“The hallway leads to the violet heart,” Mu Qian said. “The farther one completes the test of aptitude, the closer one will get to it. The test will end once one of us has finished or both of us have failed. I wish you best of luck, Brother Zi.”
Then Mu Qian bowed and took a step forward. His body disappeared as he entered the illusory world in the hallway. Zi Long followed.
Chapter 39
Rays of blessed sunlight peeked over the horizon, barely visible over the tree line. It had been three days since the Sovereign’s decision, three days since she’d left Ling Dong with the task to impress her. He hadn’t been idle during this time. His aura was sharper and more incisive than before. Instead of a large steel greatsword, he wore a large piece of carved demon bone on his back. And unlike his previous sword, the demon bone wasn’t cracked or chipped. Its runes were whole, and thick demonic energy ran through every inch of the heavy blade.
Demons parted as he made his way up the mountain with his only subordinate, Darkwing. It wasn’t that others hadn’t offered to serve him, but that he hadn’t bothered to accept. For the most part, he’d left everyone to their own devices. He’d taken the resources that were his and left everything else that wasn’t. This was the honorable way. The natural way. The demon way.
It wasn’t long before they arrived at the barren peak. Through his control of demonic energy, Ling Dong sensed three kings had already arrived. He waited. A quarter hour later, he moved up to the assembled beasts, taking his place as the seventh-ranked king.
Greetings, Demon-Subduing King, a large deer with six horns and four eyes said. The green-furred demon was one of the few who could bear looking at him. The three kings who had shown up first couldn’t muster up the courage to bring their heads up.
A few more demons trickled in. Five more kings and their retainers arrived. The first two greeted Ling Dong politely as equals, while the next three did not deign to speak to him. This was all in accordance with their station; the powerful had the right to be arrogant.
Once the last of the kings—an eagle with red-and-gold feathers—arrived, a black blur dove down from the spire above.
Welcome to the conclave, honored kings, the Razorback Sovereign said. The lords genuflected while the kings bowed slightly. Since the Demon-Subduing King has requested this conclave, he will speak first.
At her signal, Ling Dong stepped forward. His Demon-Subduing Intent was fully drawn inward and congealed as a purple crown. It hovered above him, oppressing the lords and weaker kings on the mountain.
“I’ve called you all today to discuss territory expansion,” Ling Dong said. “As you all know, we only occupy territory on this mountain while the territory between us and the neighboring mountains belongs to the other sovereigns. This territory is rich and should be shared with us, who more than match them in power. As it stands, their forces grow stronger while ours grow weaker. This situation must not be allowed to continue. Therefore, I propose a war with the eastern mountain.”
The kings shifted uncomfortably. After all, they were known to be the weakest mountain. Though Ling Dong’s presence had increased their combat prowess, it seemed far from enough.
We must be careful in issuing challenges, the third-ranked king, the Killbright Asp, said. His green skin was covered in blue spots that screamed lethality. A challenge may only be issued every hundred years, and we may lose substantial territory in the process. Though honor prevents them from claiming territory on our mountain, we can still be punished for our own greed.
I’m fine with what everyone else decides, the second-ranked king said. The Shale Shearing King was a massive bear whose hide consisted of a rocky, seemingly impenetrable substance. But anyone who dares propose a war should show his strength and resolve. No one will follow a weakling into battle.
His words gave courage to the many lords and kings who were cowed by Ling Dong’s presence. Mental chatter ensued, but Ling Dong did nothing to stop it.
After the chatter died down, everyone looked to the first-ranked king, the Sunblaze King. The magnificent eagle’s arrogance ran through his very bones. By not speaking, he spoke a thousand words. Loud murmurs rose up from the crowd, but they died down as Ling Dong gathered his presence.
You all have a lot of gall talking this way about the boss, Darkwing suddenly said, flapping up beside Ling Dong. He glared daggers at a lord-level eagle beside the first-ranked king. The bird was the most talkative lord out of those assembled. Do you dare accept my challenge?
