Luo Ziyun was a decisive person. With her departure, she vanished directly from the Snake Race, and even from the Yaoling Mountain Range. For a long time, it was as if she had evaporated from the world.
There’s no medicine for regret in this world. If Tu Xiao’an had known she would have such a strong reaction to him killing Demon King Liu, he would have done Luo Ziyun the favor.
After all, Demon King Liu’s mere Primordial Spirit posed no threat to him.
But now, he’d had a falling out with Luo Ziyun. Forget those budding feelings; they couldn’t even be friends anymore.
’Sigh... how frustrating.’
Two days passed in a flash. During this time, Tu Xiao’an thoroughly familiarized himself with the magnificent Snake Palace and the overall situation of the Snake Race.
Although the Snake Race had been dormant in the Yaoling Mountain Range for several hundred years, they had been biding their time and hiding their strength. Their true power was no weaker than any other race’s.
Snake Demon Spirits were everywhere. It wasn’t just the dozen or so he had seen before; the total number of Snake Demon Spirits in the entire Snake Race was probably no less than a hundred.
’Holy cow.’ Only after becoming the king of a true race did Tu Xiao’an realize just how vast his power had become.
Many Snake Demon Spirits were dedicated to their Cultivation, living as recluses in caves.
「One day.」
Tu Xiao’an sat on the throne in the main hall of the Snake Palace, attended by four or five Beauty Snakes. They were either massaging him or feeding him plump, juicy fruit.
’This life is just too decadent.’
It was even more satisfying than being an ancient emperor, and he didn’t even have to handle any state affairs.
Thanks to Tu Xiao’an’s awe-inspiring display of power on Monkey Mountain, where he had even driven off the Gray Demon King, the leaders of many races had come to pledge their allegiance over the past two days. The resurgence of the Snake Race was now an indisputable fact.
In the Yaoling Mountain Range, strength was the only standard by which all principles were measured.
In the past, whenever Tu Xiao’an encountered a powerful creature, he would want to subdue it. But now that he commanded the forces of the Snake Race, which had plenty of Snake Demon Spirits, he couldn’t muster any interest in subjugating others.
Over the last two days, the kings of numerous races had come to pay homage. They all looked quite powerful, but Tu Xiao’an didn’t treat them any differently. His status was no longer the same.
It had to be said that the Battle Companions Tu Xiao’an had subdued before were incredibly lucky.
Lounging lazily on his throne, Tu Xiao’an was lost in thought. ’Once things in the Yaoling Mountain Range are settled, I should probably leave.’
’Back to Bai Town, back to my own home.’
’I miss my mom, and I miss my sister.’
At that moment, an exquisite cell phone appeared in Tu Xiao’an’s hand, but it had no signal at all.
"Sigh. Everything about this Yaoling Mountain Range is great, except that it’s completely cut off from the outside world. I can’t even play on my phone."
Tu Xiao’an felt a pang of sadness. He couldn’t even contact his sister right now unless he left the Yaoling Mountain Range.
In truth, Tu Xiao’an could leave right now. With his power, the world was his oyster; where could he not go? It was just that he still had one more thing to do.
In another five days, he had a wedding banquet to attend.
At the thought of that banquet, a sharp glint flashed in Tu Xiao’an’s bewitching eyes.
"Your Majesty, come have a piece of pastry," a voluptuous Beauty Snake said, her eyes full of allure, as she brought an exquisite pastry to Tu Xiao’an’s lips.
Right now, he had beauties, delicacies, and fine wine all spread out before him.
Seated to his left and right below the throne was his retinue of Battle Companions, all eating and drinking with great merriment.
There were three Pseudo Demon King Battle Companions, three Super Battle Pets, plus an unusual, towering tree. Oh, and right, he had also recently subdued a flower.
At the side of the hall, musicians were performing.
A duet of zither and flute filled the air, the music at times grand and majestic, at others melodious and cheerful...
Tu Xiao’an could never have imagined such pomp and circumstance before.
One by one, Beauty Snake dancers swayed gracefully to the changing melody, their movements at times lively and nimble, at others bewitching and seductive.
