Chapter Seventy-Three: Defeat

“Since that’s the case, I, Old Sun, will take the seventh spot,” said Sun Wukong cheerfully. Judging by reputation, he could only be ranked the youngest among them, but for the newly emerged Sun Wukong, it was a reality he could accept.

“I’ll take the fourth spot. What do you all say?” The one who spoke was King Yuyong.

Following Yuan Wuji’s command, King Yuyong made his intentions clear without reservation. His fame was on par with both the Lion Camel King and the Monkey King; in the end, strength would decide the matter.

“I think I should be fourth,” the Monkey King countered.

“Want to fight over it?” King Yuyong’s invitation was blunt and direct. He had wanted to teach the Monkey King a lesson back on Wuzhang Mountain, and now, with a justifiable reason, he was not about to let the chance slip away.

“Why wouldn’t I dare?” the Monkey King replied, his voice brimming with confidence. Among the demon race, strength determined status—if reputation couldn’t settle the matter, then only power would. Besides, the Monkey King was certain he would not lose to King Yuyong.

What had served as the Bull Demon King’s training ground now became their battlefield.

After advancing to the realm of the Loose Immortal, King Yuyong’s mastery over water and fire grew even more refined. As he summoned his power, the force of water and fire seemed almost tangible, surging forth in waves.

With fists of water and fire, King Yuyong charged at the Monkey King, who met him head-on. Unlike King Yuyong’s overt might, the Monkey King was like a howling gale—his speed was astonishing.

He cultivated the Wood Path to the fifth degree.

Wood wasn’t limited to healing alone; just as water contained the fierce power of ice or the beguiling shroud of mist, the Monkey King’s mastery over wood was akin to the wind—unseen and untouchable. Among wood attributes, mastering wind was notoriously difficult.

“Hm?” Even though his blows seemed to land, King Yuyong felt as though he was striking empty air.

Undeterred, King Yuyong attacked again and again, but each strike missed. Yuan Wuji, who was watching from King Yuyong’s side, quickly sensed something was off.

“Over here.” Suddenly, the Monkey King, a blurred figure, appeared behind King Yuyong and brought his iron cudgel down hard upon his back.

With Yuan Wuji’s presence, King Yuyong was never in any real danger. The Monkey King’s attack seemed devastating, but only he knew that some mysterious force had completely neutralized his blow—King Yuyong emerged unscathed.

“Go all out,” Yuan Wuji signaled, reassuring King Yuyong.

Given the order, King Yuyong abandoned all restraint, his attacks becoming even more ferocious, as if he cared nothing for the Monkey King’s counterattacks.

From the technique the Monkey King had just displayed, Yuan Wuji estimated it required a significant expenditure of power. He intended for King Yuyong to relentlessly wear the Monkey King down, certain that exhaustion would soon take its toll.

The Monkey King had hoped for a swift victory—to overwhelm King Yuyong and impress the others. Yet he was shocked to find that his attacks did no harm; King Yuyong remained as steady as ever.

His first thought was that King Yuyong possessed a treasure that countered his abilities, but such a treasure would also require a great deal of energy. When King Yuyong came at him again, the Monkey King immediately used his technique, convinced that if he simply didn’t attack, he could outlast his opponent.

Little did he know that King Yuyong’s true treasure was Yuan Wuji himself.

Encouraged by Yuan Wuji, King Yuyong launched attack after attack. The Monkey King was forced to keep up his technique, nearly reaching the limit of his endurance. He could not comprehend how King Yuyong remained at full strength—could it be that his treasure required no energy at all?

On the verge of collapse, the Monkey King even considered surrendering; the situation was becoming hopeless.

Though the Monkey King’s magical technique showed little effect on King Yuyong, Yuan Wuji immediately noticed something amiss.

Lowering his own presence to the bare minimum, he activated the Myriad Demon Golden Core and unleashed the Subduing Dragon and Tiger spell. Massive blood-red forms of a dragon and tiger appeared over King Yuyong, their overwhelming force aimed at the indistinct Monkey King.

The blood dragon’s scarlet eyes seemed to possess a strange power, rooting the Monkey King to the spot—he could not move a muscle and could only watch as the blood dragon and tiger stormed through his body.

A thunderous roar echoed.

The immense force of the blood dragon and tiger tearing through his body was overwhelming. The Bull Demon King below wanted to intervene and save him, but it was too late, and even the Monkey King himself believed he was doomed.

But Yuan Wuji would not allow his death—such an outcome would trigger countless unpredictable consequences, something he had no wish to see.

“I’m not dead,” the Monkey King muttered in astonishment, gazing at his own body. Though he was torn and battered, the searing pain brought him back to his senses.

King Yuyong, hovering in midair, was also surprised that Yuan Wuji had intervened, but quickly composed himself. He would have to explain later why he had been so “heavy-handed.”

“My apologies, brother Monkey King—I nearly lost control,” King Yuyong said.

The Bull Demon King had already appeared at the Monkey King’s side to tend his wounds. By the time King Yuyong flew over, the Monkey King’s injuries had stopped worsening.

“King Yuyong, why did you strike so hard? This was supposed to be a friendly match,” the Bull Demon King demanded angrily, as though truly furious over the Monkey King’s injury.

King Yuyong could only offer an awkward silence.

Soon, the Jiao Demon King and the other demon lords arrived.

“Brother Yuyong, your power is truly remarkable,” Sun Wukong exclaimed, astonished by the blood dragon and tiger that had pierced the Monkey King—especially the awe-inspiring presence of the blood dragon, which instinctively made him channel his energy in defense.

“Brother Monkey King is formidable as well, or I wouldn’t have resorted to my most powerful technique,” King Yuyong responded with admiration, as if the Monkey King should feel honored to have witnessed it.

Hearing this, the Monkey King nearly burst his wounds anew from anger.

“Since the outcome is decided, I’ll take the fourth spot,” King Yuyong announced.

“I don’t think the Monkey King can beat me now. I’ll take fifth,” declared the Lion Camel King. Whether he was truly oblivious or simply pretending, he claimed the fifth rank outright, ignoring the Monkey King. The Monkey King, wounded as he was, had no way to object—was he to fight again?

“Monkey King will be sixth,” the Roc Demon King declared, assigning his place without giving him a chance to protest.

Still severely injured, the Monkey King, supported by the Bull Demon King’s magic, was the first to return to Water Curtain Cave to recover. The other demon kings soon followed.

Yet as King Yuyong departed, the Jiao Demon King could not help but cast him a probing glance, as if trying to see through him.

Had he noticed something?