Tu Xiao’an, in his form as a giant snake, soared into the sky from the Purple Bamboo Forest. As he passed through the clouds, his body continuously shrank.

He had no idea that because of him, this newly ascended snake, the demons of the Yaoling Mountain Range had been thrown into a frenzy.

The Demon King Slaying Order from two Demon Kings was no joke. It was safe to say there was no longer any place for the Snake Demon Tu Xiao’an in the entire Yaoling Mountain Range.

But at this moment, Tu Xiao’an was still unaware. Or perhaps, he simply didn’t care. Now that he had ascended, he wasn’t even concerned about foes at the Demon King Level. ’Why would I be afraid of some Little Demons?’

Right now, what Tu Xiao’an needed to do was find an ideal place to undergo his Demon Transformation.

This was also the part he was most looking forward to. He was desperate to know if, after his Transformation, he would return to his original human appearance or take on a completely new one.

Of course, he hoped he could change back to his previous human form and return home to his mother.

The Yaoling Mountain Range was still extremely unfamiliar to Tu Xiao’an. Countless mountain peaks rose and fell in an endless chain, yet for the moment, he couldn’t find a place to land.

As he flew through the void, gazing down upon the vast mountain range, Tu Xiao’an determined that he must have flown out of the White Demon King’s territory. Suddenly, among the countless peaks, his Snake Gaze flashed.

’Isn’t that peak down there Monkey Mountain, where I crossed my tribulation?’

Speaking of Monkey Mountain, it had once been as beautiful as Huaguo Mountain. But because of Tu Xiao’an’s tribulation, it was now riddled with scars and a complete wreck.

’Good. One should finish what they start. Since I, the Snake King, crossed my tribulation on this mountain, I shall also undergo my Transformation here.’

Having already shrunk into a one-meter-long snake, Tu Xiao’an suddenly swooped down toward Monkey Mountain below. For him, it was like spotting a familiar face in a vast, anonymous crowd.

Monkey Mountain was no longer brimming with life. The Celestial Tribulation and the Demon King’s attacks had laid the great mountain to waste, and few of the fruit trees that once covered it had survived.

Tu Xiao’an, the newly ascended snake, hovered before a cave entrance. This cave was rumored to hold Monkey Mountain’s famous Monkey Wine. Back then, that elderly human expert had desperately charged inside, only to be beaten back out by the Ape King, after which his entire party was wiped out.

The Bull Demon King also longed for the Monkey Wine. Tu Xiao’an smiled faintly and shot inside like a bolt of lightning.

The space inside the cave was vast. The environment wasn’t dim or crude; on the contrary, it was like a hidden paradise, a breathtaking sight. In fact, it shouldn’t be called a cave, but a cavern manor.

After flying inside, Tu Xiao’an’s sensitive perception picked up two powerful ape-like auras, both at the Rank Three Demon Spirit level.

Without a doubt, they belonged to none other than the great Ape King and the Crimson Sun Giant Ape. One was Level 33, the other Level 32.

Before, if Tu Xiao’an had to face the Ape King, he would have had to use every trick in the book and still might not have been able to subdue him. But now, in his eyes as the Snake King, the two apes were nothing.

Deep within the cavern manor!

"Big Brother, I have explosive news! The Gray Demon King and the White Demon King have jointly issued a Demon King Slaying Order! That Snake Spirit is still alive!"

Upon learning this news, the Crimson Sun Giant Ape had rushed over in a frenzy to report to the Ape King.

The Ape King, who had been sitting on an exquisite stone throne, shot to his feet. His expression was one of utter shock. "That snake is still alive? And he’s wanted under a Demon King Slaying Order issued by two Demon Kings?"

"That’s right, Big Brother. It’s absolutely true. All the demons in the Yaoling Mountain Range are in shock. They’re all answering the Demon Kings’ call, mobilizing in full force to find that snake."

A brilliant light burst from the Ape King’s Eyes of Golden Flame as he muttered to himself, "Incredible. He was clearly obliterated by the Gray Demon King’s sneak attack. How could he possibly still be alive?"

"Big Brother, that snake is just an anomaly. He just won’t die, no matter what. It’s infuriating!" The Crimson Sun Giant Ape wore a look of regret, as if the heavens must be blind.

That snake being alive was definitely not good news for any of the monkeys on Monkey Mountain. That damned snake had brought ruin upon them—their beautiful mountain had been laid to waste, and countless monkeys had died in the crossfire of the battle.

"Crimson Sun, keep a close watch on any news of the Snake Demon."

The Crimson Sun Giant Ape cackled. "Don’t worry, Big Brother. You don’t even have to ask. As soon as we get any news of that snake, we two brothers will go kill him! We’ll get revenge for our Monkey Mountain, for our monkey children and grandchildren, and answer the Demon Kings’ call at the same time!"

The Ape King shook his head. "Monkey Mountain will not participate in the Demon King Slaying Order."

"Big Brother, what do you mean? While Monkey Mountain has always kept to itself, we are still technically within the White Demon King’s territory. If we do nothing, the White Demon King will be displeased."

"Besides, we have a blood feud with that snake! How can we not seek revenge? Just look at what happened two days ago! That Bull Demon King used his new status at the Pseudo Demon King Level to extort our Monkey Wine! Ten whole jin! He just took it from us!"

The Crimson Sun Giant Ape’s heart bled at the thought of those ten jin of Monkey Wine. Every single jin was the product of the tireless labor of countless monkeys and needed time to age.

But there was nothing they could do. The Bull Demon King was now at the Pseudo Demon King Level, and they were no match for his newfound power.

