At the same time, high above the mist-covered forest of Feixian Mountain, three ominous figures crouched in silence.
They stood outside the invisible boundary of the Invincible Domain, hidden within the clouds, their breath completely restrained.
They were the three demon kings from the Shiwan Mountains:
Tuoba Ye, the iron-blooded wild bull;
Shezi Ni, the cunning python spirit;
And Hongyi, the enigmatic red fox with bewitching eyes and a faintly swaying tail.
Their gazes were fixed firmly on the Immortal Temple at the heart of the sacred mountain.
Below, spiritual herbs filled the courtyard like stars in the sky. The land shimmered faintly with natural spiritual veins.
Even from a distance, the demonic trio felt it clearly:
"This place… it's a treasure land!"
Tuoba Ye narrowed his eyes. His body emitted a faint demonic pressure as he communicated via sound transmission.
"There, in the courtyard—the girl who was tempered by the thunder. That terrifying lightning tribulation just now… she survived it."
Shezi Ni's serpentine pupils flickered with greed.
"Is that girl… a fairy treasure sent from the heavens?"
But it was Hongyi who frowned first.
Her nine-tailed fox heritage gave her unparalleled spiritual senses. With a slight movement of her red sleeves, she gazed through the layers of formation.
"...Not a treasure," she said softly. "She's flesh and blood. A human. Golden Core stage. But her aura is… different. Flawless."
Her fox tail twitched in thought.
"This girl isn't just gifted. She's beyond gifted. Her mana is rich and refined. Her physique is strong enough to withstand divine tribulation. She's a peerless genius."
Suddenly—
Swish—!
Lin Bao'er, who had been cultivating quietly in the courtyard, opened her eyes slightly.
She frowned.
"Why… do I feel like someone is watching me?"
She turned her head, eyes scanning the distance.
Hongyi's expression shifted.
"Oh no… she sensed me."
She quickly retracted her spiritual power and looked away.
Back in the clouds, the three demon kings silently exchanged glances.
Tuoba Ye's voice was heavy. "That girl… is not to be underestimated. She must already have some spiritual awareness. Her perception is terrifying."
Shezi Ni's tongue flicked from his lips as he smirked. "She's a gem. A treasure even rarer than any immortal herb."
His eyes gleamed.
"Forget the fairy treasure. I want her."
Tuoba Ye grunted coldly. "You? She's clearly more suited to the body-refining path of the Bull Demon Lineage. She endured thunder tribulation. Her body is sacred. Her potential is boundless!"
Hongyi scoffed. "A rough ox like you wants to teach a refined genius? Ridiculous. The Ancient Fox Clan specializes in charm, perception, and mental cultivation. We are the only suitable lineage for her."
Tuoba Ye sneered. "At least I'm not a backstabbing, slippery snake!"
Suddenly, a flash of evil light cut through the sky.
Shezi Ni was already on the move!
"Hahaha! You two talk too much—she'll be mine!"
"Despicable snake!"
Tuoba Ye and Hongyi were both furious.
They shot forward at once, chasing after the streaking serpent.
In the blink of an eye, the three demon kings collided mid-air, unleashing a shockwave that sent spiritual clouds scattering across the sky.
Before Shezi Ni could approach the Immortal Temple's formation, Tuoba Ye's iron hoof crashed down like a meteor.
Boom!
Shezi Ni barely dodged in time, only to be blocked by a flurry of scarlet ribbons from Hongyi.
"You dare move alone? Shameless coward!"
Shezi Ni licked his lips. "So what if I am shameless? I get the prize."
Tuoba Ye snorted. "You're not even a snake! You're a python. A slimy swamp dweller."
"And you're a bull with no brains. What's your point?"
Hongyi rolled her eyes. "Enough. You two sound like a street quarrel."
Tuoba Ye clenched his fists.
"We haven't fought in a hundred years. Let's make it fair."
His voice turned solemn.
"We fight. Whoever wins, gets the right to take the girl as their disciple. No tricks. No sneak attacks. Just a clean contest."
Shezi Ni's eyes narrowed. "...Fine."
Hongyi crossed her arms, her fox tails floating in the wind.
"Agreed."
A rare moment of accord passed between the three demon kings.
But none of them noticed...
Within the Immortal Temple, Huan Changge had already sensed their arrival—and was quietly chewing on bear meat while watching them like a bored spectator.
A hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.
"Oh? A demon king brawl outside my domain?"
He slowly put down his bowl.
"Interesting."
In the peaceful courtyard of the Immortal Temple, Ling Bao'er had been cultivating quietly, her mind focused and spirit steady.
But in the next moment—
Boom!
A deafening shockwave swept across the mountain range like thunder crashing through the heavens.
Lin Bao'er's eyes snapped open. The spiritual energy around her immediately became chaotic, and her breathing faltered.
Raising her head, she looked toward the distant sky—
And froze.
High above, in the trembling void, three figures floated, vast and oppressive like looming gods.
Their auras were no longer restrained.
Darkness spread like ink across the sky.
A golden demonic fog surged like a tsunami.
A crimson flame danced in the wind, mysterious and terrifying.
"That's… that's demonic power!"
Her heart trembled. Her expression turned pale.
"Demon kings… Three of them!"
At that moment—
Moo—!!!
A monstrous roar shattered the clouds. The mountains echoed the sound like a bell from hell.
A pair of pitch-black bull horns pierced the heavens, bursting from Tuoba Ye's human form as his body expanded into a terrifying Demon Bull.
Massive.
Towering.
Each step of his hooves crushed the void beneath him like stepping on glass.
His body gleamed like obsidian iron, rippling with demonic qi, shaped like a moving mountain of destruction.
"ROAR!!!"
He charged forward like a meteor crashing down from the stars, aiming straight at the other two.
"Ridiculous brute," Shezi Ni sneered.
With a flash of golden light, his body twisted and expanded, turning into a gigantic python. Its golden scales shimmered with a cold metallic gleam, coiling through the sky like a living dragon.
Its eyes shone with poison.
Its fangs gleamed.
With a single flick of its tail, a dozen trees in the forest below were snapped in half by the wind force alone.
Hongyi stood between them, expression calm.
Her red eyes flashed.
Nine elegant fox tails flared behind her, fanning out like a blooming lotus.
Scarlet mist spiraled around her, and her petite form slowly transformed into a majestic Nine-Tailed Fox—beautiful, deadly, ancient.
She raised her gaze, red flames dancing in her pupils.
Then the three collided.
---
Boom—!!!
A violent explosion shook Feixian Mountain.
The ground trembled.
Boulders rolled.
Even the heavens turned dim as their spiritual power clashed like thunder and lightning.
Tuoba Ye rammed forward with unstoppable momentum, his horns crackling with black lightning.
Shezi Ni twisted his golden body, dodging and coiling through the sky, spitting poison mist that corroded the surrounding clouds.
Hongyi weaved between them with elegance, her tails forming glowing seals that erupted with flame and illusion.
It was chaos.
It was destruction.
It was a battle that could flatten entire sects.
---
Back on the ground, Ling Bao'er stood frozen in place. Her knees trembled, and cold sweat trickled down her back.
"Why… why are they fighting here?"
She gritted her teeth and focused her qi to resist the pressure.
But even from afar, the shockwaves made her feel as if the sky was collapsing.
Each movement from the demon kings could destroy a mountain. She was only at the Golden Core stage—this was a battlefield for gods.
Yet—
A warm breeze suddenly brushed past her.
All the pressure disappeared.
A golden veil, silent and invisible, wrapped around the Immortal Temple.
Lin Bao'er was stunned. "This is…"