A swarm of snakes attacked, their momentum immense. The air filled with a chilling, razor-thin cold and the reek of blood. Each snake was like a man-eating demon.

Even a Demon Spirit would likely have been unable to remain calm in the face of such a spectacle. Unfortunately, their opponent was a Demon King who had attained his title many years ago.

The White Demon King swept a cold gaze over them, causing the already frigid temperature to plummet further. His eyes were disdainful and filled with contempt as he pushed a palm forward.

As he did, a powerful force from his palm howled past. The snakes shooting toward him floated into the air like paper kites, then instantly exploded on the spot.

BOOM... BOOM... BOOM!

A shower of flesh and blood rained down from the sky. Snake heads and tails fell like a torrential downpour. The entire scene was gory and cruel.

With that one seemingly ordinary palm strike from the White Demon King, seventy to eighty Cultivated Snake Species died a violent death, just like moths to a flame.

The half-man, half-snake Elder Snake’s expression turned grim. He stopped the swarm of snakes from their suicidal charge and suddenly appeared thirty feet from the White Demon King. He bowed slightly and said, "Lord White Demon King, could you possibly show mercy and spare his life?"

"Elder Snake, long time no see. You and I are old acquaintances. By rights, I should grant you this favor, but I will kill this Snake Spirit without fail. It’s useless no matter who pleads for him." The White Demon King’s attitude was unyielding, his word absolute.

Hearing this, Elder Snake struck the ground with his Snake Staff and straightened his body. "White Demon King, are you trying to declare war on our Snake Race?"

"War with the Snake Race?" The White Demon King was taken aback. That was a rather serious accusation; he hadn’t considered that. A cold sneer then touched the corner of his mouth. "Can a mere Snake Servant like you represent the Snake Race? You aren’t worthy."

Elder Snake immediately retorted, "The moment he attains his title, he will be the king of our Snake Race! If you kill the king of our Snake Race, you make an enemy of every demon in our entire race!"

At these words, a sharp glint flashed in the White Demon King’s eyes. "He becomes your king? Could it be that Demon King Liu died all those years ago?"

Ever since Demon King Liu failed his Rank Four of Ascension, he had vanished from the Yaoling Mountain Range. There were many rumors: some said he had died, some said he had gone into secluded cultivation, and others claimed he had gone to some Ancient Ruins to search for an opportunity. In any case, for five hundred years, Demon King Liu had not once appeared in the Yaoling Mountain Range.

If that Tribulation Snake Spirit became the king of the Snake Race upon successfully attaining his title, then Demon King Liu must be dead.

Otherwise, how could one lineage have two masters?

If Demon King Liu was dead, then he had even less reason to be wary.

"Our great king has been in seclusion, which is why we need a new king to temporarily lead our Snake Race lineage," Elder Snake hastily explained.

"Isn’t five hundred years of seclusion enough?" the White Demon King sneered, understanding the situation. He shouted, "Get out of my way! Otherwise, don’t blame me for starting a massacre!"

"White Demon King, do you really want to make an enemy of our Snake Race lineage? You should think this through."

"Hmph..."

The White Demon King’s body trembled, and his Demon Qi surged to the heavens. Elder Snake, who was only at the Pseudo Demon King Level, inexplicably spat out a mouthful of blood. He had suffered considerable internal injuries, and his expression changed drastically.

"Your king is gone, yet you still stand here putting on airs before me. Your Snake Race had best keep to yourselves from now on. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless."

Bitterness filled Elder Snake’s heart. He glanced at the snake in the sky, enveloped in the dazzling light of a great sun, and his eyes firmed with resolve. No matter what, he could not retreat. Not even in death.

Suddenly, an extremely cold and terrifying aura erupted from the half-man, half-snake Elder Snake. He was going to face the White Demon King head-on.

"It seems you, a mere Snake Servant, have lived too long. You’ve had enough of living, is that it? In that case, I will grant you your wish."

The White Demon King plucked a quill from his body. Killing Intent shot out like a gale.

HISS...

Countless Cultivated Snake Species appeared before Elder Snake, forming a defensive array. They were poised for battle, their ferocious hisses echoing endlessly.

"Fine. With a single move, I will send all of you to Hell."

The quill in the White Demon King’s hand shone with brilliant light as a wild, unparalleled power began to brew. If he were to strike, it would be like the scythe of the Death God, reaping life.

But suddenly, at that very moment...

"White Demon King, it’s been many years. Your stock seems to have risen, you little hedgehog. You don’t even deign to acknowledge our Snake Race anymore. Do you really think the Snake Race has no one left?"

A cold female voice reached the White Demon King’s ears, transmitted from hundreds of miles away.

The White Demon King was incredibly perceptive. He abruptly looked in a certain direction. It truly was a sound transmission across hundreds of miles; the other party was located just as far away.

Hundreds of miles away, atop a mountain peak, he saw a woman in white standing on the head of a world-shaking Giant Snake. She was amidst the clouds, like a Nine Heavens Fairy, her beautiful eyes fixed upon him from across the distance.

The sight of this woman stunned the White Demon King. "How are you still alive?"

"If a hedgehog like you is still alive, is it so surprising that I am too?"

The White Demon King said hastily, "Tell me, is Demon King Liu still in the mortal world?"

"What if he is, and what if he isn’t? If Demon King Liu is gone, does that mean you, White Demon King, can bully the Snake Race lineage as you please?"

"I have no such intention. I only want the life of that Snake Spirit. As long as you don’t stop me, I guarantee I won’t kill a single other snake."

The icy female voice held no trace of emotion. "White Demon King, you cannot do it. Give up. Otherwise, your next opponent will be me."

"Hmph..." A trace of contempt subconsciously appeared in the White Demon King’s eyes. ’Who the hell do you think you are? Don’t push it.’

But in the next instant, his expression changed drastically. From hundreds of miles away, a terrifying aura instantly enveloped him.

"Demon King Liu?"

The White Demon King’s face went pale with fright. "How can you possess Demon King Liu’s powerful aura?!"

Within that powerful aura was a dense Snake Race aura, but it also contained the aura of a Dragon. It was like a snake, yet also like a dragon—an eerie and terrifying combination.

"Go back to your Azure Bamboo Forest. Don’t ask about things that don’t concern you, and don’t bring trouble upon yourself."

The White Demon King’s expression was inscrutable. ’To be honest, I’m a bit dumbfounded. The aura that woman is emitting is actually the powerful aura of Demon King Liu, and it’s an aura that’s part snake, part dragon.’

’Just what in the world happened between this woman and Demon King Liu?’

’But it seems Demon King Liu really isn’t in this world anymore.’

’So this woman is the true master of the Snake Race now.’

The White Demon King felt incredibly frustrated. It seemed he had no choice but to back down. His sharp eyes stared intently at the molting snake shrouded in the light of the great sun, feeling utterly unreconciled.

’If I just shot one quill over, this would all be over.’

’But such a simple thing has now become completely unrealistic.’

’If I dare to make a rash move, I have no doubt that the woman hundreds of miles away will appear before me in the next second to engage me in a life-and-death battle.’

’Damn it, how is that Snake Spirit so damn lucky? How much good fortune does he have? One helper after another keeps showing up to protect him.’

’And each one is more freakish than the last.’

’I’m a magnificent Demon King, for fuck’s sake! Trying to kill a single snake is like the Journey to the West—one trial after another, only to fail in the end.’

’Shouldn’t it be something I can finish with just the lift of a finger?’