The giant ape was furious. He remembered how, in the past, the Bull Demon King could at best fight him to a draw. But now, he’d undergone a transformation, and his status had soared. Even Big Brother might not be his match anymore.

"Crimson Sun, that snake has now successfully ascended. He has completely turned his fortunes around. There’s no benefit for us in opposing him. Besides, as you said, there’s also the Bull Demon King. With his master still alive, do you think he won’t go and help?"

The Ape King continued, "Don’t be fooled by the menacing Demon King Slaying Order and the swarms of demons rushing to answer it. In my opinion, the only one who can kill that snake is a Demon King himself."

"Big Brother, so we just forget about our revenge? How can we? This is the perfect chance to kick him while he’s down! What’s there to be afraid of?" The Crimson Sun Giant Ape had a fiery temper. "Two days ago, if you hadn’t stopped me, Big Brother, I would have fought that Bull Demon King to the death! What right does he have to extort our Monkey Wine?"

"Crimson Sun, don’t forget, the Bull Demon King isn’t alone. He has a Divine Beast Azure Dragon with him. We are weaker right now; we have no choice but to bow our heads."

The Crimson Sun Giant Ape roared, "Big Brother, your little brother just can’t stand it! Did you hear what that damn bull said the other day? He said if their master hadn’t disappeared, even you, Big Brother, would have to become that snake’s Battle Companion! It’s infuriating! You, Big Brother, are the heaven-sent genius of our Monkey Race! You might even cultivate to the Demon King Level in the future! How could you possibly become a snake’s Battle Companion? It’s a total outrage!"

The more the Crimson Sun Giant Ape spoke, the angrier he became, until he was stamping his feet in a thunderous rage.

"Hmph. That bull. This king will kill him sooner or later and eat his beef with our Monkey Wine."

As the Ape King spoke, his Demon Qi erupted, causing the entire cavern manor to tremble violently, as if on the verge of collapse. Clearly, that last sentence had struck a nerve. He stated arrogantly, "The person who can subdue me, the Ape King, has not yet been born in this world, let alone a mere snake."

"Big Brother, you..." The Crimson Sun Giant Ape said in shock, "Big Brother, you had a breakthrough?"

The Ape King nodded. A brilliant light flashed in his eyes, which resembled the Eyes of Golden Flame, carrying a powerful and imposing pressure. An ordinary Demon Spirit would likely be forced to submit before him.

"Big Brother, you were already a Super Demon Spirit. With this breakthrough, your combat power is probably on par with a Pseudo Demon King! This is wonderful!"

The Ape King said faintly, "Crimson Sun, focus on your Cultivation. Only by being strong yourself can you avoid being bullied. When this king reaches the Demon King Level, I won’t even have to regard the White Demon King as a threat. That will be the time for our Monkey Race to rise."

"I’ll listen to you, Big Brother. But... with the Demon King Slaying Order out, it probably won’t look good if we don’t respond at all."

"Then just send a few underlings out to go through the motions. That will be enough to show the White Demon King some face."

’The Pseudo Demon King Level is still not enough. In the current situation, even a bull with ordinary Talent has reached the Pseudo Demon King Level before me. How could I, the great Ape King, be weaker than a bull?’

It was precisely because the Bull Demon King had reached the Pseudo Demon King Level that he had been stimulated to break through in his own Cultivation.

"Big Brother, I’ll go take care of it now. I’ll let you know as soon as there’s any news about the snake."

After saying a few more words, the Crimson Sun Giant Ape left, looking extremely happy.

The Ape King becoming a powerhouse at the Pseudo Demon King Level was a huge boon for Monkey Mountain. The Yaoling Mountain Range was home to countless races and countless factions.

Many races had only a single king at the Demon Spirit Level; these were considered relatively weak. The more Demon Spirits a race had, the more influence they wielded in the Yaoling Mountain Range.

If a race produced an expert at the Pseudo Demon King Level, they could strut about the Yaoling Mountain Range as they pleased.

And if one reached the Demon King Level, they would be a ruler. They could make many other races submit to their rule and obey their commands. It would bring glory to their ancestors and grant them limitless prestige.

What a pity. Of all the things in heaven and earth, there were so many races. While the population of each race might number in the hundreds of millions, very few creatures were capable of Cultivation. Those who could cultivate all the way to ascension were even rarer, like sifting for gold in a great river.

Furthermore, Crossing the Tribulation to ascend was even more difficult. Even if a million creatures from a single race attempted to cross their tribulations, the number that succeeded would absolutely not exceed the fingers on one hand.

They were exceptionally rare.

Because of this, reaching the Pseudo Demon King Level was already an incredibly difficult feat. The reason the five Great Demon Kings were who they were was, one, because they had lived for countless years, and two, because they had been worshipped by humans in the ancient past, allowing them to stand out from the myriad other races.

They were the darlings of their era, born in ancient times when humans were more inclined to worship animals. In the modern era of atheism, animals had at best been reduced to human pets.

Worship had simply become doting.

Today, only an exceptionally small number of creatures could still earn the faith and worship of humans, having temples built and incense offered in their name.

The Ape King now sat quietly on his stone throne, his Eyes of Golden Flame flickering continuously. The news that the snake was still alive had indeed shocked him to his core.

Recalling the snake’s performance on Monkey Mountain that day, it could only be described as world-shaking.

’But if that snake thinks he can subdue me as a Battle Companion, he’s dreaming.’

The Ape King had been bottling up a firestorm of rage. It was precisely this anger and fury that had spurred the advancement of his Cultivation.

This was what it meant to channel anger into motivation, using it to become stronger and stronger.