Chapter 76

First Chapter!

In a nondescript cave deep in the southern wilderness.

A withered old man with silver hair and a green robe sat cross-legged, a broken copper coin in front of him, from which a mysterious, cold, and obscure aura slowly emanated.

"Only by being submerged in the depths can one become a dragon... It's actually the sign of a dragon lying in the depths!"

Zi... Zi...

Staring at the broken copper coin on the ground, the old man's weathered, emaciated face lit up with an indescribable glow. Above his head, vague and mysterious scenes began to appear, like threads of lightning arcs, forming cranes, dragons, snakes, galloping horses... and other spiritual beings, with divine light flowing, profound and mysterious.

"Old Turtle, I just received news that the Black Ape and Thunder Eagle have been killed!" Suddenly, a deep, magnetic voice echoed into the cave, and a man with long hair, a handsome face, and eyes like peach blossoms appeared.

"How could it be... How could it be!" The old man was taken aback, his eyes still fixed on the broken copper coin on the ground, a look of realization on his face.

"You already knew?" The man asked in surprise.

"Qingqiu, a great opportunity has come. If you trust me, quickly follow me to a place." The old man suddenly stood up, holding a black cane, and hurriedly walked out.

"Where?" The man called Qingqiu narrowed his eyes. In all these years, it was the first time he had seen the old turtle so excited, and he couldn't help but feel astonished.

"Baoyue Mountain." The old man's voice drifted faintly, and he had already disappeared.

Baoyue Mountain?

Could it be to find that human youth?

As he thought, Qingqiu's figure flashed, and he vanished like light and electricity.

...

Baoyue Mountain

Unlike its usual desolation, today's Baoyue Mountain was bustling with activity. Demons and lesser demons from a thousand miles around gathered together, carrying fine wine, spirit fruits, rare treasures, and delicious dishes, sitting on the ground amidst the green pines on the mountain waist, chatting and laughing.

"I heard that Senior Chen Xi killed the Black Ape King of Kongsui Cave and the Thunder Eagle King of Zitong Mountain in one day. Such strength is truly astonishing."

"Indeed, Senior Chen Xi is the most powerful Purple Mansion cultivator I have ever seen. He has only been at the Purple Mansion realm for less than half a year, yet his strength has reached such a level, truly a heaven-defying genius!"

"Ha ha, I witnessed Senior Chen Xi's battle with the Black Ape King that day. The profound and unfathomable sword techniques, the unparalleled speed... sigh, indescribable, indescribable."

Muku listened to the discussions of the demons and lesser demons around him, hearing their unreserved praise and flattery, but his heart remained calm.

He knew what these creatures were here for. With the death of the Black Ape King, the territory within ten thousand miles was left without a master. These creatures clearly saw Senior Chen Xi as the 'king' of this territory, so they came to show their loyalty.

Thinking of this, Muku suddenly had a mischievous idea and blurted out, "You won't see Senior Chen Xi today. He has gone to Xiaoyue Ridge, seemingly to challenge the Kunpeng King."

"Ah!"

"Kunpeng King?"

"Heaven! Is he courting death?"

The clamor, laughter, and flattery all came to an abrupt halt, replaced by exclamations of shock and disbelief.

The atmosphere became heavy.

"Kunpeng King is one of the top seven demon kings... Well, Brother Muku, I have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

"Uh, I just remembered, my child is about to break through to the innate realm today, and I need to go back to protect him."

With various excuses, the demons and lesser demons hurriedly took their leave, their faces gloomy.

Muku did not try to retain them, calmly drinking from his wine cup, his expression serene. He no longer felt angry at these fickle creatures who fled at the first sign of trouble.

At this moment—

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two streaks of light suddenly appeared in the sky above Baoyue Mountain, a silver-haired old man in a green robe and a man with long hair and eyes like peach blossoms.

"Xuanjing Old Turtle King!"

"Qingqiu Fox King of Lengxing Mountain!"

The demons and lesser demons who had already reached the foot of the mountain looked up and stopped in their tracks, their faces filled with shock. These two demon kings, one with a mysterious and unfathomable strength, the other residing deep in Lengxing Mountain, were said to be on par with the Kunpeng King. What were they doing here?

Could it be to capture that human youth, Chen Xi?

"Are you the little wolf demon? I have a question for you. Is that human youth on the mountain?" The old turtle king's gaze swept over and landed on Muku, as he was the only one left on the mountain waist.

Indeed, that human youth is doomed!

At the foot of the mountain, the demons and lesser demons secretly rejoiced.

Muku recognized the two powerful demon kings. Hearing this, he couldn't help but feel a chill. Could they be here to avenge the Black Ape King and Thunder Eagle King?

"No need to worry. I am not here to cause trouble, but to visit this human Daoist friend and seek his help." The old turtle king saw through Muku's thoughts and spoke gently.