How could I not dare? The eagle said, smirking. A single flap of its wings took it five hundred feet up. Its brown-and-white feathers were covered in azure highlights, and where it flew, the mountain winds followed. Many of the aerial demons were knocked off balance and forced to dig their claws into the rocky ground to keep their light bodies anchored.
Darkwing scoffed at the measly show of power. With two flaps of his wings, he closed the distance. The eagle evaded his sudden assault by manipulating air currents. It sent blades of wind to lacerate the fledgling drake. To everyone’s surprise, however, the drake did nothing in response. The blades struck his metallic scales without any effect.
The eagle, infuriated, flapped its wings a dozen more times in rapid succession. The mountain’s demonic energy converged into a small twister above the eagle. The technique drained the small demon, who yelled out to Darkwing in challenge. If you’re so proud of your defenses, why don’t you eat my strongest technique?
It was an open provocation. If Darkwing were to dodge and win, he wouldn’t gain much honor by defeating the eagle. Therefore, he steeled his body and braced for impact. The only way to face such a challenge was head on! As the twister bore down on him, Darkwing flapped his wings, and his surroundings exploded in a storm of blades.
The blades hacked apart the aggressive wind current and tore the twister to shreds. Further, many of the blades had pierced through the wind currents and slashed the demonic eagle.
If that’s all you’ve got, you don’t stand a chance, Darkwing said. Then his presence blurred. He appeared a short distance away from the eagle, his wing slashing down toward its unprotected back.
Mercy! The eagle yelled.
Darkwing, hearing his last-minute request, adjusted the trajectory of his wing. The blade missed its target, but the flat of his wing caught the eagle’s back with a heavy smack. The eagle tumbled to the ground with frightening speed, but it managed to land safely with the aid of the many lords that cushioned his fall using summoned clouds.
Ling Dong smiled at Darkwing’s progress. As the drake flew down, he noticed that not only had Darkwing’s presence increased, but his own standing had as well. His violet crown, which contained his Demon-Subduing Intent, grew brighter with his increased prestige. He wondered if demons were concerned about face for this reason. Or was it simply their nature, and the authority granted was just a consequence of their normal behavior?
Ling Dong decided to strike while the iron was hot. “Killbright Asp King, do you accept my challenge?” he asked, turning to the diminutive snake.
The serpent slithered to the center of the circle. Since it’s just a friendly spar, I see no reason not to, Killbright Asp King said. Why don’t you show me what gave you this confidence?
A silent signal from the Razorback Sovereign allowed them to begin.
The moment Ling Dong stepped into the circle, the earth and air became a murky bog. His movements became difficult and draining, and the now viscous, poisonous air hindered his approach to the center. The asp faded into the background, an unseen menace that could jump out at any moment.
Not wanting to show weakness, Ling Dong spread his Demon-Subduing Intent in a hundred-foot radius and walked to the center of the stage. There, he waited. Time trickled by as the asp, likely looking for weaknesses, took its time slithering through the newly created marsh. Ling Dong’s surroundings seemed the same from every angle; even the most cautious predator would eventually miss something in this environmen
t.
Suddenly, he caught a glint out of the corner of his eye. He moved his bone sword to defend against a flash of light that was headed for him. At the same time, he felt a threatening sensation from the opposite direction.
The bright flash was a feint, he realized. He instinctively stamped on the ground and pushed himself upward. The bright flash and the invisible presence collided and flew up behind him.
Ling Dong smiled. The earth chased him from below the serpents in the shape of an empty palm. Ling Dong drew his new bone greatsword and gathered flames around it. Where the flames gathered, the miasma faded. Yang was the nemesis of Yin, and natural poisons were usually yin in nature. Using this accumulated power, he could end the fight in a single strike.
The Killbright Asp King, seeing the two-pronged attack, threw up a bright-green corrosive barrier. The barrier had no defensive properties—it was only pure offense. If Ling Dong wanted to follow through with his strike, he would have to clash with the barrier and risk his newly crafted weapon.
