After the Sea Demon Beibei jumped into the sea to clean her shell, she headed straight for Sea City. Her sword had been nicked, and she needed to find the best weapons master there to reforge it. However, as if possessed, she bypassed Sea City without entering and continued toward Mount Zijin.

After Xu Lai extinguished Orochi, the Demon King, with a flick of his finger, the Sea Demons of Sakura Country had scattered completely, trying to flee back to their own territories. However, they were all killed by Yuan Man.

As the master of Sea City and a Demon King, Yuan Man naturally wanted to curry favor with Xu Lai. In the world of the Demon Race, the strong are revered, which was why she had wanted to attach herself to him earlier, though he had bluntly rejected her.

Sensing a familiar presence, Yuan Man squinted her narrow eyes and looked toward Beibei, who was watching from the distant sea. With a light chuckle, Yuan Man's figure flickered, appearing at Beibei's side.

Beibei gripped her sword warily. Upon seeing it was Yuan Man, she silently relaxed her hold on the hilt.

Yuan Man said softly, "Beibei, with your strength, you should have a better sword. Are you interested in continuing to serve as a Demon General?"

"Demon King, I have already offered my Soul Blood to acknowledge a master," Beibei said calmly. "The Demon Race is loyal to only one master. You should understand that."

Yuan Man wasn't disappointed. Instead, her eyes burned with intensity as she asked, "Is it Xu Lai?"

"His daughter, Yiyi. An ordinary human."

"..."

Yuan Man was stunned. Although Xu Lai was powerful, given Beibei's strength and famously proud nature, she shouldn't have submitted to an ordinary human.

She looks so much like her.

Beibei didn't say the words aloud. Even a Demon King like Yuan Man didn't know about Princess Ah Zi of the Dragon Race. It was a secret Beibei had always kept hidden in her heart.

Yuan Man didn't dwell on it and continued to ask, "Beibei, what realm is Xu Lai at? The peak of the Divine Gate, or… higher?"

"I don't know." Beibei shook her head; she truly didn't know.

But no matter how she thought about it, Xu Lai, who could obliterate Orochi with a flick of his finger, had to be at least at the peak of the Divine Gate.

They say the peak of the Divine Gate is the limit for the Human Race, and the Demon King Realm is the limit for the Demon Race. If there really is a higher realm…

Yuan Man's breathing quickened at the thought.

RUMBLE!

Just then, the barrier to the forbidden grounds of Mount Zijin opened, revealing a giant crack. Numerous figures swiftly emerged from within. There were both humans and Sea Demons among them.

Yuan Man and Beibei didn't hesitate, flying toward them at once.

Ten humans and twenty Sea Demons had entered, but only thirteen came out alive. Still, this was a massive breakthrough compared to previous years, when only three to five would survive.

Of course, Yuan Man didn't know that the low survival rate in previous years was due to the machinations of the 'Phantom Beast,' much less that Xu Lai had already eaten it.

"Demon King, a great harvest!" a Sea Demon exclaimed, dropping to one knee before Yuan Man. "Nineteen Spirit Plants, including three stalks of Transformation Grass!"

Transformation Grass was of little value to Demonic Beasts at the Great Demon Realm who could already shapeshift, but it was a treasure for any Demonic Beast below that realm. Even Sea City, which Yuan Man governed, only had two in stock. Those had been found two centuries ago in the forbidden grounds of Mount Zijin, at the cost of many of the Demon Race's most talented elites.

"Unfortunately, the Sea Demons of Sakura Country and the humans obtained even more heavenly treasures, including a Sea Moon Flower…"

The Sea Moon Flower was a Spirit Plant that grew rootless in the deep sea, consisting of just three differently colored leaves joined together. It took a full three thousand years to bloom. Unlike other treasures used for extending life, advancing one's realm, or alchemy, the Sea Moon Flower could only be used for Artifact Refining. When a petal was added during Artifact Refining, the resulting item would possess terrifying toughness and have a greatly increased chance of an enhanced grade.

Even Yuan Man, as a Demon King, had only heard of it but never seen one.

Listening to her Demon General, Yuan Man's heart stirred, and the corners of her mouth curled slightly.

That was… murderous intent!

「Elsewhere.」

The four Sea Demons from Sakura Country looked around. Not only was their master absent, but the rest of their kin had also vanished without a trace. A thread of doubt rose in their hearts. Just then, Yuan Man's seductive voice cut through the air.

"Leave your things behind."

"Hmph?" an Octopus Sea Sprite bellowed. "Demon King Yuan Man, what is the meaning of this? Are you trying to declare war on my master?"

The three Sea Demons behind him had icy expressions, showing no fear.

"Orochi?" Yuan Man said indifferently. "He died two days ago."

The Sea Demons from Sakura Country were deeply shaken. Our master is dead? Impossible! Not just in Sakura Country, but across the entire world, those in the Demon King Realm could act with impunity.

"So, are you going to hand over the Spirit Plants willingly, or do you want me to take them myself?" Yuan Man asked coolly.

The Octopus Sea Sprite's ink-black face twisted with anger, but without his master, he was facing an invincible Demon King.

A tactical retreat!

The Octopus Sea Sprite suppressed his rage and said, "Since the Demon King has spoken, we must comply. But surely there must be a reason!"

"Because I want them." Yuan Man stood on the head of a gigantic eel, speaking unhurriedly. "Is that reason enough?"

"..."

The Octopus Sea Sprite fell silent. He left behind the nineteen Spirit Plants they had found, then dove into the sea to escape.

We must return to our country! We'll find our master and avenge today's humiliation!

However, Yuan Man murmured, "Thinking you can leave my territory? You won't escape."

She gave a casual wave of her hand. The sea surface instantly began to churn violently. The terrifying pressure of her realm washed over the area, accompanied by roars of fury and anguish. Less than half an hour later, the sea gradually calmed. All that remained floating on the surface were the severed limbs of the Sea Demons from Sakura Country, including a massive octopus head.

"This…"

Further away, four humans hovered in mid-air. They were riddled with scars and their clothes were in tatters, but their faces were etched with shock, especially their leader, Ji Qingshan.

The three factions were so friendly before… Why is this happening now?

Ji Qingshan clutched the Spirit Plants he had found, his voice grave. "Demon King, what is the meaning of this?"

"No particular meaning," Yuan Man said with a smile and a wave. "See you in another century. Of course… you might not live that long."

Yuan Man departed with her Demon Generals, leaving Ji Qingshan and the other three staring at each other in dismay. They dared not linger and quickly fled the scene.

***

"Demon King, why didn't you kill them to silence them?" one of the Demon Generals who had entered Mount Zijin asked, confused. "If those four humans go and tell Orochi what happened today, I fear…"

"Orochi is dead, so it doesn't matter that his disciples are dead."

"..."

The Demon Generals stiffened as if struck by lightning, each drawing a sharp breath.

Really dead? How is that possible!

"Xu Lai killed him."

Demon King Yuan Man gazed in the direction Ji Qingshan's group had fled. She suppressed the greed in her eyes, finally remarking, "The Human Race is lucky to have Xu Lai."

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