Chapter Twenty-One: The Monkey Demon King

Yang Nan healed his injuries in an instant. The Pig-Headed Chief was both astonished and overjoyed, reaching out to touch the wounds that had once been so dreadful but were now merely scabbed over. In disbelief, he exclaimed, “Old Ox, where did you learn such a skill? My body doesn’t ache anymore!”

Yang Nan looked at the reverent and awestruck gazes of the assembled monsters and laughed heartily. Suddenly, he transformed from a burly man with two ox horns back to his original self. “Pig-Headed Chief, take a look—who am I?”

The monsters were dumbstruck as Old Ox instantly turned into a handsome young Taoist. The Little Wolf reached out and gently stroked Yang Nan’s Taoist robe, sighing, “My goodness! Ox Brother, you’re able to become so handsome—I truly admire you to the utmost!” Most monsters, when transforming, cannot stray far from their true forms; for an ox demon to turn into someone so slender and refined was truly astonishing.

Yang Nan chuckled, “I am not Old Ox. The real Old Ox is right here.” With a flash of black light from the Ring of the Realm in his hand, an ox-headed monster appeared abruptly at the feet of the demon soldiers. Old Ox was hugging a wine jar, sleeping soundly, mumbling, “Good wine…”

Little Wolf was shocked, pointing at the drunk Old Ox on the ground and shouting, “How can there be two Ox Brothers? Am I seeing things?”

The Pig-Headed Chief strode forward with a solemn expression and respectfully said, “You must be an immortal from the Kunlun Sect. A humble demon pays his respects!”

Yang Nan noticed the Chief’s keen mind, realizing his identity so quickly. He nodded, “I am Yang Nan, steward of Spirit Beast Mountain and an inner disciple of Kunlun.”

At these words, the monsters recoiled in terror. They had killed and eaten many humans in recent days, and in the eyes of human cultivators, monsters who harm the people are to be exterminated without mercy! Was this Kunlun immortal here today to hunt them down?

The Pig-Headed Chief, however, showed no fear. “Don’t be afraid. The immortal has not come to kill us, but to save us. The one who devours humans is the Tiger Demon King—what does that have to do with us lesser demons?”

Yang Nan saw that the Chief indeed had some courage and nodded approvingly. “The demon kings brazenly abduct humans and eat their flesh, disregarding the heavenly laws and wreaking havoc upon the land. I must slay them! Since you refuse to join them, come with me to Jade Purity Peak.”

The Pig-Headed Chief was overjoyed. “If the immortal would take us in, we brothers will obey your commands without hesitation, braving any danger!”

Yang Nan’s invitation was sincere. Serving under a cultivator rather than a wild demon was a world of difference in prospects. What monster wouldn’t wish to be favored by an immortal, even as a servant sweeping the halls? The future would be far brighter than being a wild beast!

Recognizing the Chief’s discernment, Yang Nan took up the Ring of the Realm and swept the Pig-Headed Chief and the other monsters into it. His purpose in coming to the Tiger Demon’s cave was to gather information; now that he had achieved his goal, what reason was there to linger?

Yang Nan stepped out of the cave, once more taking the form of an ox demon as he headed for Jade Purity Peak. Along the way, the minor demons guarding the road were weak in cultivation and failed to notice anything amiss. Yang Nan swaggered out of Tiger Demon Valley, while the small demons remained oblivious that the prisoners had been rescued, still lazily sheltering behind rocks from the wind.

Leaving Tiger Demon Valley behind, Yang Nan arrived at a pool several miles away. Gazing at the reflection of the mighty, horned ox demon in the water, he found it amusing and burst out laughing. This time, he truly owed his success to Senior Brother Hu Yuan’s Thirty-Six Transformations of the Grand Evolution; otherwise, sneaking in and out of Tiger Demon Valley would have been far more difficult!

Just as he was feeling pleased, a cold laugh sounded ahead. “A mere illusion, and you think you can deceive the Three Great Demon Kings?”

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Yang Nan was startled and turned to see a figure standing atop a large tree ahead. The figure was small and thin, cheeks sunken, eyes bright with spirit, and arms unusually long—none other than the Monkey Demon King from the banquet.

‘This Monkey Demon King is already at the third tier of Grandmaster; my transformation cannot fool his spiritual vision!’ Yang Nan realized, and ceased expending his magical power, reverting to his original form. He replied, “You must be the Monkey Demon King. What is your purpose in blocking my way?”

The Monkey Demon King sat calmly on the branch. “You have impressive abilities, changing your appearance right under our noses. If I hadn’t paid close attention, you would have fooled me entirely!”

Yang Nan’s heart grew wary. He had rescued Little Wolf while the three demon kings were drunk; the Horse Demon was deeply intoxicated, and the Tiger Demon careless, but this sharp-minded Monkey Demon King had seen through it! Now, he blocked the way without attacking—what was his intention?

Yang Nan glanced around. Apart from the Monkey Demon King, no other monsters were in sight. A suspicion crept into his heart as he began to guess the Monkey Demon King’s purpose.

“Monkey Daoist, speak your mind. If you wish to fight, then come. If not, I’ll take my leave.” Yang Nan feigned retreat, slowly stepping back.

