The southern border frontier.
Mo Fan and Bai Yaoyao were hidden in the dense forest on a mountain ridge, frowning as they watched the distant horde of monsters.
Not long ago, they had suddenly noticed demon energy surging into the sky from the north, initially thinking it was the emergence of a great demon.
Out of curiosity, they had flown over to investigate, keen to see which mighty demon was at work here.
But what they saw upon arrival left them utterly shocked.
There was indeed a demon king, and not just one, but a full five of them.
These five demon kings consisted of one eagle demon, three wolf demons, and one flying centipede demon.
None of the five demon kings had revealed their spiritual forms, all appearing in their true shapes, radiating world-shaking, terrifying demon energy.
Beyond these five demon kings, there were countless lesser demons.
This was also the first time Mo Fan had seen so many demon cultivators, covering the hills and plains, stretching as far as the eye could see, densely packed, charging madly towards the southern border, numbering at least in the tens of thousands.
“Where did these monsters come from?
There are so many of them.
What on earth are they up to?”
Mo Fan’s brows furrowed slightly, a trace of shock in his eyes.
“It looks like the southern border is about to change.”
Bai Yaoyao could not help but draw a deep breath, her voice grave as she said, “In the past, the demon race rarely ventured into the southern border, and those demon kings would never set foot there at all.
But now, with so many demon cultivators entering the southern border, it means certain great demons are no longer content with their seclusion.”
“Could it be the Fire Phoenix Holy King of Phoenix Cry Mountain?” Mo Fan speculated.
“This place is north of Demon Spirit Mountain, so it is unlikely to be Phoenix Cry Mountain, and besides, Phoenix Cry Mountain is home to mostly flying demons, whereas here the main force is wolf demons, so it must be some other great demon stirring things up.” Bai Yaoyao shook her head as she analysed.
“Wolf demons… it must be Moonwatch Valley then.”
Mo Fan drew a deep breath, then opened his mouth to spit out that human-drawn map, unfolding it and pointing to the spot marked Moonwatch Valley.
Seeing this, Bai Yaoyao’s eyes lit up involuntarily, and she said in some surprise, “You actually have a map of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains here? And it is so detailed too.”
“This is something I once obtained from a scorpion demon, though I do not know where he got it from.”
Mo Fan smiled; he did not intend to delve too deeply into the map’s origins.
Every demon cultivator had their own stroke of fortune, so it was not unusual for them to acquire such a thing, and how they did so was unimportant; what mattered was that the map now belonged to him, Mo Fan.
“It seems only the Demon Holy King in Moonwatch Valley could mobilise such a massive force of demon cultivators.”
Bai Yaoyao’s words made Mo Fan’s heart sink slightly, and he could not help but sigh, “In that case, I fear the human race in the southern border is about to face a great calamity.”
“Indeed.”
Bai Yaoyao nodded in deep agreement; at a time like this, with so many monsters entering the southern border, their intentions could not be more obvious.
“I have heard you seem to have some human friends; are you planning to lend them a hand then?”
Bai Yaoyao looked at Mo Fan with a playful expression.
“Friends, well, perhaps once upon a time, but they have long since faded from each other’s lives.
After all, I am a demon at heart, so what right do I have to truly befriend humans?
If there is such a person, he would certainly not be some ordinary mortal.”
Mo Fan smiled, then gazed at the gradually receding demon horde and sighed, “Moreover, this time it is the Demon Holy King of Moonwatch Valley making a move, and I am merely a minor demon general who has not even reached the demon king realm; what could I possibly use to save anyone?
I have already done what I could, and the rest is their own path in life; as for how they fare in this catastrophe, that will depend on their fate…”
“It is good that you think that way; I was truly afraid you might suddenly lose your head and wade into this muddy water.”
Bai Yaoyao spoke with a smile, then continued, “My demon race has been suppressed by humans for far too long, especially the monsters of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, who have long coveted the humans of the southern border.
In a sense, the southern border has now become nothing less than a granary for the demons of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
At this juncture, it concerns the grand balance between the two races, where pulling one hair affects the whole body.
Just watch.
