It all came down to the same principle: with enough strength, flashy tricks were meaningless.
Tu Xiao’an had used the Power of Darkness to create a prison, which he then forged into a terrifying furnace. Filled with roaring Flames and endless Thunderclaps, no Rank Three Demon Spirit could possibly survive inside.
But the White Demon King was different. He was a Level 38 Deep Mountain Great Demon. No matter how powerful Taishang Laojun’s Eight Trigrams Furnace was, it had still failed to refine Sun Wukong.
Ultimately, it just wasn’t quite enough.
The same principle applied here. Tu Xiao’an wanted to trap the White Demon King and finish him off with overwhelming force, but it still wouldn’t be that easy.
Because what counted as overwhelming force against others simply didn’t apply to the White Demon King.
"Heaven Swaying Sword!"
Tu Xiao’an knew he couldn’t kill the White Demon King with Elemental Power alone. Protected by his Snake King Armor, a brilliant light flashed between his hands. A Three foot Azure Blade suddenly materialized, its edge pulsing with a sharp Sword Aura.
This was his home turf. Within the searing Celestial Furnace and its Celestial Fire, amidst the crackle of Celestial Thunderbolts, Tu Xiao’an appeared before the White Demon King, Heaven Swaying Sword in hand.
"You damn hedgehog, now we can have a proper fight!" Tu Xiao’an’s Battle Intent surged. He stared coldly at the White Demon King before him, completely unafraid.
’These minor skirmishes were never going to be enough to deal with this hedgehog.’
The White Demon King was momentarily stunned by Tu Xiao’an’s sudden appearance, but then a sharp glint flashed in his demonic eyes. His Killing Intent surged, and he was actually delighted.
’A direct confrontation? What did he, the White Demon King, have to fear? This was exactly what he wanted!’
"I must say, you snake have commendable courage. You’re also insane. I have lived for thousands of years, advancing my Cultivation step by step. I have seen countless beings of exceptional Talent and noble bloodlines, but you... you are the second biggest freak of nature I have ever encountered. To have the strength to fight me right after your ascension..."
His words even carried a hint of admiration.
’The second biggest?’
Tu Xiao’an’s heart skipped a beat. ’What creature in this world could possibly be a bigger freak of nature than me?’
’After all, his Cultivation speed was like a rocket’s Ascension. His methods were beyond imagination, and he was protected by five major Elemental Abilities!’
’What is this damn hedgehog trying to say? Is he deliberately mentioning some other freak of nature just to keep me from getting too arrogant?’
"Out of respect, I will use my full strength to kill you, you snake. If you can kill me, the White Demon King, then my Azure Bamboo Forest will be yours."
The White Demon King’s expression turned solemn. Everything that had happened forced him to look at this snake in a new light.
He had earned the right to fight him, the White Demon King.
At that moment, a light flickered on the White Demon King’s forehead. A resplendent mark in the shape of the character for "King" appeared, radiating a demonic, cold light that was so intense one dared not look at it directly. The sight was simply soul-stirring.
Suddenly, a brilliant Treasure Sword began to emerge impossibly from the King mark on the White Demon King’s forehead.
At this, the Black Ball Celestial Furnace began to tremble, and a terrifying Sword Intent surged wildly.
"I refined this sword from my own quills," the White Demon King said. "For thousands of years, I have nourished it with my Demon Power. I never expected to use it today to kill a snake that has just ascended." As he spoke, he gave Tu Xiao’an a look that seemed to say, ’Your fate is truly a blessed one.’
Tu Xiao’an stared intently at the sword emerging from the White Demon King’s forehead. It was thin, almost transparent, yet incredibly dazzling. Moreover, densely packed runes appeared within the body of the blade, exuding a Formless yet terrifying power.
With just a single glance, Tu Xiao’an concluded that this Treasure Sword, refined from the White Demon King’s own quills, was in no way inferior to his Heaven Swaying Sword.
