you don’t agree, we’ll find other demons to guide us,” Mo Fan cut in again.
“Cough… twenty’s just right!
Come with us, big brother!”
Mo Fan was speechless. These two were truly greedy.
But inwardly, he seethed with killing intent. He’d always been the one extorting others; when was it their turn?
Led by the monsters, Mo Fan saw Red Fire Peak’s true nature. Every stretch of the way, demons popped up demanding tribute.
But seeing the mountain monsters had already claimed it, they left begrudgingly.
Finally, the monsters brought him to a cave near the mountainside.
Calling it a cave was generous; it was a narrow hole. Mo Fan had seen over a dozen such caves along the way.
The others were occupied; this one was free.
“We’ve kept our word. Hand over the rest of the tribute, and we’re square!” the monsters said, ready to leave with their gains.
Mo Fan sensed a hotter aura deep in the cave, likely earthfire.
He nodded, smiling, “Good, this king will give you the tribute.
But you’ll need to take it yourselves.”
Take it ourselves?
The monsters frowned, asking, “Where?”
“In this king’s belly!”
Mo Fan grinned wickedly, activating his Heaven-Swallowing power, instantly swallowing the unprepared monsters!
