Chapter Sixteen: The King of Yu Rong

For the past few days, True Immortal Ruyi had been restless, unable to sit or stand still, fretting about how he would explain himself when the Bull Demon King returned.

“The elder brother is coming to the Cave of Fiery Clouds any day now. That old fox will surely complain about me to him, and eight or nine times out of ten, the elder brother will hand the cave over to the fox to manage. When that happens, what place will I have left here?” True Immortal Ruyi wore a face full of sorrow, pacing back and forth across his chamber, his ox hooves clattering anxiously.

“Second Lord, should we still raze all the villages near the Cave of Fiery Clouds?” a bull demon asked, unaware of what troubled True Immortal Ruyi, believing him simply upset about the fox strategist having contradicted his orders days ago.

“Raze them? To hell with it! I’ve no mood to bother with such trivial matters.”

So it goes: one household rejoices, while another laments.

The fox strategist, meanwhile, had spent these days in great spirits, relishing every meal, greeting everyone with a smiling face. He seemed to proclaim to all the demons that soon, the Cave of Fiery Clouds would be his to govern.

“Congratulations, strategist, congratulations!” came the fawning voices.

“And what joy do you celebrate?” the fox strategist asked, smiling as he listened to the flattering remarks of a young fox.

“That True Immortal Ruyi knows nothing of his own limits—daring to challenge the King’s old friend. Once the King returns, the strategist will be the head of the Cave of Fiery Clouds, leaving Ruyi with no place at all.”

“Don’t speak rashly,” the fox strategist chided, though his expression revealed his approval of the clever words.

“These days, I haven’t seen True Immortal Ruyi. He must know that his very life was saved by the strategist, and remembering all that’s passed, he’s too embarrassed to face you,” the young fox continued, making the strategist’s heart soar.

Yuan Wuji, in these days, spent his time either cultivating or drinking alone. The fox strategist had arranged for female demons to entertain him, but Yuan Wuji had paid them no mind, gifting them instead to the fox soldiers pouring his wine.

It made sense, the strategist thought—such a person of status would hardly be interested in mere painted faces.

Suddenly, as Yuan Wuji drank alone, he sensed a powerful demonic aura rushing directly toward the Cave of Fiery Clouds.

“The Bull Demon King is finally here.”

True Immortal Ruyi, knowing the King was about to arrive, grew ever more frantic, uncertain how to go out and greet him. A bull soldier nearby tried to console him:

“Second Lord, it’s true that the monkey is the King’s friend. But you are his sworn brother—he’d never punish his own kin for the sake of an outsider. You should go out joyfully to greet the King; seeing his brother so enthusiastic, he’ll surely be pleased and entrust the Cave of Fiery Clouds to you.”

“Haha, well said! I shall go greet my brother right now,” Ruyi answered confidently, startling the fox strategist who had also come out to welcome the Bull Demon King.

“This foolish ox—could he have a trump card?” The fox, ever suspicious by nature, wondered. Years of dealing with True Immortal Ruyi had taught the strategist that such behavior usually hid some trickery.

“I must be careful.”

Usually, when the Bull Demon King arrived, True Immortal Ruyi and the fox strategist each brought a few attendants to greet him. But today’s welcome seemed much grander—had they stumbled upon some treasure?

“We await the King’s arrival,” the host of demons knelt in salute to the Bull Demon King overhead.

“Rise, children.”

The fox strategist stepped forward.

“King, days ago, your old friend came to visit. He is now waiting for you in the Cave of Fiery Clouds.”

“Haha, and who might that be?”

“A monkey—his skills are formidable, he defeated the Second Lord.”

“A monkey? Could it be the Monkey King?” The Bull Demon King looked thoughtful, then turned to a monkey behind him:

“Brother King Yurong, the Monkey King may be resting in my cave today. You two are kin—I can introduce you.”

“Haha, to meet both you, Bull Demon King, and the Monkey King today—it’s a great fortune!” replied the monkey, whose physique was imposing. Unlike ordinary monkeys, half his fur was red, half blue, and even his eyes were split in color.

“We shall lead the way.” The Bull Demon King, with King Yurong, entered the cave.

“How can it be the Monkey King? Now I’m truly finished,” thought True Immortal Ruyi, his confidence evaporating. How could he compare to the Monkey King?

The fox strategist, who had suspected Ruyi of holding a trump card, now saw his bravado for what it was—empty posturing. If only he had told the King about Ruyi’s actions sooner.

“Monkey brother, you…” The Bull Demon King, upon entering the cave and seeing the monkey above, realized it wasn’t the Monkey King, and assumed Yuan Wuji to be a mere attendant.

“Where is your King?”

“My King? I am alone. If you insist on a King, then it is I.”

King Yurong, hearing this, assumed Yuan Wuji was impersonating the Monkey King to freeload, and eager to show off his abilities to the Bull Demon King, declared:

“Bull Demon King, to think this fellow dares to deceive you here! Let me teach him a lesson.”