The southern border will not remain peaceful from here on.
Given the nature of humans, they will never allow tens of millions of their kind to become mere blood food for demons.”
“Mm, let us go; we should head back soon, so as to reassure the little demons all over the mountain.”
Mo Fan nodded, several human faces flashing through his mind, but in the end, he felt no lingering attachment, turning instead and stepping deep into the dense forest.
Perhaps he had indeed shared brief encounters with certain people in the past, but they were merely encounters, far from enough to make him willing to brave fire and water for them.
Just as he had told Bai Yaoyao, he had already done what needed doing, and now those people’s destinies would take whatever course fate decreed.
From the moment he set foot on the path of cultivation, Mo Fan had understood that he could not have too many ties with mortals; time passed differently in the mountains, and one seclusion might bring a world of change upon emergence.
For him now, a century could not age him, yet for ordinary mortals, a century might leave only a mound of graves…
From the day he became the Demon King of Black Wind Mountain, Mo Fan had been destined not to expend too much for insignificant people.
For he now bore a greater responsibility: as the king of Black Wind Mountain, developing the mountain must be his foremost task.
Of course, there was one even more important matter, which was to change the corrupt state of the demon race with his own power as much as possible; this was the hope once placed in him by the White Tiger Holy King.
However, Mo Fan would not force the issue too much; he would simply strive towards that goal, and if he gained the ability to change the demon race in the future, he would do so, but if not, he would not fret over it, embracing instead a life of following his nature.
The two demons did not take long to return to Black Wind Mountain.
What met their eyes was a group of monsters kneeling prostrate in the mountain-top square, along with that enormous toad banner fluttering in the wind.
When Mo Fan saw the somewhat abstract toad pattern on the banner, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily a few times.
“Great King, you are finally back.”
Wolf Ferocious lifted his head to look at Mo Fan and the other demon, while also nodding to Bai Yaoyao.
Though Bai Yaoyao was very strong, he believed this white snake would soon become the Great King’s consort, and she was already inseparable from him, so major matters in the mountain were still primarily under Mo Fan’s lead.
“You mangy dog, what is that toad banner about?
Who the hell made it?
I am so handsome, yet you draw me this ugly; is this not damaging my tall and noble image?
Take it down at once!!” Mo Fan said irritably.
Hearing this, Wolf Ferocious’s expression grew a touch awkward, and he turned back to berate the crowd of lesser demons, “Did you lot not hear the Great King’s words? Take down that banner right now. If there is a next time, this general will skin you all!!”
The lesser demons looked as if they might weep, knowing this blame would fall squarely on the Second General, and they obediently climbed to the mountain top to remove the toad banner.
Only then did Wolf Ferocious breathe a sigh of relief, and he asked Mo Fan, “Great King, did that Black Feather King escape?”
“He wanted to escape, but now he is in this king’s belly.”
Mo Fan chuckled, then turned his gaze to the dozens of demons kneeling in the square and asked, “What is all this about?”
“Great King is mighty; I knew that Black Feather King could not escape your grasp.”
Wolf Ferocious laughed as he spoke, then explained, “As for these fellows, they are all from those two mountains’ demon crowds.
I originally planned to slaughter them all and turn them into a feast for the brothers, but these bastards surrendered so quickly that I could not find an excuse to strike.
I did not know what to do with them, so I waited for your return to decide their fate.”
Mo Fan nodded upon hearing this, and he strode towards the square.
His arrival naturally drew the eyes of all the demons, who looked towards him.
“I am Laibao, the Great King of this Black Wind Mountain.
Since you are demons from those two mountains, I shall tell you one thing: your great kings have both been slain by this king.
Now, the only path to survival before you is to join my Black Wind Mountain.
However, this king does not tolerate traitors, so some among you are destined to die.
Point out your commanders, and you may live.
Fail to do so, and you all go into the boiling oil.
For it was they who organised your attack on my Black Wind Mountain, and it was they who made you surrender and betray your original demon mountains.
For such turncoats who eat inside and scratch outside, according to Black Wind Mountain’s rules, turning them into a feast is the final respect we show them!!