Inside the Black Ball Celestial Furnace, amidst the wails of the Rank Three Demon Spirits, it was no longer pitch-black. Instead, the inside was a swath of crimson, like a real furnace, punctuated by sudden flashes of Thunder Shocks.
Tu Xiao’an and the White Demon King stood within this scorching Celestial Furnace, each holding a Treasure Sword.
The temperature inside had reached hundreds of degrees, hot enough to melt steel in an instant.
Yet both of them appeared perfectly composed. It was to be expected of Tu Xiao’an, as this was his own technique. But the White Demon King was completely unaffected, protected by his Demon Qi, which was somewhat terrifying.
"Come on!"
"Let’s begin."
This was a proper battle now. No feints, no tricks. In that instant, the scene was filled with the glinting light and shadows of their swords as terrifying, destructive waves of Sword Qi swept out from both sides.
The next moment, two stunning flashes of sword light appeared from thin air, thrusting out at an inconceivable speed. Killing Intent filled the air, merging as one with the scorching heat.
"Lord Snake King, please let us out of here!"
A sharp wave of Sword Qi flashed. Outside the giant black ball, a Lifebound Golden Core floated into view.
It was like one of Tu Xiao’an’s medals, a declaration to the world.
As time passed, the other Demon Spirits were all but dead. The Saint Peng King, however, remained elusive inside, feasting his eyes on the battle between the White Demon King and the new Snake King of the Snake Race. They were both monstrous figures, and the phenomena their battle created were incomparably terrifying.
The fellow was quite clever. He wrapped his six multi-colored wings around his body, instantly forming the strongest possible defense. The flames couldn’t burn him, and the thunder couldn’t harm him. Since he couldn’t get out, he decided to just be a quiet and faithful spectator.
’As long as the White Demon King wins,’ he thought, ’this will all be over.’
...........
Today in the Azure Bamboo Forest, demons had gathered from all directions to offer their congratulations. But now, the situation had taken a heaven-shaking turn. Every Demon’s gaze was fixed on the giant black ball, desperate to know what was happening inside.
Above the black ball, sixteen Lifebound Golden Cores of Demon Spirits now floated, shining brilliantly and filling the eyes of every watching Demon with greed.
Among them were four Lifebound Golden Cores from Deep Mountain Great Demons and twelve Golden Cores from Rank Three Demon Spirits.
What an immense treasure trove.
If it were all given to a single Demon Spirit to slowly refine over time, then in a few decades, a true Demon King would be born.
But at this moment, no one dared to make a move on the Lifebound Golden Cores floating above.
Meanwhile, inside the Demon King’s Castle, a scene of the battle was floating in the air above the three Deep Mountain Great Demons.
This scene was precisely the fierce battle between Tu Xiao’an and the White Demon King.
None of the Demons outside could see inside the black ball with their naked eyes, yet these three Deep Mountain Demon Kings had somehow manifested the battle within for their own viewing.
"Second Sister Fox, your skills are becoming more and more brilliant. This Mirror Flower Water Moon Divine Technique of yours has broken right through that snake’s Power of Darkness."
Originally, everyone had been completely in the dark, with no idea of the situation inside the black ball, but the Fox Immortal King had managed to peer through it all.
"Merely a parlor trick," the Fox Immortal King said with a reserved smile.
The Yellow Demon King watched the unfolding scene and marveled, "Give that snake a hundred years, and I’m afraid he’ll become the next Demon King Liu."
"Hmph. But all he has is today," the Gray Demon King retorted. The more he watched, the less he could bear it, and he prepared to leave the Demon King’s Castle.
The Fox Immortal King looked at him. "Younger Brother Hui, it’s best to just enjoy the show. Or are you thinking of joining in on the fun?"
"That’s right. And don’t you try to stop me, Second Sister Fox."
"I won’t stop you. At worst, I’ll just have to join the fun with you."
The Gray Demon King was taken aback. ’What did she mean by that ambiguous remark?’
’If I make a move to help the White Demon King, will that Old Fox Lady actually help the snake?’
’Forget it. I’ll just wait and see if the White Demon King can actually kill that snake first.’