The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 518 The Fated Rival

Monkey King waited at the site for the immortals’ appearance. He did not deliberately conceal his breath when he took action just now. The immortals in the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm noticed this big movement even though they were more than 50 kilometers away. So before long, someone came over.

“I do not know when you started liking to stare at the sky in a daze. Many times when I see your figure, I can’t bear to get close to you so as not to disturb you. I remember when we first met, you were high-spirited and vigorous. You liked to boast at banquets and you liked to stir up trouble after the banquet. You were very natural and unrestrained. People could not help envying you. But now... Alas, how did you become like this?”

As he sighed heavily, Bull Demon King sat down beside Monkey King. He was tall and burly. He was like a hill when he sat down. Even though Monkey King sat on a sharp stone, his head only reached Bull Demon King’s shoulder.

Bull Demon King looked at Monkey King with a morose face and continued, “Even when you were joking and making fun of others, you still looked desolate. Even when you are surrounded by people, you still look lonely... Alas, it has been more than a hundred years. Have you not recovered yet? Why are you not talking? When you are not talking, I begin to panic.”

Monkey King glanced at him. “What else can I say when you have already said all that I can say?”

Bull Demon King twisted his fat waist and got closer to Monkey King. Then he put his arm around Monkey King’s shoulder and winked to make him laugh. “How about going to Macaque Mountain? Maybe you will be happy after fighting against the Macaque King for three hundred rounds.”

Monkey King glanced at Bull Demon King with disdain. “Only you will be happy about this sort of childish prank.”

Bull Demon King was sad and looked at Monkey King with a bitter expression. His current expression did not match his valiant image.

Then Monkey King got down to business. “The Transfer Formations of the Immortal Court are everywhere. In the past two days, I traveled a lot, wiped out some fierce beasts and destroyed some Transfer Formations. But it is just a drop in the ocean compared to the big picture. If you are not fully prepared, the territory of the demon clan will still suffer.”

Bull Demon King said, “According to our investigation, the fierce beasts controlled by the Immortal Court this time number more than our demons. They are scattered in different directions and there are several hundred spots. What’s more, they appeared suddenly. Although we noticed it in advance, it was too late to make full preparations. The strategy of the Immortal Court is very clear this time. It is to disturb the entire demon clan and even overthrow it!”

Monkey King sneered. “The Immortal Court has been lurking under your noses for several thousand years and has accumulated great power, but you are not aware of it. You do not live up to the title of Great Sages.”

Although what he said was harsh, Bull Demon King could not argue with that. He sighed and said, “It is our fault. But we have fallen for too long, so we are not as good as the Immortal Court, in terms of strength. In addition, demons are careless and sloppy, so we are inferior to the immortals, when it comes to schemes.”

Monkey King did not continue to satirize Bull Demon King because it was useless. He asked, “Do you know who the commander is sent by the Immortal Court this time?”

“The Venerable Beihai, the Venerable Nanmu, the Venerable Dongxuan and the Venerable Xiji. All of them are in the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm,” Bull Demon King replied without thinking, looking confident. Seeing the strange expression in Monkey King’s eyes, he laughed and said, “If we do not know who our opponents are at this point, we would be too incompetent.”

Monkey King averted his gaze and sneered. “Thank you for acknowledging that you are incompetent. From now on, you may engrave that word on your forehead.”

Bull Demon King was a little stunned. “Am I not right?”

Monkey King looked into the distance. “Here he comes. I felt it.”

“He?” Bull Demon King was puzzled at first, then he touched his chin, worry showing in his eyes. “If he comes, it will really be serious.”

Bull Demon King, of course, knew that there was only one person in the entire Immortal Court whom Monkey King would not say his name out loud and placed a lot of importance on him. That person was not the most powerful, but he gave him the biggest problem when it came to their battle with each other.

Monkey King stood up and patted his butt. “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?”

“Where we should go.”

...

In Maple Island, the Venerable Beihai came to a cave in the back mountain. He bowed with cupped hands outside the door. “Lord, everything is ready. I will leave now.”

A low voice came from the cave. “All of you can go first. I will make a move later.”

“Yes.” The Venerable Beihai bowed in agreement and had no objections, even though the other party did not intend to go with them. It was because he knew that the other party would appear when he was needed.

All the cultivators from the Immortal Court in Maple Island thought that the Venerable Beihai was the commander in the demon clan. It was true before, but after the Lord came to the cave, he only dealt with the affairs outside and had to ask for instructions on important matters.