“You underestimate me,” Ling Dong said. He continued to swing, and as the greatsword cleaved down, the air around the serpent froze solid. The corrosive shield, which the serpent had hastily managed to throw up, suddenly crystalized and blew away from the shivering snake.
The serpent closed its eyes and awaited its doom. Seeing the serpent submit, Ling Dong redirected his blow and tapped it lightly on the forehead. His simple tap contained the weight of a mountain, and the serpent was forced down into the rising pillar of earth, shattering it with its weight and momentum.
Ling Dong was victorious, and with this victory came the corresponding honor. His crown, which had barely been a foot wide, now doubled in size from his victory. Accordingly, another three of the kings below him now averted their gazes, while the other kings looked at him with veneration. From the Killbright Asp King, he now felt deep respect, while from the Shale Shearing King, he felt grudging acknowledgment. From the Sunblaze King, he no longer felt disdain. Wariness was a better approximation.
Ling Dong had barely spent any energy fighting the asp. His stamina was quickly recovered with help from the Razorback Sovereign, who mobilized the mountain’s energy.
“Shale Shearing King, do you accept my challenge?” Ling Dong said calmly, holding his bone greatsword vertical and pointed downward.
I wouldn’t dare decline, the Shale Shearing King said. Though I’ll warn you, I’m not so fragile as that sneaky serpent. If that’s all the power you have, you can forget about drawing a single drop of blood from my body.
“Then I’ll be impolite,” Ling Dong said. Twelve bone blades flew out from his belt. They hovered around him in a formation that alternated between the five elements. Then Ling Dong rushed toward the rock-covered bear. He was the challenger, after all. It was important that he show initiative.
His opponent didn’t use tricks or deception like the snake before him. Instead, he converged all demonic power into his own body, using it to bolster his strength and defenses. Therefore, Ling Dong decided to fight strength with strength. His body weight magnified to three times his fist strength as he whaled and slashed at the bear with a full-force blow. The strike clashed against the bear’s paw, and Ling Dong was knocked five feet back in the process.
If that’s all you have, you should go back home, the Shale Shearing King said.
“That was a warmup,” Ling Dong said, grinning. “Meet my blades!” The air around his sword distorted as the twelve other bone daggers joined it in formation. They formed a network of demonic energy that alternated between five elements at Ling Dong’s will. Ling Dong struck again. This time, he imbued metal into the strike. Metal was strong against earth. The collision of paw and blade created a small explosion, causing both of them to take a single step back.
That’s still not enough, the Shale Shearing King said, roaring. Strength poured into him from the ground, increasing his already substantial body.
“Did I say you could take that power?” Ling Dong said, his eyes narrowing. Then, for the first time since coming to the mountain, he used his Demon-Subduing Intent the way it was meant to be used: suppression.
The bear’s eyes widened as its connection with the earth was rapidly cut off. Further, the demonic energy within him began rebelling within his body. He met Ling Dong’s third blow, but this time, he was knocked back thirty feet.
It wasn’t only the Shale Shearing King who was surprised. All the demons dropped their jaws as they realized that this human couldn’t just match them in their own element—he could dominate them. It was no wonder he’d chosen a domineering name like Demon-Subduing King.
“Would you like to clash a fourth time?” Ling Dong said, his imposing presence growing. Just these three clashes had caused the crown over his head to grow and his control over demonic energy to soar.
The bear gulped as it considered the consequences of trading blows once again. The strong but brittle shale covering its hide had shattered from the last one, and trickles of blood were leaking down from many locations on its hide.
I concede, the Shale Shearing King announced.
Ling Dong’s crown grew once again, and this time his victory caused the crowd to cheer. With this newly revealed ability, they saw hope and the possibility of standing tall against the other mountains. If Ling Dong could help them obtain more resources, who knew how powerful their kings could grow? Who knew how many lords could become kings? The possibility of winning territory from the other mountains caused their hearts to palpitate and their backs to grow straighter.
“Sunblaze King, do you accept my challenge?” Ling Dong said.
