Chapter 129: The Rupture Between Monarch and Minister

Page (1/3)

The thunder crow launched its assault, and Ouyang met the attack head-on. Originally a monarch of the demon realm, Ouyang possessed numerous formidable techniques, far more refined and powerful than those of the thunder crow. After ten exchanges, Ouyang held a significant advantage.

On the eleventh strike, Ouyang unleashed a deadly blow using the “Heterodox Thought Technique.” The thunder crow suffered grievously; its abdomen was pierced through, the edges charred to blackened ash.

Yet Ouyang did not rejoice, fully aware of the demon’s resilience, not believing victory was assured. Suddenly, the thunder crow transformed into streaks of lightning and vanished.

Ye Sansi activated the Eight Treasures Technique, scanning for the thunder crow’s true form, and shouted, “Second Brother, it’s behind you!”

Sure enough, when Ouyang turned, he saw a figure slowly coalescing from the lightning—a rebirth of the thunder crow. If this kept up, they would exhaust their energy and be slaughtered by the relentless demon.

The thunder crow manifested only a few lightning bolts before Ye Sansi bound it, immobilizing the creature.

For ordinary beings, lightning strikes were devastating, but Ye Sansi had endured two heavenly thunderbolts, his body fundamentally transformed; such attacks no longer harmed him but felt strangely comforting.

Though Ye Sansi could restrain the thunder crow, its cultivation had spanned over a millennium. Absorbing it entirely risked his own life, so he absorbed only within his tolerable limits.

The thunder crow was a formidable foe. Though Ouyang’s cultivation surpassed it, he could not kill it. No matter how grievously it was wounded, it would dissolve into lightning and reassemble, restoring itself. Engaging in a prolonged battle with this demon was a path to ruin.

Seeing the dire situation, Ye Sansi swiftly rode his sword toward Ouyang, signaling with a glance. Ouyang understood and launched a series of attacks, targeting the thunder crow while deploying the Devouring Essence Technique. The thunder crow smiled warily, cautious of Ouyang’s move, and quickly dispersed into lightning again.

All of this was within Ye Sansi’s plan. He scanned with the Eight Treasures Technique, tracked the thunder crow’s trace, then flicked his wrist, executing the Burning Flame Hand combined with the Devouring Essence Technique, grasping at thin air—and indeed caught the true form.

Ye Sansi ceased absorbing the demon’s power, using the technique only to restrain it. The demon king, observing, said, “This technique is called Devouring Essence, the supreme art of our demon realm, lost a thousand years ago. How do you know it?”

The demon king’s eyes gleamed upon seeing the technique. Ye Sansi had anticipated this and deliberately inquired. Sansi smiled, “The Devouring Essence Technique is the legacy of the demon realm’s monarch. Since you are now the ruler, if you do not know it, how can your throne be secure?”

“Heh, I am the demon realm’s monarch. How can the affairs of our realm be dictated by an outsider or a heterodox like you?” The demon king was infuriated.

Alarmed by the turn of events, the demon king hurried to intervene.

Ye Sansi extended his other hand, palm facing the demon king, saying, “Wait, do you know what technique I am using?”

“Release him first, then I will respond.”

“…”

Ye Sansi’s words caused the demon king to hesitate, as was only proper. After all, the Devouring Essence Technique had been passed down for tens of thousands of years; the former monarch did not know it, nor did he. The legitimacy of his throne felt questionable.

Neither Ouyang nor Peng Xian believed such a mere technique could cause a monarch to waver. Hesitating even briefly on the battlefield could cost them their hard-won advantage.

Ouyang and Peng Xian signaled Ye Sansi to attack while the demon king was distracted, but Sansi shook his head slightly. Then, he whispered to the thunder crow, “This demon king has deceived you. I once sent someone to investigate the demon realm and overheard a secret about you. Think: hasn’t one of your descendants been missing for a month? Have you questioned this demon king about what truly happened?”

Page (2/3)

Ye Sansi smiled, “Don’t be impatient. If you withdraw your forces, I will teach you this technique. How about that?”

The demon king grew excited at the prospect of learning the technique but soon thought it over and replied, “The army has already marched with heavy casualties. How can we retreat? Do you take me for a fool? If I withdraw and then you reneged, and we tried to attack again, more troops would perish…”

“Then so be it. If you truly annihilate me and the heterodox monarch, this Devouring Essence Technique will be lost forever. You should know there are gods, immortals, and demons beyond the demon realm. Without a leader who masters this technique, external enemies cannot be resisted, internal strife cannot be quelled. How can this great empire stand?”

The thunder crow asked slowly, “Where is my grandson now?”

“Brother Lei, haven’t I said? I don’t know. He was sent out on a mission by the former king; what kind of mission, I am not privy to.”

The thunder crow fell silent, pondering carefully. His grandson, like himself, possessed immortality; only the demon realm’s secret prison could confine him, a place accessible only to the monarch. With Ye Sansi’s words, suspicion grew.

