Chapter Seven: Provoking the Vermilion Bird Demon Emperor

When Liao Chen returned to Xiaolongzi's side, Xiaolongzi had already reached the peak of the Great Sage realm, just one step away from ascending and becoming an Emperor-level Great Demon.

“Master, Xiaolongzi has fulfilled his mission and reached the peak of the Great Sage realm!” Xiaolongzi knelt on one knee and said.

Liao Chen nodded, then took out a Divine Beast Pill and said, “Xiaolongzi, I promised you a great blessing. Here is a Divine Beast Pill. Once you take this pill, your bloodline will be enhanced to Divine Beast quality. Of course, I can’t guarantee a hundred percent success in elevating an immortal beast’s bloodline to Divine Beast status; it all depends on fate.”

Xiaolongzi accepted the pill, his heart so moved he felt like crying, and said excitedly, “Master, Xiaolongzi will not fail you!”

He then swallowed the pill, and soon the fierce medicinal power spread rapidly throughout his body. His bloodline was stimulated and began to mutate. It felt as if his body was about to burst, but he struggled to suppress the raging power.

After an hour passed, the wild energy inside him finally calmed down. Xiaolongzi’s aura surged dramatically, and a powerful Divine Beast bloodline radiated outward.

It was an unprecedented sensation, as if all other demons were mere ants. Nearby Great Demons who had been spying were stunned by this sudden bloodline pressure. They felt their blood flow slow, as if it could congeal at any moment. Fortunately, all were Emperor-level Great Demons, so they were not completely suppressed.

Naturally, Xiaolongzi had not yet unleashed his bloodline power to the fullest; otherwise, these Great Demons wouldn’t have had any strength to resist. This was the true power of bloodline suppression.

“Master, Xiaolongzi’s bloodline has advanced to Divine Beast quality. I have fulfilled my mission!” Xiaolongzi said excitedly, convinced that this was the great blessing Liao Chen had promised. He did not anticipate the further surprises to come.

Liao Chen nodded and said, “Very good. I also have a supreme Emperor Pill, but you don’t need to take it now. I want you to go to the center of the Myriad Demon Mountains and challenge the only Demon Emperor there. For your safety, I will also grant you an Ultimate Emperor Weapon—the Demon Emperor’s Ruler. This treasure will keep you safe. Once you lure out this great demon, take the Emperor Pill. You can then harness the Heavenly Tribulation to slay this demon. Are you willing?”

Xiaolongzi didn’t hesitate and answered immediately, “Master, Xiaolongzi is willing!”

What would he refuse? With an Ultimate Emperor Weapon like this, he could die without regret. His master casually gave it to him.

Before, Xiaolongzi would never have had the chance to grow into a Great Sage Demon Emperor, much less become a Demon Emperor. Now, the success or failure of his ascension depended on this decisive moment, so he was determined to give it his all.

This matter soon attracted the attention of four other Demon Emperors. They had not intervened earlier in the battle against the Scarlet Practice Demon Emperor because they wanted to test the true strength of Liao Chen and Xiaolongzi. Now that the Scarlet Practice Demon Emperor was dead, they would not interfere. The Vermilion Bird Demon Emperor had not appeared for a long time, and they were dissatisfied with him. They wanted to see if this Demon Emperor was truly asleep or perhaps already dead.

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Holding the Blazing Flame Sword, Xiaolongzi swaggered into the Demon Emperor’s palace. None of the lesser demons dared to stop him. Those reckless enough to try were easily slain.

This was the power of the Great Sage realm. Soon Xiaolongzi arrived at the palace’s forbidden zone, where an array formation sealed off intruders. Normally, even other Great Sage Demon Emperors in the Myriad Demon Mountains would not dare to spy here. The Emperor realm must not be insulted; to do so was to court death.

Xiaolongzi paid no heed. Liao Chen’s words were like imperial edicts; he had no choice but to obey. This defensive array might isolate ordinary Great Demons, but for Xiaolongzi with his Ultimate Emperor Weapon, it was no obstacle.

Raising his hand, he slashed once with his sword. The formation withstood the blow, but Xiaolongzi increased his strength.

Boom!

A thunderous crack split the array, spiderwebbing through the seals. Another slash shattered it completely.

“Disturbing my slumber? You’re asking for death!”

Suddenly, an angry voice rang out, followed by a terrifying Emperor-level aura spreading across the palace.

The lesser demons inside and outside the palace trembled in fear. They thought it was over this time—the Walking Dragon would surely die.

Xiaolongzi, closest to the forbidden zone, felt the Emperor aura most strongly, but he resisted it with his own cultivation and did not kneel.

Suddenly, a phoenix’s cry soared into the sky, and the clouds turned red. Clearly, the Vermilion Bird Demon Emperor was truly angered. It had only wanted to sleep peacefully and allow time for its injuries to heal.

In another ten thousand years, it would be fully recovered. But now, someone had foolishly disturbed its recuperation. How could it not be furious?

The Vermilion Bird Demon Emperor looked down and saw the intruder was a newly ascended Demon Emperor it did not recognize. Its fury erupted, “So it’s you who disturbed my slumber!”

Xiaolongzi met its gaze unflinchingly, the Emperor Pill already in his mouth. If the Demon Emperor attacked, he would swallow the pill without hesitation.

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“So what if it’s me?” Xiaolongzi said disdainfully. “Vermilion Bird Demon Emperor, you have slept too long. I challenge your throne!”

The Vermilion Bird laughed loudly, “You think your peak Great Sage realm cultivation is enough?”

“Yes! With my peak Great Sage cultivation, I’m only one step from ascension. You’re just a stepping stone on my path to becoming Emperor!” Xiaolongzi said, though inwardly he prayed the Vermilion Bird wouldn’t launch a surprise attack, or he’d have no chance to survive the Tribulation and become an Emperor-level Great Demon.

Seeing Xiaolongzi merely challenging his throne, the Vermilion Bird did not intend to kill him outright and said, “Very well, since you have the courage, I will grant it to you!”

“Take this, Undying Divine Fire!”

The Vermilion Bird spat forth a torrent of flames that engulfed Xiaolongzi. Seeing his chance, Xiaolongzi stopped hesitating, swallowed the Emperor Pill, and unleashed his cultivation. At once, the Heavenly Tribulation descended.

“Bastard, what do you think you’re doing?”

The Vermilion Bird was terrified by Xiaolongzi’s sudden move. It had thought the challenger only wanted to contest the throne, but now it seemed Xiaolongzi planned to drag it into the abyss of death.

During Tribulation, it was most forbidden for a weaker to be beneath a stronger. In such cases, the Heavenly Tribulation would strengthen by hundreds or thousands of times, sometimes even ten thousandfold, and might even summon divine punishment.

Xiaolongzi ignored the Vermilion Bird and kept releasing his cultivation. Escape was impossible now. Resolving to kill Xiaolongzi, the Vermilion Bird knew this was the only way to sever the Tribulation’s arrival.