There were many Daluo Golden Immortals in the Immortal Court and each of them could be called the Venerable, but not everyone could be called the Lord. Every immortal who was called the Lord had contributed a lot to the Immortal Court and was worshipped by ordinary people in the human world. Because of these ordinary people’s offerings, their power never stopped growing.

After the Venerable Beihai left, the back mountain quietened down.

In the cave, there stood an immortal with an imposing appearance. With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked at the magic formation reflected in front of him. It showed the scene where a dark golden torrent of water gushed down from the peak among the mountains.

The cultivator of the Immortal Court who sent back this image was obviously too far away from the peak, so he could not see the situation there clearly and he could only see a flash of light. Even so, the red glowing reflection of the clouds and forests was still very shocking.

The immortal wore a meaningful smile, which was filled with excitement.

His name was Yang Jian.

Some incidents had happened to him before. If he recorded them from his point of view, it should be like this.

Everyone gets irritated sometimes. When I am irritated, I like to open my third eye. Not many people in the world can irritate me, but the monkey is one of them.

That year, he offended the higher-ups and turned the Immortal Court upside down. I was ordered to suppress him.

“Damned monkey, why are you rebelling against the Immortal Court?”

The monkey laughed and said, “It is none of your business.”

“I am Erlang, the Lord Xiansheng. Today, under the Immortal Emperor’s order, I am here to capture you, arrogant Protector of the Horses. You court death!”

The monkey lazily took the Golden Cudgel out of his ear. “Who do you think you are?”

We fought for three hundred rounds and there was no clear winner. He used up his seventy-two changes and I even opened my third eye to fight with him.

I won that battle, although not in a glorious way. But so what? Only a fool could tell right from wrong. A wise man only focuses on the result.

I coldly watched him being tortured through the various punishments. The monkey was still grinning cheekily and was not afraid at all.

I thought I hated him because this annoying monkey made trouble everywhere and dared to look down on me. Later, I realized that I did not hate him, but envied him. I was jealous of his freedom and what he had done which I did not dare to do.

A long time ago, I was not like this. I was like him.

Many years later, the annoying monkey got the Buddhist scriptures.

Some said that he had fulfilled his merits and became a Buddha, while others said that he had comprehended the Great Tao and became a Pre-sage. A lot of rumors abounded, but I could not tell whether it was true or false. I only knew that there were no demons in the world anymore. Except him, no one dared to step into the Southern Gate, point at the Immortal Emperor’s nose and rebuke him in the Zixiao Palace, and claim to be equal to heaven.

All over the four seas and eight directions, from heaven to earth, no one could fight me for three hundred rounds again.

It turned out that it was so boring without a rival.

I began to miss that annoying monkey.

But he sat on the desolate Huaguo Mountain all day long, without sadness, joy, thoughts or desires.

I scolded him, laughed at him, provoked him and irritated him. I hoped that he would jump up like before, scold me and shout at me. “I am going to hit you with my stick!”

But he did not.

On the big bluestone that had not changed for a hundred years, he just looked at me sympathetically and did not even raise his eyebrows.

He put his palms together and said, “Immeasurable Celestial Venerable.”

Yang Jian watched the images sent back from the magic formation over and over again and the fighting spirit grew in his eyes. “This time, we should be able to fight for another three hundred rounds!”

The Macaque Mountain.

The evening banquet was held as scheduled. When Li Ye came out of the cave, many bonfires had been lit at the campsite. The demons joined in the familiar carnival activities. They sang and danced. It was very lively. The surrounding tables were stacked with all kinds of food that seemed impossible to finish.

Li Ye sat down behind the table and looked at the lively scene with a smile. Tonight’s banquet should be the most lively event held at Macaque Mountain recently. The demons of Macaque Mountain, who could not endure loneliness, came from all directions and joined the party.

Li Ye estimated that there were more than 10,000 demons in total. Fortunately, the campsite was big enough, so it was not overcrowded. Looking at the happy demons, Li Ye thought of the fierce beasts’ bodies in his storage bags and his smile gradually brightened.

Everyone was very happy tonight. The demons of Macaque Mountain were not aware that the Macaque King wanted to deal with Li Ye, so they did not pay much attention to it.

