Mo Fan returned, only to find that every demon king who had come to the mountain to celebrate stood up involuntarily.
“Brother Laibao!”
“Brother Laibao is mighty!”
“Brother Laibao is bloody brilliant! You even dared to chase a demon ancestor. In my life, I bow to no one except my little brother, but today I have to bow to you!”
“…”
For a moment, all the demon kings on the mountain were greeting Mo Fan, calling him brother.
Mo Fan smiled and responded to each one, though some of the cruder fellows said things that made him grit his teeth.
His replies, however, were equally irritating. He immediately grinned at the one who bowed only to him and said, “Big brother is too kind. Your true form is a bear, isn’t it? Little brother has always loved eating bear paws, all soft and sticky. Fortunately, big brother is here today to celebrate with me. If we didn’t know each other and met outside, little brother might really get the itch to have a taste of big brother’s flavour…”
“…”
The bear demon king’s face stiffened at those words. His already dark complexion grew even darker, yet he still replied politely, “Brother Laibao really knows how to talk!”
“Since you talk so well, don’t talk any more. I’m a pure male, I don’t play those new tricks.”
“…”
Looking at all the smiling faces around him, Mo Fan felt momentarily dazed.
Two years ago he had been nothing more than a minor mountain-patrolling demon on Black Wind Mountain. Now he had transformed into a majestic demon king, and all these demon kings who came to congratulate him treated him with utmost respect!
“Bloody hell!”
“It really is just like that saying from my previous life!”
“When you’re weak, you’re nothing, everyone wants to bully you a bit!”
“When you’re strong, everyone around you is a good person, every single one wants to call you brother!”
Mo Fan silently marvelled at the mystery of fate. Naturally, he knew perfectly well why these demon kings behaved this way.
Wasn’t it all because he had just won a splendid great victory?
One could say that, after this battle against the three great demon kings of Dragon King Sea, the name of Laibao would soon resound throughout the entire Phoenix Cry Mountain demon domain!
For a long time afterwards, demon kings kept coming forward of their own accord to toast him, until Mo Fan nearly wanted to start swearing.
When the demon king grand ceremony had only just begun, he had been the one carrying his wine cup around to toast others.
How long had it been since then?
Now these same fellows were lining up to toast him instead.
Fate was always so impossible for demons to figure out!
After who knows how many rounds of drinks, the bright moon above shone brilliantly, bathing the whole of Black Wind Mountain in gentle white moonlight.
Mo Fan sat high upon the king’s throne, chatting with Granny Sparrow.
It was called chatting, but in truth he wanted to pry some information out of her.
First, about the matter of Thunder Feather Purple Lightning’s death, whether the one in Fire Phoenix Palace had said anything.
Second, about the personality of the Fire Phoenix Holy King, what sort of demon she truly was. This was crucial for Mo Fan’s next decisions.
Although he had visited Fire Phoenix Palace last time and met Granny Sparrow, he had been somewhat wary of that one and worried about Black Wind Mountain’s safety, so he had left early without asking much.
This time, Granny Sparrow was right here on Black Wind Mountain, so he could ask freely without worrying whether that one might overhear.
After all, Black Wind Mountain and Fire Phoenix Palace were nearly a million li apart. No matter how powerful she was, she couldn’t possibly eavesdrop on their conversation, could she?
“I knew you little rascal wouldn’t be able to hold back from asking these things.”
When Mo Fan inquired about Thunder Feather Purple Lightning, Granny Sparrow laughed.
“So Granny already knew your grandson would come asking about this?”
Mo Fan was startled, but it wasn’t hard to guess, so he just gave a sheepish laugh and grumbled a little, “Since Granny already knew, yet refused to tell me, were you waiting for me to come begging nicely?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I just wanted to see how long you could hold it in!”
Granny Sparrow pretended to be angry, raised her hand and smacked Mo Fan on the head, then grew serious and said, “Actually, when I heard from the Holy King that you had killed Thunder Feather Purple Lightning, I was shocked, and at the same time even more worried.”
“No wonder people say you’re bold enough to scare the heavens.”
“Who was Thunder Feather Purple Lightning?”
“One of the three great demon ancestors of our Phoenix Cry Mountain demon domain!”