“Monkey, you dare act so brazenly, deceiving my brother? Falling into my hands is your honor—prepare to die!”

The Bull Demon King, too, wanted to see King Yurong’s skills, and hoped Yuan Wuji would put up a fight.

Yuan Wuji hadn’t expected to be challenged so soon, before even speaking to the Bull Demon King. But it was just as well—he had rushed down without any token to prove his identity; now, only his mastery could serve as proof.

The fox strategist and True Immortal Ruyi, just entering, found the situation reversed. Ruyi now plotted to accuse the strategist, while the fox, though less frantic than before, was pale—punishment seemed inevitable.

Who would have thought Ruyi would stumble here?

The Cave of Fiery Clouds, under the Bull Demon King’s rule, was spacious enough to handle a fierce battle between Yuan Wuji and King Yurong.

Both were celestial immortals, yet King Yurong was the strongest opponent Yuan Wuji had ever met. His ability to control both water and fire simultaneously amazed Yuan Wuji—such dual mastery was rare. Compared to him, True Immortal Ruyi was utterly insignificant.

Still, Yuan Wuji was only surprised. He invoked the Great Ruyi Art, transforming his Wind and Thunder Staff from an embroidery needle back to its normal size.

“A weapon of Ruyi?” the Bull Demon King and King Yurong exclaimed. Yuan Wuji was startled—his technique had led them to mistake the Wind and Thunder Staff for a legendary Ruyi weapon.

King Yurong, thinking the staff was a Ruyi treasure, could not conceal his greed—he had no magical weapon of his own.

“Behold my Water Dragon Tornado!” King Yurong now sought to seize Yuan Wuji’s staff, acting quickly to subdue him.

But Yuan Wuji was not to be trifled with—he summoned the Gold Thunder of the Five True Thunders, combined with the Metal Qi from his Metal Pill, using King Yurong’s water to amplify his thunder’s power.

“Break!” King Yurong realized he could not withstand this attack, forcefully interrupting his technique and fleeing. The power of Yuan Wuji’s Gold Thunder seemed enough to shatter the entire cave.

The Bull Demon King knew he must intervene, lest the cave be destroyed. Yuan Wuji watched as the King used earth magic to neutralize the Gold Thunder.

“Indeed, it’s the aura of the Metal Pill—so this monkey…” The Bull Demon King’s use of earth magic was not just to protect the cave; he sought to deeply sense the Metal Qi, confirming his suspicions.

“It seems the Bull Demon King is at least a Loose Immortal of the Taiyi realm, and one who has cultivated the earth law,” Yuan Wuji observed as the King dissolved the Gold Thunder.

King Yurong looked embarrassed—he had boasted, but was driven back in the very first exchange, forced to cut off his own magic.

In King Yurong’s mind, Yuan Wuji’s powers must naturally counter his own. If not, then let them compete in physical strength and martial skill.

King Yurong leapt forward, like a mountain of flesh, attacking Yuan Wuji. Compared to King Yurong’s bulk, Yuan Wuji seemed slender.

Yet Yuan Wuji was undaunted—he believed that, as an Armored Monkey, few of his own tier could match him in physical strength. This was the pride of his kind.

As King Yurong rushed him, Yuan Wuji invoked the Mountain-Lifting and Sea-Surpassing Art from the Thirty-Six Transformations—a pure power technique.

With that strength, Yuan Wuji struck King Yurong, driving him back. But he didn’t stop there—using Ground-Gold Light Steps, he instantly appeared behind King Yurong.

“King Yurong, beware!” called the Bull Demon King, sensing the force within Yuan Wuji’s staff. Even as a descendant of the Sacred Monkey, King Yurong might not withstand it.

King Yurong, sent flying, was too slow to defend—he took a blow to the back, blood spraying.

“Ah!” The force of Yuan Wuji’s strike left King Yurong’s back bloody. Yuan Wuji pressed his advantage, preparing to strike again.

“Fiery Shield!” King Yurong, seeing Yuan Wuji aiming to harm him further, quickly used his fire magic for defense, but dared not use water magic, fearing another thunder attack. In his current state, he could not escape—if struck by thunder, it could be fatal.

“Wind Returns, Fire Remains!” King Yurong, knowing the power of Yuan Wuji’s thunder, shifted to his fire magic. If you have water and fire, I’ll render them useless—let’s see if you still dare to oppose me.

King Yurong watched as his Fiery Shield vanished, and Yuan Wuji launched a ball of fire at him.

“King Yurong, how does your own magic taste?” Both were of equal realm, but King Yurong’s mastery of water and fire was not deep, while Yuan Wuji’s Thirty-Six Transformations, though only moderately achieved, were enhanced by his Gold Pill, surpassing others of his tier—thus, he could turn King Yurong’s magic against him.

King Yurong, seeing the fire coming, quickly used water magic to extinguish it.

As the flames were snuffed out, Yuan Wuji seized his chance—the Wind and Thunder Staff struck King Yurong once again.

“Bang!” Another heavy blow—by now, King Yurong’s bones were surely broken in many places.