The size of a race’s territory is directly related to the extent of its power.

To put it simply, the bigger the fist, the larger the territory. The Yaoling Mountain Range was divided among five great Demon Kings, and the Wolf Race lived under the protection of the White Demon King.

Different races pledged allegiance to different Demon Kings.

The Gray Demon King didn’t have many races pledged to his territory, but the numbers of his own Rat Lineage were endless. Among mammals, rats had the absolute greatest reproductive ability. Their numbers were simply too great. It was said that if all the offspring from a single pair of rats survived for a year, there would be as many as five thousand.

Rats were impossible to exterminate, and their reproduction was even more exaggerated in a place like the Yaoling Mountain Range, which was overflowing with Spiritual Qi.

Many of the rat plagues that appeared in human lands were the result of the Gray Demon King driving some of his inferior breeds down the mountain to fend for themselves.

Furthermore, rats awakened easily and could readily become spirits. These shifty-eyed creatures were in fact highly intelligent.

Despite the Celestial Rat Race being targeted by the Snake Race, who had launched a frenzied extermination campaign, the number of rats that had died over the past ten days was, at a bare minimum, easily over a million.

But that million could be quickly replaced through breeding, and the new generation would then awaken and become spirits under the nourishment of Spiritual Qi.

The moment the Gray Demon King issued his kill order, countless rat spirits swarmed out, flooding forward like a great tide. They were led by a portly old man whose body seethed with powerful Demon Qi. He was the second-strongest expert of the Rat Race, having truly reached the Pseudo Demon King Realm.

On top of that, the Gray Demon King’s desire to kill the snake was so strong that he also dispatched a Deep Mountain Great Demon. This particular Great Demon was renowned. Though he hadn’t reached the realm, he had long possessed the combat power of a Pseudo Demon King. His fearsome reputation was even more terrifying than that of the Bloodthirsty Wolf King. He was the dreaded Centipede Great Demon.

That’s right. The Centipede Great Demon’s true form was a centipede. He knew Demon Techniques, his methods were incredible, and he had a strange temperament. He had no race or faction of his own and always acted alone. Although he served the Gray Demon King, he required a certain payment to get anything done.

"GAGA... To think the Gray Demon King would make me take action over a mere Snake Demon who just achieved its Dao, and even promise me so many benefits."

"Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve eaten snake meat. The Snake Gallbladder is the most delicious part."

"I hear this snake is incredibly powerful. He was attacked by two Demon Kings working together, yet he still didn’t die. And he has a lot of formidable Battle Companions."

"Hehe, interesting. It’s been a long time since the Yaoling Mountain Range has been this lively."

Deep within the earth, a giant centipede churned, its body made of countless segments, each with innumerable legs. It moved through the strata as if on solid ground, rapidly advancing toward Monkey Mountain.

As for why the Gray Demon King didn’t go himself... that bastard was scared. He didn’t want to get tangled up with that madwoman.

.......

In a distant region of the Yaoling Mountain Range, in what should be considered Demon King Liu’s territory, a colossal black snake swam out from its grotto in an undersea grand canyon. It quickly reached the ocean’s surface, and its body transformed into that of a demonic-looking youth with black patterns on his face.

His eyes shone with a faint green light, giving him an incredibly eerie appearance. Moreover, the Snake Race aura emanating from his body was so dense and powerful that other snake spirits couldn’t help but tremble in fear.

"Hmph. Within the Snake Race, I should have been the one to be crowned king! For so many years, during an era when Demon King Liu was in seclusion, I dedicated myself to Cultivation and reached the Pseudo Demon King Level. I was just one step away from becoming a Demon King myself. Then, I could have ascended the throne and become the Snake King, ruler of all snakes!"

"Damn it! Why was some snake who just achieved his Dao immediately crowned king? Where does that leave me?"