The cultivators of the demon clan brought by Li Ye did not know that the Macaque King was trying to assassinate him, so they were not on the alert. On the contrary, the Macaque King gave Li Ye ten Magic Treasures today, so they felt that the Macaque King was very generous.

Qi Potian was surrounded by a group of cultivators of Macaque Mountain. He was obviously drunk and he was gesticulating with his hands and feet. “I am the famous butcher of Blackstone Ridge, Prince An’s trusted subordinate and the senior elder of the Killing Hands. Now I will tell you about the details of the battle on Blackstone Mountain! If you want to know about Prince An’s heroic deeds at that time, all of you should sit down. I will tell you...”

The demons of Macaque Mountain were very interested. All of them sat down next to Qi Potian, waiting to hear the story.

Li Ye did not have time to listen to Qi Potian’s bragging. Since he sat here, countless demons had come to propose a toast to him or flatter him. Because of Li Ye’s identity and the battle results of Blackstone Mountain, many demons were curious about him. Especially, after listening to Qi Potian’s story, they all came to drink with Li Ye.

Li Ye did not put on any airs and greeted them enthusiastically. Soon, a large group of cultivators sat around his table. They were kind and easy-going. They draped their hands around Li Ye’s shoulders and called each other brothers.

Li Ye thought it was almost time. He took out a Blazing Eagle’s body from his storage bag and gave it to the demon monkey, who had come early and had already drunk a lot of wine with him. Li Ye was more familiar with him. “This is one of my spoils on Blackstone Mountain. Here you are!”

This was a demon monkey in the Ground Immortal Realm. Seeing the Blazing Eagle’s body, he was very surprised and did not believe that Li Ye was so generous. “The Blazing Eagle is worth a lot. Are you really giving it to me?”

Li Ye patted him on the shoulder. “I think you are kind. It is fate that we can drink together tonight. What is wrong with giving you a Blazing Eagle? If you do not accept it, you are looking down on me!”

The demon monkey felt overwhelmingly flattered. He quickly took it and raised his cup to toast Li Ye. Seeing Li Ye staggering, he thought that Li Ye was drunk. Many Big Shots were like this. They were particularly generous and liked to give out Magic Treasures and Dan Pills when they were drunk and happy, but they would regret it as soon as they sobered up. They would make an excuse by saying that what they said were ravings and could not be taken seriously as they were drunk.

The demon monkey was aware of this. After he toasted Li Ye, he brought out the Blazing Eagle for all to see and wanted everyone to be witnesses so that Li Ye could not go back on his words, after sobering up tomorrow. He secretly thought that Li Ye was a prince and cared about his image, so he would not do such an dishonorable thing in full view of the public.

Soon, many demons heard about this and more and more demons came. Of course, some of them wanted to get close to Li Ye to see if they would be rewarded. Most of them came here out of curiosity and wanted to join in the fun.

Seeing the demon monkey’s action, Li Ye secretly praised him in his heart. He did not expect that the demon monkey would take the initiative to help spread the news before he asked him to. Seeing more and more demons gathering around, Li Ye did not hesitate any longer. He took out 30 to 50 bodies of the fierce beasts in the Immortal Realm from his storage bags and threw them on the ground.

As the demons watched in surprise, Li Ye cleared his throat and said loudly, “I fought a bloody battle on Blackstone Mountain and destroyed the fierce beasts’ lair. I got some gains. The fierce beasts’ bodies are precious treasures and useful for refining Dan Pills and Magic Treasures. Today, I am happy, so I will sell them to you at a low price.”

“A low-ranking Magic Treasure can be exchanged for three to five fierce beasts in the Ground Immortal Realm. A middle-ranking Magic Treasure can be exchanged for a fierce beast in the Real Immortal Realm. The price is clearly marked and it is fair to everyone. If anyone wants it, just come and choose!”

Because of the demon monkey’s action, the demons were jealous and also coveted Li Ye’s fierce beasts’ bodies. Now that Li Ye began to do business, their minds became active. Immediately, some demons came to ask for the specific prices. For example, how many fierce beasts could a low-ranking Magic Treasure at the middle stage be exchanged for? What kind of Magic Treasure could be exchanged for a fierce beast in the Sky Immortal Realm?

After they asked the questions, the demons became excited.

The prices given by Li Ye were very fair and cheaper than the normal prices. On average, each Magic Treasure could gain them a fierce beast’s body. The demons became very enthusiastic. They came to choose the fierce beasts’ bodies and did business with Li Ye, one after another.