Ye Sansi turned back to the demon king, saying, “I’ve said my piece. Think carefully: is your life more important or the legacy of this technique? You decide. I will return your general to you.”

Saying this, Ye Sansi threw a bolt of lightning towards the demon king, which gradually took form. Fortunately, the thunder crow stopped in time, avoiding collision.

The demon king hurried forward to assist, but he and the thunder crow hovered midair, eyes locked. The thunder crow turned its back to the king.

“Thunder crow, you are bold indeed. I have called you brother and respected you greatly. Yet you speak to me with doubt.”

Unyielding, the thunder crow retorted loudly, “My descendants are immortal. Except for the demon realm’s secret prison, there is no place we cannot escape. My grandson has been missing for a month; I must suspect the king!”

The demon king growled, “Your suspicions are baseless, with no proof against me. Besides, that heterodox also bound you—could he not be the one who killed your grandson?”

The thunder crow continued, “If you have seen my grandson, bring him to me. I will serve you faithfully.”

“What do you mean? Do you suspect I have captured your grandson?”

“Not without reason.”

“Damn you! Don’t think I fear you. Your clan is strong; I thought to use you, but now I will destroy you. Returning to the demon realm, I’ll slaughter your entire lineage, lessening threats.”

With that, the thunder crow closed in, gathering lightning in its palm to strike the demon king.

The demon king, once a great general, was no weakling in battle. Agilely dodging, he waved his sleeve, releasing a flurry of sharp blades, each gleaming coldly.

The thunder crow chuckled, “I only ask: why are you so nervous? I’m not foolish; that heterodox’s words are reasonable. Moreover, my grandson has no connection to him; why would there be hatred between them? Consider carefully, my clan has long existed in the demon realm. To you, I must be a threat, right?”

“Bold, bold! You dare oppose me? Besides the demon realm’s secret prison, the former king gifted me a treasure capable of wounding you. Your immortality is nonsense!”

The thunder crow roared, “Very well, since you admit it yourself, I will avenge my grandson. Today you will lose your life. End your vain dreams and prepare to die!”

Page (3/3)

The demon king quickly dodged several paces, sweeping his hand to summon a halberd radiating golden light. The blade was razor-sharp, emanating overwhelming pressure. The thunder crow recoiled in fear.

Stunned, it shouted, “Why does the Earth-Shattering Halberd still exist? Didn’t the former king destroy it before me? How—how—how is it in your hands?”

“Hahaha, you are truly foolish. This halberd is the divine weapon to destroy you. The former king only pretended to destroy it before you, leaving a fake to make you complacent and loyal. But your power is well known; if no backup remained, your rebellion would be unstoppable. Don’t flatter yourself into thinking the king favors you—it’s a joke.”

Blades circled the thunder crow, striking in an instant. Within a breath, the crow was riddled with wounds but then dissolved into lightning.

Ye Sansi, fearing the worst, kept the Eight Treasures Technique active and saw the crow still existed, finally exhaling in relief. This battle was crucial; the peace of the heterodox demon realm depended on it.

The thunder crow reformed its body and resumed attacking the demon king. Though the king held the advantage in cultivation and technique, the crow’s ability to reform and relentlessly assault wore him down. The king had no choice but to wield the treasured weapon given by the former monarch.

“Second Brother, don’t rush; wait for the right moment.”

Ouyang nodded repeatedly at Ye Sansi’s counsel, fully trusting his younger brother’s strategy.

Under such pressure, the thunder crow had to dissolve into lightning to avoid the Earth-Shattering Halberd’s attacks.

Lowering its head in anger, the thunder crow said slowly, “Fine, fine. I served the former king loyally, seeking only eternal life. Yet he left a hidden trick, preserving this halberd as a legacy…”

The demon king laughed, “Don’t fret. Prepare to die.” He charged, halberd in hand.

Fearing the blade, the thunder crow could only dodge. Ouyang turned to Ye Sansi, “Third Brother, today this thunder crow will surely die. The Earth-Shattering Halberd is its bane. The old ruler promised to destroy this weapon for the crow but betrayed it midway. If we help destroy this halberd, the crow will control the battlefield and retreat…”

But Ouyang underestimated the weapon’s power. The demon king spun the halberd skyward, its blade glowing gold, then struck again, targeting the thunder crow’s true form.

Struck, the thunder crow instantly solidified but found it could no longer transform into lightning to escape.

The king, triumphant, slowly approached, wielding the Earth-Shattering Halberd with murderous intent. Under its crushing pressure, the crow struggled to cast spells.

The demon king thrust the halberd. The thunder crow resisted with both hands, gripping the blade. For the first time in a thousand years, it bled.

With great force, the king lifted the crow skyward with the halberd.

“It’s time!” Ye Sansi declared. Ouyang and Peng Xian ascended together, rushing toward the demon king to save the thunder crow’s life…