This was a snake of a very noble bloodline. It was said he possessed the blood of the Ancient Exotic Snakes. He had awakened at birth, and by three months old, he could travel for miles underwater and soar thousands of feet into the sky. He was truly one of the most outstanding members of the Snake Race.

After only a few hundred years of Cultivation, he had reached the Pseudo Demon King Level. His strength was terrifying, and he could be considered the Pseudo Snake King, ready to ascend the throne.

The demonic youth was filled with indignation. He was the natural-born king of the Snake Race, destined to look down upon the world! And yet, a mere Snake Spirit who had achieved his Dao had stolen the throne that should have been his.

One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, and one lineage cannot have two kings.

For an ordinary race, achieving the Rank Three Dao was enough to be crowned king and lead a lineage. But in the Yaoling Mountain Range, the Snake Race was a major power; one could not become their king at a mere Rank Three.

So, the demonic youth had been waiting, waiting for his Cultivation to reach the Demon King Level. But now, all his dreams were shattered.

"I’d like to see for myself just what kind of snake gets to be crowned king the moment he achieves his Dao and be worshipped by the entire Snake Race."

He was defiant, utterly defiant. It was as if Tu Xiao’an were a Crown Prince who ascended the throne the moment he came of age.

"Monkey Mountain, is it? Since you’re the Snake King, you should be able to surpass all other snakes. I’d like to see just how you plan to best me."

The demonic man’s body radiated a dense snake aura. With a sudden flash, WHOOSH, he transformed into a streak of black light in the sky, flying swiftly toward Monkey Mountain.

........

As the Snake King’s aura continued to erupt and spread from Monkey Mountain, hordes of demons converged, all charging toward the mountain to kill him.

Of course, not all the demons heading to Monkey Mountain wanted to kill the snake, Tu Xiao’an.

For instance, a towering ancient tree was walking upright, swaying and staggering as it went. Leaves rustled down from its branches as it made its way toward its target: Monkey Mountain.

A running tree was an absolute spectacle, a rare sight even in the Yaoling Mountain Range. This was especially true because this particular tree was very "lively."

This liveliness didn’t come from being covered in fruit, but from being covered in animals.

An Immortal Spirit Peacock stood gracefully atop the tree, striking a pose—no, it was displaying its beauty to the world with enchanting glances.

"That scoundrel really isn’t dead. He made me waste a tear."

The Azure Owl’s eyes, more dazzling than gemstones, stared in the direction of Monkey Mountain. A familiar snake aura was growing stronger and stronger.

"MROW..."

Beneath the dense leaves, a very imposing-looking cat let out a roar, as if to say it had cried too.

"Master is not dead."

On a branch, there was also a three-headed snake, its body seething with Evil Qi and an equally dense snake aura.

"Master, I’m coming!" the Bull Demon King laughed heartily, overjoyed. "Haha... This time, I’ve got a real shot at becoming a Divine Beast!"

"Amitabha. I am already without wants or desires. It is enough that Master is alive."

There was also a man in Daoist robes on the tree, who waved the horsetail whisk in his hand with the air of an immortal.

"Piss off! You bastard, you’re already a Divine Beast Azure Dragon! What more could you want?" the Bull Demon King said, his voice dripping with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

The sounds of chattering and bickering came from the towering tree. It was none other than Tu Xiao’an’s Battle Companions. Having sensed their master’s aura, they were all desperately rushing to his side.

No, rather, it was one tree that was desperately rushing.

"Fuck! You damn animals! As soon as Master is gone, you all start bullying me, Charlie! Every single one of you can fly or run as fast as you want, so why are you all lazing around on me like a bunch of useless cripples?"

Tree Spirit Charlie cursed up a storm. What kind of trash were they? Making a tree do all the traveling, was that right?

Shouldn’t they, knowing their master was alive, be using every ounce of their strength to rush to Monkey Mountain?

But no, every single one of these bastards was just parked on his body, and he couldn’t shoo them off for the life of him.