Seek his help?

Muku was taken aback, as were the demons and lesser demons at the foot of the mountain, and even the Qingqiu Fox King beside the old turtle king.

"Do you still not believe me?" The old turtle king shook his head and sighed.

"My master... he has gone to Xiaoyue Ridge." Muku stammered, knowing that the old turtle king had a good reputation and was not known for being fickle.

"Xiaoyue Ridge?" The old turtle king was taken aback.

"Yes, my master's friend was captured by the Kunpeng King, and he has gone to rescue him." Muku said through gritted teeth.

"Hmm? I heard that Kunpeng and his companions captured many human cultivators recently. Now, Kunpeng, Mo Jiao, and Qingmang are in seclusion at Xiaoyue Ridge, seemingly to refine a Blood Spirit Elixir. Could that human youth be among them?" The Qingqiu Fox King frowned and said slowly.

"Truly courting death!" The old turtle king's eyes blazed with uncontrollable anger. "Qingqiu, shall we go to Xiaoyue Ridge?"

The Qingqiu Fox King rubbed his nose and sighed, "Old Immortal, since you've spoken, how can I not go? It's also time to settle the score with Kunpeng." As he spoke, a look of confidence and disdain flashed in his eyes.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The two demon kings vanished into the sky.

"Great! I hope Senior Chen Xi can hold on for the rest of the day. With the help of these two demon kings, he will surely be safe!" Muku stared at the distant sky, then suddenly exclaimed in joy.

How could this be?

At the foot of the mountain, the demons and lesser demons were stunned, filled with regret.

...

"Could it be a large-scale maze array..."

At Xiaoyue Ridge, on the mountain waist, Chen Xi looked at the rolling gray mist around him, his expression alert, not daring to act rashly. His mind was frantically thinking of ways to break the array.

...

Inside the mountain.

In a sealed stone room about a thousand feet wide, in the center of the room, there was a large blood-red tripod cauldron. Below the cauldron, green flames burned, and above it, nine blood-red light orbs surged, emitting a thick medicinal power.

At this moment, three men with different appearances sat cross-legged on cushions.

"These nine hundred and ninety-six precious spirit herbs and trees are about to be completely refined by the blood-refining method, but we still lack one human cultivator. If we don't capture one within three days, this batch of elixirs will be completely ruined." A man in a wide black robe, with a cold face and eyes glowing with a blood-red light, frowned and said.

"Brother Kunpeng is right. This is indeed a troublesome matter. I wonder what those two, the Black Ape and Thunder Eagle, are doing. Has it been so long, and they still haven't captured anyone?" A bald, broad-mouthed man with a single horn on his forehead said in a deep, dissatisfied voice.

"Hmm?"

Beside the horned man, a pale-faced, beardless man with strange eyes seemed to sense something, and he reached out, holding a communication jade slip.

"Great King, it's bad. The Black Ape King and Thunder Eagle King have been killed by a human youth named Chen Xi..." After reading the content of the jade slip, the beardless man's face changed, and he exclaimed, "Brother Kunpeng, Brother Mo Jiao, the Black Ape and Thunder Eagle Kings have been killed!"

"What?"

The man in the black robe, Kunpeng King, snatched the jade slip, glanced at it, and his expression turned even colder. His voice was sharp and thin, "These two fools! Well, since that's the case, let's refine this batch of elixirs first."

"That's right. Without them, we only need to refine eight Blood Spirit Elixirs, which is enough." The bald, horned Mo Jiao King pondered and said.

"Yes, that's a good idea. After we refine the elixirs, we'll go and avenge the Black Ape and Thunder Eagle." The pale-faced, beardless Qingmang King nodded with a smile.

"Let's thoroughly refine these materials first, and then we'll harvest the blood and spirit of those eight cultivators." Kunpeng King instructed.

Immediately, the three demon kings positioned themselves around the blood-red tripod cauldron, their fingers moving, casting obscure and secret spells.

At this moment—

"Great King, a human youth has entered the Thousand Illusions Maze Array!" A very respectful voice echoed from outside the sealed stone room.

"Could it be the youth named Chen Xi who killed the Black Ape and Thunder Eagle?" Qingmang King asked in surprise.

"Damn, he didn't appear earlier or later, but just when we are refining the materials." Kunpeng King's green eyes showed a hint of helplessness.

"Qingmang, help me protect the process. I'll go and meet that human youth." Mo Jiao King stood up, his massive body moving like thunder, and he strode out of the sealed room.

"Mo Jiao, be careful. That youth who killed the Black Ape and Thunder Eagle is not an easy opponent." Kunpeng King warned.

"Ha ha ha... Don't worry, Brother. I, Mo Jiao, am not like those two fools. To dare to intrude on my territory is truly impolite." Mo Jiao King laughed loudly, his thick bones cracking, and he stepped out of the sealed room.