Just as the entire Four Seas Dragon Clan was shaken and rallying for battle against the legions led by the Myriad Saints Dragon King, the Jing River Dragon King, and the Yellow River Dragon King, not far from the Eastern Sea shore—
Chentang Pass.
As the vanguard stronghold of the Shang Dynasty, Chentang Pass had long been under the command of Grand General Li Jing of Shang. His wife, Lady Yin, was also often seen charging into battle alongside him, having helped repel countless powerful demon clan cultivators, restoring peace to Chentang Pass time and time again.
Because of this, the Li couple had earned a strong and favorable reputation among the people of Chentang Pass.
However, three years ago, everything changed drastically—when Lady Yin went into labor.
Many of the local townsfolk began to feel a complicated mix of love, fear, and respect toward the Li family. It wasn't that Li Jing had done anything heinous. Rather, it was because Lady Yin had given birth after three years and six months of pregnancy… to a child known as Nezha, said to be the reincarnation of a Demonic Marrow Spirit, a creature fated to bring calamity upon the world.
Even though Li Jing swore to the citizens of Chentang Pass that he and his wife would keep Nezha in check and ensure he caused no harm, the people still viewed Nezha as a monster—feared and rejected him.
That day, the reborn demon spirit Nezha took advantage of a momentary lapse in the seal upon the Li estate and slipped out. As he wandered off to play, eager to explore the world beyond, the sky suddenly darkened—thunderclouds rolling in, oppressive and thick, as vast hordes of demon soldiers rode the black clouds at breakneck speed toward the Eastern Sea shore.
Even Nezha—born of the demonic marrow—felt a vague unease stir in his heart.
"So many demons… heading toward the Eastern Sea? What in the world is happening over there!?" he muttered anxiously.
At that moment, the townspeople and officials of Chentang Pass stood frozen, speechless, staring at the tide of black clouds overhead, their faces pale with dread.
Pfft!
With a flash, General Li Jing cut down a demon soldier with practiced ease. He then looked up with deep concern. Beside him, Lady Yin furrowed her brow. "These demonic forces… they seem to be converging on the Eastern Sea."
"The Eastern Sea?" Li Jing frowned. "I've never seen the demon clan mobilize on this scale before. But truthfully, those dragons of the Eastern Sea have long needed to be purged. Too many of them skirt the line between monster and god."
"We've heard that the new Eastern Sea Dragon King has unified the entire Eastern Sea and crowned himself as Dragon Emperor. I suspect this is all related," Lady Yin added, more anxious now. "If a battle breaks out by the sea, Chentang Pass will be caught in the aftermath."
Li Jing's expression hardened. "I must mobilize troops immediately to safeguard Chentang Pass and protect the civilians. When the battle ends, I will demand justice from the Eastern Sea Dragon King!"
Saying no more, Li Jing mounted his white steed and rode off in haste to organize the defense.
Lady Yin also turned to ride back to Chentang Pass, a deep worry in her eyes.
With their focus entirely consumed by the looming horde of a hundred thousand demon warriors, neither of them noticed that Nezha—the reborn demon spirit—had already vanished from their estate.
And in truth, in the eyes of the Li couple, the dragons of the Eastern Sea were no different from other demonic creatures—beings to be slain.
At that moment, high above Chentang Pass…
The endless demon clouds surged rapidly through the skies, racing toward the Eastern Sea shore.
At the forefront, atop the leading black clouds, flew several still-incomplete flood dragons—scales glinting, claws sharp, manipulating mist and rain. Among them were none other than the Myriad Saints Dragon King, the Jing River Dragon King, and the Yellow River Dragon King.
Behind them came a vast tide of demon kings and emperors—many bearing sharp weapons, with grotesque faces and humanoid forms. Their bloodlust was palpable, and the warlust in their eyes burned brightly.
Among them were many fearsome cultivators: undead skeletons who had achieved sentience, demonic ox-heads refined into monsters, even zombie lords who had honed terrifying magical powers. Some were so powerful that even true immortals would avoid them.
"Fellow demon kings and emperors, up ahead lies the Eastern Sea shore. Our enemies are there—especially that Eastern Sea Dragon King, Ao Qing. We all dream of tearing him to pieces!"
Myriad Saints Dragon King's draconic eyes blazed with fury as he continued, "Fear not. So long as you slay Ao Qing and subdue the entire Dragon Clan, the Four Seas shall be yours to command! Just toss me a token rank and I'll be content."
As he said this, he cast a flattering glance toward one of the demon emperors.
That demon was fearsome in the extreme—an eagle-headed, human-bodied monster whose killing aura and demonic energy rolled off him in waves. His status in the demon world was second to none.
This demon was known as the Eagle Spirit King—a demon refined from an eagle that had absorbed the essence of heaven and earth. His cultivation was over seven thousand years deep.
He was also the younger brother of Daoist Kong Xuan, the second son of the ancestral Phoenix.
"Back in the day, during the great war between the Phoenix and Dragon clans, my brother Kong Xuan was injured by Ying Long, son of the Ancestral Dragon. Our two clans have been mortal enemies ever since. If my brother learns that I destroyed the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan, he'll be thrilled."
"That dragon Ao Qing? No one touch him. His head belongs to me—I'll be brewing it in wine!"
At this, the Eagle Spirit King let out a shrill, prideful laugh, his gaze wild with arrogance.
"Of course, my lord! We'll make sure that dragon head is yours!"
"Yes, my king, consider it done!"
The lesser demons fawned and flattered eagerly.
Just as the Eagle Spirit King opened his mouth to continue his arrogant boasts—
A cold, indifferent voice suddenly rang out through the sky:
"This king hears… that some so-called demon king wants to use my head… to brew wine?"
The voice was calm—unnervingly calm. But that very calmness struck like a thunderclap in the hearts of the demon kings, emperors, and soldiers alike.
Many of them staggered violently under the pressure—nearly falling from their clouds.
Even the mighty Eagle Spirit King, honored above all, almost lost his balance and embarrassed himself in front of the entire host of demons.
End of Chapter 20
Next: Ao Qing reveals his power.