“A bold Taoist! Take this move!” With a cold laugh, the Monkey Demon King leaped from the tree, his body swelling rapidly as hair and limbs expanded. From a thin man, he transformed into a giant, ferocious ape!

The monstrous ape’s eyes flashed with fierce light; his massive fists thundered towards Yang Nan, swift as meteors!

The enormous fists, imbued with overwhelming magical force, enveloped a space ten yards around Yang Nan. Already prepared, Yang Nan turned the Ring of the Realm in his hand, summoning a thousand demon soldiers in an instant. With a quick gesture, the thousand demon soldiers dissolved into countless white lights, merging into him and forming a towering, grotesque demon form.

Boom, boom, boom!

With the supreme demon body technique, Yang Nan and the ferocious ape exchanged powerful blows. The ape’s magical strength was immense, his fists heavy as mountains, and his moves swift and agile. Despite his massive bulk, he darted around lightly, his fists appearing like ghosts, striking from every direction. Yang Nan, now in the supreme demon form, felt boundless strength surge within, his magic power roaring, and an unstoppable battle fervor rising in his heart. For a time, he stood his ground, matching the ape blow for blow!

Yang Nan had never trained in fist techniques and relied solely on brute force to contend with the ape. The two gigantic monsters battled fiercely, sending dust flying and terrifying the grass and trees.

The Monkey Demon King’s third-tier Grandmaster cultivation endowed him with innate strength; in his true form, he was even more formidable. Yang Nan, relying only on physical might, gradually found himself unable to keep up. ‘Without divine techniques, I can’t best this monkey!’ His mind turned, and he summoned the Yin Devourer from between his brows. The Yin Devourer carried an unstoppable, sharp, and chilling aura. Yang Nan activated the Nether Soldier Devouring Heaven Record, and the Yin Devourer transformed into a giant crescent blade several yards long. Its icy aura swept out, instantly shattering the surrounding trees and rocks!

Buzz...

A black crescent swept down from the sky, its intense evil energy like a cloud of darkness enveloping everything!

The Monkey Demon King, who had gained the upper hand, was now faced with Yang Nan’s magical weapon, whose sharpness was unmatched and unstoppable. Seeing the weapon descend, he relied on his agility to leap out of its range in an instant. The black crescent carved a huge gouge in the earth, its razor-sharp energy scattering like a thousand needles exploding in every direction!

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‘What a terrifying divine weapon!’ The Monkey Demon King was secretly shaken by the power of Yang Nan’s weapon.

Yang Nan wielded the giant blade, its cold light radiating for ten yards around, sharpness revealed in every swing. The crescent slashed again and again at the Monkey Demon King.

‘This young Taoist’s magic seems only at the master level, but how did he transform so suddenly into a fearsome grandmaster?’ In shock, the Monkey Demon King channeled his demonic energy, leaping about. He knew he could never withstand the weapon’s full force—even his fur was sliced away in the leaps, forcing him to retreat dozens of yards to escape its deadly edge.

Yang Nan smiled faintly, his crescent Yin Devourer spinning wildly. The Immortal Yin Wheel began to turn, and dragon and serpent energies fused into vast magical power. Thick evil energy manifested as a colossal black serpent, encircling the ferocious ape. Within the evil aura, cold light flashed, and thousands of evil blades shot out, forcing the Monkey Demon King’s true form back to his original thin and gaunt human shape.

As the myriad evil energies withdrew, Yang Nan suddenly retracted the Yin Devourer, released the supreme demon body, and looked calmly at the Monkey Demon King. “Monkey Daoist, perhaps it’s time to stop?”

This was only the first transformation of the Nether Soldier Devouring Heaven Record. If he unleashed the second form—three thousand black snakes—the Monkey Demon King would instantly be reduced to a mass of flesh!

Yang Nan knew well: the Monkey Demon King had yet to use his magic treasures, and victory was not assured. To stop at the right moment was the wise choice.

The Monkey Demon King sighed, stood up, and bowed, “A humble demon greets the steward immortal! I merely wished to test your abilities. Your divine powers are vast—this demon feels unworthy.” The steward of Jade Purity Hall was always the master of the Seventy-Two Demon Valleys; such a title signified allegiance. Yang Nan’s strange transformations and formidable magical weapon truly inspired awe in his heart.

If Yang Nan had wished to kill him, he would already have died. Moreover, since the Monkey Demon King came alone after seeing through Yang Nan’s actions, it was clear he had no murderous intent. If he had, the Three Great Demon Kings would have come together!

Although he was a third-tier Grandmaster, Yang Nan’s dual master-level magic, assisted by a thousand demon soldiers in the supreme demon form, made it possible to slay him in battle!

Yang Nan’s eyes flashed with divine light. “Monkey Demon King, what is your intention?”

The Monkey Demon King smiled bitterly. “Immortal, why don’t we discuss further inside Jade Purity Hall?”

The commotion from their battle was enormous; surely demon soldiers would soon arrive to investigate. Yang Nan saw the sense in his words, nodded, and mounted his magical weapon, heading for Jade Purity Peak. The Monkey Demon King formed a spell, summoned a white cloud, and leaped onto it, closely following Yang Nan.