"Excellent! Excellent!" the Bull Demon King applauded, his eyes glazed with lust. His huge, bell-like eyes looked ready to pop out of their sockets. "Master, could you perhaps reward this old bull with that Beauty Snake up front? The one who sways her hips so well."
How could merely watching satisfy this Colorful Bull?
From his throne, Tu Xiao’an shot him a massive eye-roll. "Doesn’t your Bull Race have a single beauty? Look at you, acting like you’ve never seen the world. Could you stop embarrassing me?"
"Master, surely you know this? There are thousands of races in the Yaoling Mountain Range, but when it comes to beauties, the Snake Race and the Fox Race are undoubtedly at the top. Besides, they’re both major races, so they have plenty of beautiful Demon women!" The Bull Demon King had had quite a bit to drink and spoke with the confidence of an expert. He continued, "This old bull played around with plenty of human beauties back in human society, but they were so dull. Give them a little money, and they’d do anything. And their bodies are so fragile. Before you can even get started, they fall apart."
"But Demon Spirits are different! They’re really something else! And this old bull has never even been with one. The main thing is, Master, you have so many Snake Demon Spirits in your race. Why not just reward this old bull with a beautiful Snake Demon Spirit? This old bull would even marry her!"
Seeing the Bull Demon King get more and more worked up, Tu Xiao’an narrowed his eyes. "If you’ve got the skills, go woo one yourself. If you can win one over, that’s your own ability. But asking me to bestow one as a reward? What do you take Demon Spirits for?"
"Master, you are the King. The King decides everything. Whatever you say, no one will object."
"Get lost. Are you itching for a beating? Want me to ’loosen you up’ for you?"
The Bull Demon King gave an embarrassed laugh and didn’t dare say another word, simply drinking his wine in sullen silence.
Tu Xiao’an had been living comfortably these past two days, but Luo Ziyun’s departure had left a pall of sorrow over his heart, and he couldn’t seem to get excited about anything.
Suddenly, Tu Xiao’an looked at the Bull Demon King and asked, "You mentioned the Fox Race. Where is the Fox Race located?"
Of the five Great Demon Kings, Tu Xiao’an had already encountered three. The only ones he hadn’t met were the Fox Demon King and the Yellow Demon King. One’s true form was a fox, the other’s a weasel.
The Bull Demon King, thinking Tu Xiao’an was also after the beautiful women of the Fox Race, immediately perked up. "Master, the Fox Race is very mysterious. They’re in the deepest part of the Yaoling Mountain Range. And the Fox Demon King is the number one beauty in our entire mountain range! Her looks are simply indescribable."
"You’ve seen the Fox Demon King?"
The Bull Demon King’s eyes bulged, but he shook his head. "Never seen her."
"Then why do you sound so excited, if you’ve never even seen her?"
"That’s why I said she’s indescribable—because I’ve never seen her! But the Fox Demon King’s beauty is absolutely beyond question. If this old bull could just get one look, I’d willingly give up ten years of my life."
Tu Xiao’an tossed a piece of fruit at him, laughing as he chided, "I was asking about the Fox Demon King’s strength. Who asked you if she’s beautiful?"
"This old bull doesn’t know about that. Those big shots are as elusive as a divine dragon showing its head but not its tail. But she’s definitely stronger than the White Demon King and the Gray Demon King. The Fox Demon King is the most mysterious of the Demon Kings; she usually stays hidden in her palace and never steps out."
Tu Xiao’an asked again, "What about the Yellow Demon King?"
"Don’t know about him either. This old bull is only interested in beautiful women."
"Get lost. You don’t know anything, yet you have the nerve to say you’ve spent your life in the Yaoling Mountain Range."
At this moment, Elder Snake, who was half-man and half-snake, stood up from his place in the hall. "Your Majesty, this old servant knows a few things about the Yellow Demon King."
"Oh?" Tu Xiao’an looked at the old snake-man. "Then please, tell me, Elder Snake."
Gripping his Snake Staff, Elder Snake began, "The Yellow Demon King’s strength is likely inferior to that of their majesties, the Old Snake King and the Fox Demon King. However, he is a fair bit stronger than the Gray Demon King and the White Demon King."
