Chapter 117: Mutual Destruction (Part Two)

Chapter 117: Fratricidal Strife (Second Update)

The Cold Pool Demon King’s face was icy and grim as he spoke with difficulty, “It took me a hard time to rob the Water Essence and become the Mountain King.”

The Fire Crow Demon King silently nodded.

“I still have to win over the Water Department Immortal Officers by sending them gifts.”

The Fire Crow Demon King continued to nod.

“And I have to watch their moods?”

The Fire Crow Demon King nodded heavily, “Exactly!”

The Cold Pool Demon King slammed his hand on the chair, abruptly standing and shouting angrily, “Does that mean I’ve become a beggar, kneeling and begging?”

The Fire Crow Demon King sighed deeply, “If you put it that way, robbing Water Essence is indeed like begging on your knees. Many demon kings would kill to have this chance.”

“No, no, absolutely not,” the Cold Pool Demon King snarled, grinding his teeth, “My life is going backward. Back when I hadn’t even taken shape, I wasn’t this pathetic.”

“Damn it. I don’t understand—after all the hard work to become an Earth Immortal, why am I still not even as good as someone’s dog?”

Seeing the Cold Pool Demon King’s expression, the Fire Crow Demon King’s heart leapt with joy. When the Cold Pool Demon King inevitably clashed with the Immortal Officers, he could join forces with the Water Department Immortal Officers to get rid of this troublemaker.

Yet outwardly, the Fire Crow Demon King remained calm, sighing softly, “To the little demons, you’re an Earth Immortal. But to the Water Department Immortal Officers, you’re a beggar on his knees. Cultivating immortality means living forever without disgrace.”

“Disgrace... disgrace.”

The Cold Pool Demon King roared again, striking the left armrest of his chair with a crack, breaking it.

He looked sorrowfully at his precious black iron throne.

Silently, he warned himself not to argue with the dead. When the Water Department Immortal Officers arrive, he would demand double compensation.

By then, he’d skin this whole demon hide and make a grand chair out of it.

While pondering this, a sudden vibration came from his waist.

The Fire Crow Demon King picked up the communication device with a smile—news from the Water Department Immortal Officers of the Heavenly Court had arrived.

In the past, whenever they planned to seize the Water Essence, a notification would come through the device, and a secret meeting would be held at a designated spot.

In the end, both sides would cooperate perfectly to stage the classic drama—evil demons wreak havoc in one region, Immortal Officers powerless and defeated.

Whispering briefly, the Fire Crow Demon King put down the device and said seriously, “Brother Cold Pool, are you going to profit from this Water Essence or not?”

The Cold Pool Demon King’s face stiffened, and he snorted coldly, “Brother, I take my leave.”

“Wait!” the Fire Crow Demon King shouted, “If you leave like this, won’t it seem I’m rude?”

“I’ll bring you ten pounds of Water Essence as a gift.”

The Cold Pool Demon King hesitated a moment, “Such a generous gift—surely you have a favor to ask.”

The Fire Crow Demon King smiled sincerely, “Haha, Brother, you worry too much.”

“This gift is purely out of friendship. I hope you don’t reveal anything about the Water Essence.”

“If it leaks, neither of us will keep our lives!”

The Cold Pool Demon King’s expression eased slightly, and he nodded.

He understood the Fire Crow Demon King’s meaning: this ten pounds of Water Essence was simply hush money.

…

After traveling several hundred miles, the two demon kings arrived at a hidden cave halfway up the mountain. Inside was a small chamber containing a world within.

The Fire Crow Demon King gestured, “Brother, please wait outside.”

The Cold Pool Demon King nodded and stood aside.

The Fire Crow Demon King entered the cave, wearing a smile, “Officer Yuan, this time—”

His words abruptly stopped.

Before him, besides Officer Yuan, stood four more Immortal Officers, all Earth Immortals.

“What’s happened?” The Fire Crow Demon King’s face turned grave, a bad premonition stirring.

Previously, when robbing Water Essence, there were at most one or two Immortal Officers, rarely three.

Five Officers arriving at once was a sight the Fire Crow Demon King had never seen.