This time, the Sunblaze King’s gaze wasn’t filled with disdain, nor was it filled with caution. Instead, it was filled with fear. Yet despite this fear, the Sunblaze King could only step into the circle. He had no choice but to face his opponent head on.
I fight in the skies, so you can’t blame me for taking advantage of my natural blessings, the Sunblaze King said, flapping his wings. Though many kings and lords grumbled at his cowardly approach, there was nothing they could do about it.
“Razorback Sovereign, it’s reasonable for the Sunblaze King to fight in the skies,” Ling Dong said. “Therefore, I request that I be allowed assistance. I wish to borrow my subordinate’s wings for this battle. His strength level is much lower than the Sunblaze King’s, and he will not launch any attacks.”
Granted, the Razorback Sovereign said.
None of the beasts dared complain. In their opinion, fighting in the skies without your own wings was admirable, but it was also suicidal. A single misstep could cost Ling Dong his life.
Darkwing, at Ling Dong’s signal, flew up beneath him. They flew up above the plateau to where the Sunblaze King was waiting for them three miles above ground. Should Ling Dong fall, he would undoubtedly die. The Sunblaze King reevaluated his opponent once again.
We’re all on the same side, so fighting to the death is foolish, the Sunblaze King said. I propose that we exchange three strikes. Whoever takes the winning side after that will be victorious.
I accept, Ling Dong said. He understood that this proposal was to his benefit. A wounded eagle could easily make it down to the ground safely, but a wounded human without his own wings would undoubtedly perish.
For this first attack, I’ll use half my strength, the eagle said. Ten suns appeared around him and began to drink in demonic energy.
He possesses a trickle of golden crow blood, Darkwing cautioned as Ling Dong built up ice energy around his greatsword.
The larger man nodded. He scattered the nearby heat using demonic energy and strengthened his body.
When the ten suns reached six feet in diameter each, the Sunblaze King flapped his wings. All ten globes rushed out toward Ling Dong, who gathered his qi and slashed out with his greatsword. Shards of ice formed in a line. Ice and fire collided, causing a thick cloud of mist to erupt around them. When they faded, Ling Dong and the Sunblaze King appeared. Darkwi
ng also appeared, and while he wasn’t injured, the clash had clearly left him shocked and trembling.
Ling Dong was covered in burns from head to toe. Despite having unleashed about eighty percent of his strength and using elemental superiority, it still wasn’t enough.
With this next strike, I’ll be suppressing you, Ling Dong warned. The crown above his head glowed, and the violet air around them warped. The Sunblaze King’s presence receded, though he seemed unconcerned.
I’ll be using seventy-five percent of my energy with this attack, the Sunblaze King said. Watch out.
Ten suns appeared once again. Instead of growing larger, they grew hotter. The previously red spheres were now yellow, the nature of their flames having undergone a qualitative transformation.
The ten suns rushed toward him once more. This time, Ling Dong slashed with the twelve swords in formation and unleashed a line of earthen power. Though earth was weak in the air, it enjoyed an elemental superiority to fire. The earth smoldered as the flames clashed against it. Rocks erupted once they absorbed too much energy. However, this was Ling Dong’s intent. These erupting fragments shot toward the Sunblaze King while any residual flames went his way. A qi barrier of wood, metal, and fire absorbed most of the remaining flames. The Sunblaze King was unwounded by the collision of power, but so was he.
The Sunblaze King, seeing the result, immediately began channeling his next technique. Ten white-hot suns grew around him and prepared to shoot out toward Ling Dong. But to his surprise, Ling Dong didn’t wait for his attack to land. Instead, he charged straight at him! Though he was incapable of flight, he jumped off Darkwing’s back and slashed at the ten orbs. All five elements burst out from his greatsword and twelve peripheral blades, forcing the Sunblaze King to detonate the technique prematurely.
You’re insane! The Sunblaze King yelled. Though he’d detonated his technique earlier, this time Ling Dong was facing the technique point blank. There was no telling what would happen should he fail to defend. As he looked around in a panic to see where Ling Dong was falling, he was surprised by a soft thud on his back.
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