“You killed him just like that, swallowed his body, and even snatched his demon soldiers!”
Hearing Granny Sparrow speak like this, Mo Fan instantly felt a bit guilty and hurriedly asked, “What did the Fire Phoenix Holy King say?”
“What, feeling scared now?”
“Where did all that wild energy go when you were chasing Black Horn Ancestor?”
Seeing his reaction, Granny Sparrow immediately showed a teasing expression. Mo Fan could only smile awkwardly, then listened as she continued, “I originally thought the Holy King would be furious. I had even prepared to plead on your behalf. But in the end, the Holy King wasn’t angry at all. Instead, she said Thunder Feather Purple Lightning had grown too arrogant, daring to go to the True Dragon Lair behind her back. He thoroughly deserved to die!”
“Uh…?”
Mo Fan was stunned when he heard this.
“Surprised, aren’t you?”
“Later I learned from old White Deer that since Thunder Feather Purple Lightning went to the True Dragon Lair without reporting to the Holy King, it meant he wanted to keep the immortal treasure all to himself!
Think about it. Sneaking off to fight for an immortal treasure behind the Holy King’s back, what did that imply?
How could the Holy King tolerate him?
So even if you hadn’t killed him, the Holy King would never have let him live!” Granny Sparrow sneered.
Mo Fan nodded at these words, but frowned slightly. If that was all, then this Fire Phoenix Holy King didn’t seem particularly magnanimous!
“Then White Deer Ancestor also went to the True Dragon Lair. Did he get the Fire Phoenix Holy King’s permission?” Mo Fan asked again.
“No, he didn’t ask permission. The Holy King sent him herself!”
Granny Sparrow smiled, then said gravely, “However, Thunder Feather Purple Lightning was still a demon ancestor after all. He had rendered great service to our Phoenix Cry Mountain demon domain, so the Holy King said that since you were able to kill him at the same realm, it proves you possess the power of a holy son. For now, she will not pursue the matter.
But if in future you cannot break through to the demon ancestor realm, then she will have to settle accounts with you properly.”
“Ah? This…”
Mo Fan opened his mouth, thought for a moment, and nodded with a wry smile.
In truth, he was secretly delighted. This was hardly difficult for him, which meant the Fire Phoenix Holy King would not hold him accountable.
Yet very quickly, Mo Fan fell into contradiction again.
Just a moment ago he had thought the Fire Phoenix Holy King lacked tolerance, but now why was she letting him off so easily?
When he voiced this question, Granny Sparrow laughed, “Silly boy, the Fire Phoenix Holy King has a very broad mind. I’ve served her for so long, of course I know what kind of demon she is.
Every demon in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains only knows of the White Tiger Holy King’s righteousness, but who realises that our Holy King is in no way inferior to the White Tiger Holy King?
She simply sees things more clearly, that’s all!
There are many things she could do, yet she cannot do them, because she understands that the demon race cannot yet bear the consequences of certain actions.
Back then I was just a tiny peacock demon soldier, but ever since I followed the Holy King, she spared no effort to help me break through to the ancestor realm!
It’s only because my aptitude was limited that the early ancestor realm is already my limit.”
“What truly displeased the Holy King about Thunder Feather Purple Lightning wasn’t his duplicity, but the fact that he had long been trying to collude with other demon forces to overthrow the Holy King’s rule!
For someone like that, the Holy King had already been merciful enough to let him live until now!
Otherwise, did you really think that little White family girl had the courage to oppose her own ancestor?
Whether it was little Miss White Frost or old White Deer, they were merely pieces on the Holy King’s chessboard. Of course, that includes you this time as well!
Fortunately, you won!
With Thunder Feather Purple Lightning dead, the Phoenix Cry Mountain demon domain has returned to peace. The Holy King can now devote more time to cultivation.
For her, the most urgent task is to refine the immortal sword, except the immortal sword is extremely difficult to refine.
She told me that her time is running out. The Sword Chief of Inverted Mountain could arrive at any moment. If the immortal sword is not refined by then, the entire Phoenix Cry Mountain demon domain will be bathed in blood!”
Having said that, Granny Sparrow looked deeply at Mo Fan.
