Chapter 495

Chapter 495: The Three Great Demon Kings

The personal strength of these people wasn’t particularly high. The Formation nodes had been built into sturdy structures, each guarded by three Wind Tribulation Immortal-level experts.

Under normal circumstances, their combined forces couldn’t have breached even a single node.

But these vicious Self-Detonations changed everything. By abandoning their lives, life-bound treasures, and even their opportunity for Reincarnation, they unleashed utterly terrifying power through their all-out explosions.

The destruction multiplied when some detonators triggered disposable thunder pearls, talismans, and other treasures during their final act.

Faced with such overwhelming force, even ten Wind Tribulation Immortals couldn’t have stopped the devastation.

Deafening explosions reduced dozens of Formation nodes to dust. Surrounding buildings and bystanders were caught in the blasts, leaving massive half-mile wide craters. The area became a landscape of ruin, filled with anguished wails.

With critical Formation nodes destroyed, the once-powerful protective array dimmed instantly, losing over seventy percent of its defensive capacity!

Immortal Qingning and the other two City Lords gaped in shock, their mouths hanging open.

"Damnation! What’s happening?" Immortal Wulian cried out.

"Why are there so many madmen in our city?" Flower Sword growled. "Could this be a Demonic Path scheme?"

"Unlikely," Immortal Qingning countered bitterly. "Many detonators were family disciples – impossible for Demonic Path to corrupt them all."

"Our priority is damage control and defending against demons!" Immortal Wulian barked. "Send scouts to assess losses immediately!"

As the messenger departed, a mud-caked Wind Tribulation Immortal came stumbling through the air, shouting hysterically: "City Lords! Everything’s destroyed!"

Though the City Lords’ guards remained vigilant, they permitted the approach of this seemingly panicked low-level Wind Tribulation Immortal – considering him no real threat to their masters.

Before the newcomer even landed, Immortal Qingning demanded: "Report! What’s happening in the city?"

The figure’s panic suddenly transformed into manic glee. As the City Lords belatedly raised defenses, the impostor roared: "FOR THE QUEEN!"

He detonated himself along with an entire handful of thunder pearls. The catastrophic explosion rivaled a full-power strike from a peak Fire Tribulation Immortal.

A mushroom cloud engulfed the area, flattening everything within miles. City walls crumbled to powder. The City Lords’ personal guards and thousands of Soldiers vanished instantly.

The prosperous city now bore a massive bite-shaped void along its walls. Though the three City Lords survived through powerful cultivation and defensive treasures, they sustained heavy injuries.

When the smoke cleared, three wretched figures remained:

Immortal Qingning’s upper body resembled charred meat, his tongue gone. Speech produced only black smoke. Only his advanced cultivation kept him alive.

Immortal Wulian fared worse – missing an entire arm.

Of course, the worst was Flower Sword with the weakest cultivation. His limbs were crippled, reduced to a helpless human stick lying on the ground.

Witnessing the Three City Lords – the pillars of their city – brought to such a state, the human Cultivators within the walls trembled in horror, struck dumb with fear.

Meanwhile, the demon army outside roared with boosted morale, howling excitedly at the sky.

At this critical moment, three formidable figures emerged from the demon ranks.

To the left stood a three zhang-tall armored man bearing horns, his body covered in golden divine patterns. His oppressive aura rivaled Immortal Qingning himself.

On the right stood a cold-eyed Elder in black robes, his hawklike nose and arrogant bearing radiating even greater power than the armored giant.

Between them fluttered a bewitching woman barely three chi tall, her butterfly wings shimmering as flower petals barely covered her intimate areas. This scandalous display ignited primal lust in every male observer.

Though her cultivation depth remained unclear, her leading position among the trio revealed her as the strongest.

Immortal Qingning’s eyes narrowed in recognition. "So the Ox Demon King, Black Flame Demon King, and Blue Butterfly Demon King join forces. Those self-detonating Cultivators earlier – that was your Mind-Illusion Technique at work, Blue Butterfly!"

Gasps erupted at the title "Demon King". Within the Demon Domain restricted by Heavenly Dao laws, none could reach Eighth-rank. Yet among Seventh-rank demons existed vast power differences.

While ordinary Seventh-ranks were called Great Demons, only the mightiest earned the Demon King title – each comparable to human Fire Tribulation Immortals in combat power.

These three Demon Kings surpassed Immortal Qingning in raw cultivation. Their weakest member boasted ten thousand years of cultivation and formidable talent. Only their inferior treasures allowed the Three City Lords to previously match them in battle.

Now everything had changed. With the city lords gravely injured and the protective array destroyed, the situation grew desperate.

Blue Butterfly Demon King giggled coquettishly. "My little trick worked perfectly! Your humans are such amusing toys. A mere glance made them beg to die for me. When I demanded proof… well, you saw the results."

Demonic laughter echoed as Immortal Qingning’s face darkened with rage. He silently cursed his complacency – too many peaceful years had dulled his vigilance against demonkind.

Suppressing his pain, the immortal leader straightened. "Don’t celebrate yet. Even victorious, you dare not kill us outright."

"Fool!" Blue Butterfly sneered. "Your sect’s backing means nothing. We’ll slaughter you all and vanish into the Demon Domain. What will West Kunlun’s army achieve then?"

Immortal Qingning clenched his teeth. She spoke truth – while West Kunlun’s Talents could dominate any direct conflict, the vast Demon Domain offered endless hiding places. Yet Demon Kings rarely abandoned their territories, creating the fragile stalemate.

Changing tactics, Blue Butterfly purred, "We don’t seek total annihilation. But your recent arrogance has damaged our prestige."

"We concede this round," Immortal Qingning growled. "We’ll cease mass captures of Devouring Gold Demons."

"Insufficient!" The demoness snapped. "Bring greater offerings!"

"What do you demand?"

"Give me Great Pill Master Yuan!" Blue Butterfly declared.

"Ten Seventh-rank Treasures!" bellowed Ox Demon King.

"Ten thousand pairs of children for feasting!" Black Flame Demon King demanded.

"Half your population as tribute!" added the Devouring Gold Demon King.

"Madness!" Immortal Qingning roared. "Never!"

Blue Butterfly’s wings shimmered dangerously. "Refuse, and we take what we want!"

"Your crippled state can’t stop us," Black Flame added mockingly.

"Perhaps the rats will gnaw your bones," Ox Demon King chuckled.

Immortal Qingning stood firm. "Treasures and… some blood tribute might be negotiated. But Master Yuan stays with us!"

The demoness laughed. "Afraid we’ll master alchemy? Precisely my aim! Once I meet your precious Master Yuan, he’ll gladly serve me like all the others!"