Officer Yuan smiled, “Fire Crow, this is great news!”

“The Heavenly Emperor intends to select the Water Virtue Star Lord. If one of us ascends to Celestial Immortal, the position of Water Department Chief God is almost guaranteed.”

“In the future, things will be much easier.”

The Fire Crow Demon King’s eyes lit up, “Really?!”

The Water Department Chief and the Water Virtue Star Lord were entirely different.

The Chief was a low-rank fifth-grade Immortal Officer, an Earth Immortal could hold the post, doing trivial tasks within the Water Department; whereas the Water Virtue Star Lord was a Golden Immortal, a true first-rank deity, with a seat even in the Heavenly Palace.

Officer Yuan nodded with a smile, “How could I deceive you? Thanks to the Heavenly Emperor’s grace, this is true.”

“We came this time to obtain Water Essence to cultivate and break through to Celestial Immortal sooner.”

The Water Department Officers had formed an alliance with the Fire Crow Demon King. Though the Officers held the dominant position, they considered the Fire Crow Demon King’s feelings—it was cooperation, not enmity.

Therefore, each time they seized Water Essence, after setting aside what they needed for cultivation, the remainder was stored with the Fire Crow Demon King.

First, this stabilized the Fire Crow Demon King’s trust in their cooperation.

Second, the Officers didn’t care much about the Water Essence; as long as their divine seats remained, the Water Essence would never run out.

Now, however, having been expelled from the Heavenly Court, the Water Essence had become a rare treasure.

“I see.”

The Fire Crow Demon King smiled politely, but his body trembled. Were he not an Earth Immortal, cold sweat would have drenched him by now.

He cursed inwardly, “I don’t believe a word from those old bastards.”

He distrusted Officer Yuan’s claims. If there were such good fortune as ascending to Water Virtue Star Lord, it certainly wouldn’t be their lot.

The Earth Immortal realm and the Golden Immortal rank were entirely different, separated by the Celestial Immortal stage.

Those five old men surely had secrets.

The Fire Crow Demon King sensed he couldn’t keep going like this, or he wouldn’t survive.

He had to find a way out!

His eyes narrowed, a bold idea forming.

Perhaps the Cold Pool Demon King—who should have been prey—could become his last chance at survival.

While unlocking the cave’s seal, the Fire Crow Demon King said to the Immortal Officers, “An Earth Immortal demon king outside wishes to join us.”

“Do you want to meet him?”

The five Officers exchanged looks and communicated silently.

Finally, Officer Yuan nodded, “Then let’s meet him.”

On their side, there were five Earth Immortals; with the Fire Crow Demon King and the outsider, that made two.

Five against two—like dragons soaring, victory was assured.

The demon king outside was their supplier of materials.

Earth Immortal-grade demon pills, demon hides, demon flesh…

All of it was valuable.

Thinking this, the smiles on the five former Officers only grew wider.

Surrounded by the five Immortal Officers, the Fire Crow Demon King stepped out of the cave.

Seeing the Cold Pool Demon King still there, the Fire Crow Demon King shouted decisively, “Brother Cold Pool, run! You know about the Water Essence; they want to kill you.”

As he spoke, he unleashed his life-bound treasure, the Water-Fire Yin-Yang Pearl, striking fiercely before it exploded instantly.

Spitting a mouthful of vital blood, the Fire Crow Demon King sacrificed half his life essence to break through the encirclement.

Officer Yuan roared angrily, “You’re courting death!”

The Immortal Officers hurried in pursuit.

No one expected the Fire Crow Demon King to have such a strong will to survive.

After all, they had been allies before, showing no hostility.

Yet the Fire Crow Demon King, relying on years of experience, barely carved a path to escape.

One event after another unfolded in the blink of an eye, leaving the Cold Pool Demon King in awe.

Each of them appeared noble and righteous, ready to sacrifice for brothers, but in truth, every word was a trap, every move a scheme.

They were nothing but a bunch of old coins.

If he truly were an Earth Immortal, trying to keep them around would require considerable effort.

(End of Chapter)