"However, what this old servant wishes to tell Your Majesty is that the Yellow Demon King and the Gray Demon King have a very close relationship. They are both considered rodent-types, and they always act in concert."
Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Tu Xiao’an’s eyes. "Elder Snake, are you saying I should be wary of the Yellow Demon King? Are you afraid the Gray Demon King will find him, and the two will join forces against our Snake Race?"
"Your Majesty is exceptionally brilliant. That is precisely what this old servant meant."
"This King understands. Thank you for the reminder, Elder Snake."
He gave a cold smile. ’Sooner or later, all five Great Demon Kings of this Yaoling Mountain Range will be conquered by me, Tu Xiao’an.’
’I even took care of the most powerful one, Demon King Liu. Even if it was just his Primordial Spirit, that’s still plenty to brag about.’
’After these five days are up, I’ll go deal with the White Demon King first.’
Back in the main hall, everyone was focused on eating and drinking. Conversely, hardly anyone was appreciating the graceful performances of the Beauty Snake dancers.
Aside from the Bull Demon King, who was staring intently, no one else seemed interested.
Zhang Qinglong was having a drinking contest with the Ape King. The three Super level Creatures only knew how to eat. They didn’t care about whether someone was beautiful or not; they only knew the difference between what was delicious and what wasn’t.
Suddenly...
RUMBLE... WHOOSH...!
A violent clap of thunder echoed from above the Snake Palace. Outside, a gale suddenly erupted, causing the towering trees near the Snake Palace to sway violently. The venomous snakes in the area all went quiet, slithering down to the ground in fear as if sensing something terrifying. The floating clouds were swept from the sky, and though it had just been daytime, the heavens abruptly turned a dark crimson.
A strange phenomenon appeared in the sky. Elder Snake flickered out of sight, glanced at the sky from outside the hall, and then returned to report to Tu Xiao’an. "Your Majesty, it seems a Snake Spirit from our Snake Race is about to undergo their tribulation."
"Which snake? To attempt a tribulation without reporting it first... do they have a death wish?" Elder Snake was a little angry. "Judging by the phenomenon in the sky, this Celestial Tribulation will likely be a major one."
When Tu Xiao’an heard the word "tribulation," however, his thoughts differed from Elder Snake’s. ’It’s probably not a Snake Spirit from the Snake Race.’
He swept his gaze over his Battle Companions below. Just as he did, the Immortal Spirit Peacock Azure Owl, who had been gorging herself, seemed to sense something. She immediately stood up, looked at Tu Xiao’an, and announced in a crisp voice, "You villain! It is this Peacock who is about to undergo her tribulation!"
"Azure Owl Treasure, of course your Master knew it was you," Tu Xiao’an said with a faint smile.
Originally, the system hadn’t provided any information about Azure Owl’s tribulation. But after they arrived at the Snake Palace, Tu Xiao’an had secretly fed her a Demon Spirit Golden Core. As soon as she ate it, Azure Owl’s tribulation date was confirmed, and it even moved up to be before the Three-headed Evil Snake’s.
And because of Tu Xiao’an’s favoritism, Azure Owl no longer protested when he casually stroked her feathers.
Among the three Super Class pets, Azure Owl had always considered herself the leader. If she were the last to undergo her tribulation, wouldn’t that be a terrible loss of face?
Clearly, a single Demon Spirit Golden Core had saved Azure Owl’s face.
"Treasure, don’t be afraid of the tribulation. Your Master is here to guard you."
Tu Xiao’an comforted Azure Owl. He was also curious to see what kind of tribulation a Super Celestial Peacock would face.
"I’m not afraid at all!"
With a flick, Azure Owl spread her magnificent, nine-colored wings and flew straight out of the main hall. Then, with a single leap, she landed atop the highest roof of the Snake Palace.
The graceful glances of the Immortal Spirit Peacock were breathtakingly beautiful. Standing tall and elegant atop the Snake Palace, she created a peerlessly magnificent image—a sight that, once seen, would be impossible to forget.