Chapter Fifty-Nine: A Visit

Yuan Wuji could distinctly sense the allure of the dragon energy, so potent that even the Demon Heart of Ten Thousand Beasts and the Devouring Heaven Demon Heart could not help but tremble. In the past, when Yuan Wuji annihilated the Cultivation Kingdom of Mount Wuzhang, he had failed to absorb the dragon energy, wasting a great deal of it in vain. The only remaining dragon energy was sealed within the primordial spirit and soul of the kingdom’s emperor, which at the time had caused the two great demon hearts to vie fiercely for possession.

After acquiring the Emperor’s Dragon Soul, Yuan Wuji’s Dragon-Subduing and Tiger-Taming Divine Power underwent a remarkable strengthening, to the extent that his attacks now involuntarily exuded an aura of intimidation. This was the empowerment of the dragon energy, the natural effect of imperial majesty. For Yuan Wuji now, even half of the dragon energy from the Black Rooster Kingdom was certain to bring him considerable benefit.

The journey there and back cost Yuan Wuji little time; he had already returned to the Fire Cloud Cavern.

“You lot, pass down my orders—no one is permitted to appear in the great hall right now,” Yuan Wuji commanded the demon soldiers guarding the hall.

Upon receiving his order, the demon soldiers hurried to comply. Having witnessed Yuan Wuji’s ruthless methods, none dared to risk his wrath; defying his wishes was a gamble with one’s own life.

Refining the dragon energy was not quite a full seclusion for Yuan Wuji, yet it still required a solitary environment. With his current mastery over the two golden cores, the process might take some time, but he could already act at will with them.

Now, both golden cores had undergone true transformation through devouring the Dragon and Tiger Souls, with the Dragon-Subduing and Tiger-Taming Divine Power reaching new heights. Yet the difference lay in their forms: one half of his being was demonic, the other divine, and the auras they manifested were worlds apart.

Yuan Wuji had barely begun to circulate the Ninefold Mystic Art when both golden cores grew impatient, eager to devour the dragon energy. The only one to remain undisturbed was the Geng Metal Golden Core within his dantian, entirely unaffected by the lure of dragon energy, unlike the other two for whom it was irresistibly enticing.

As soon as the two golden cores began their work, they dove into the dragon energy. Within less than an hour, half of the Black Rooster Kingdom’s dragon energy had been thoroughly consumed.

All the Emperor’s Dragon Soul previously devoured had been dedicated to refining the Dragon-Subduing and Tiger-Taming Divine Power. The dragon energy now gained did more than enhance the power of this divine ability; it greatly amplified the imperial intimidation, which had previously existed as only a faint trace.

With the strengthening of imperial majesty, what was once a mere wisp of deterrence now became something wholly different. The dichotomy of his body grew more pronounced: the right side emanated not just demon aura, but the dominance of a high lord of the demon clan, while the left side radiated the authority of a divine emperor.

One half was the king of demons, the other the emperor of gods.

The process of refinement took exactly ten days and nights. As the dragon energy was absorbed, subtle changes began to occur within Yuan Wuji’s subconscious: the instincts of a ruler quietly started to shape his outlook.

Perhaps these changes were not yet obvious, but as his cultivation deepened, their influence would only grow stronger with each passing day.

During these few days, Duoli suffered in agony, tormented by the prospect of escape. What a perfect chance it was to flee! But whenever the thought arose, he would recall Yuan Wuji’s terrifying might. These days had been the most agonizing struggle of his life.

Yuan Wuji had shown Duoli firsthand what it meant to kill without batting an eye, to slay at the slightest provocation—this was what chilled Duoli to the core.

At last, Yuan Wuji emerged from the Fire Cloud Cavern. Only then did Duoli feel the heavy stone on his heart lift. When you have no choice, you simply go on. It’s only when a choice appears that the act of choosing becomes most painful.

“Duoli, during the days I was secluded, did anything happen?”

“My lord, nothing occurred, except…” Duoli answered, a faint trace of guilt in his tone.

Yuan Wuji had not spent much time back in the Fire Cloud Cavern and thus knew nothing of recent events atop Hao Mountain.

Since the Bull Demon King had fallen, many now eyed the Fire Cloud Cavern covetously, especially some human cultivators. Duoli was aware of this but had not managed to report it to Yuan Wuji before. Now, since Yuan Wuji inquired, he hesitated briefly before divulging everything.

“These human cultivators—are they the ones you locked up in the little hill?”

“Those were merely scouts. The true experts have yet to reveal themselves.”

“Release those scouts. Tell them to return with a message: if anyone wants Hao Mountain, let them come to Fire Cloud Cavern; otherwise, they should stay as far away as possible.”

“Yes, my lord,” Duoli replied. Knowing Yuan Wuji’s fearsome reputation, he was not surprised by such words. Yet he wondered: when the human cultivator factions learned that Hao Mountain was now the domain of the Divine Ape King, what would their reaction be?

Yuan Wuji’s command was carried out swiftly—by nightfall, the captured human scouts were freed from the hillock.

As for the consequences, Yuan Wuji cared little; if anyone dared to come to Fire Cloud Cavern, he would not hesitate to kill.

Most of the renowned sects of the lower realm had lineages in the celestial realm, though there were exceptions.

Indeed, the day after the scouts were released, things grew quieter around Hao Mountain. Whether this was due to fear of Yuan Wuji, or simply the calm before the storm, remained to be seen.

A period of utter calm ensued. Yuan Wuji’s awe within Fire Cloud Cavern grew daily, his ruler’s aura affecting every beast and spirit in the cavern—even Duoli began to feel an urge to worship him, let alone the lesser demon soldiers whose intelligence was limited.

Duoli himself could not explain this urge; yet as time passed, it seemed to arise from the depths of his heart. At first, he resisted, but now he had begun to accept it. The dominance of a demon lord owed not only to the dragon energy, but even more so to the power of the Myriad Demon Golden Core.

The dragon energy was the key, the Myriad Demon Golden Core the fountainhead.

“My lord, my lord—something terrible has happened!” A demon soldier burst into the great hall in a panic.

“What is it? Why such alarm?” Duoli, standing at Yuan Wuji’s side, asked.

“There’s a mob of humans outside, clamoring and making a scene!”

“What?” Duoli exclaimed in shock.

He had assumed the human cultivators had been frightened off, that they’d abandoned Hao Mountain, but now it appeared otherwise.

“Let’s go and see,” Yuan Wuji said calmly.

Such an event was no surprise to Yuan Wuji. In his previous life as a human, how could he not know how humans thought? They had likely been gathering their forces all this time, preparing to strike a deadly blow at Fire Cloud Cavern.

Outside the cavern, over a hundred human cultivators had assembled, their intent hostile plain to see.

Several among them, especially those at the forefront, possessed extraordinary cultivation. The released scouts had surely informed them of Duoli’s level, so for them to still come and make trouble meant they had cards up their sleeves—perhaps there were cultivators among them unafraid of Duoli.

“Wasn’t your lord so arrogant? He told us to come, and now that we’re here, why doesn’t he dare show himself?” the burly man at the front shouted, his voice resounding.