Legend of the Great Sage

mmered faintly in the rolling demon qi like huge snakes.
They radiated with a terrifying aura.

“So many Demon Kings!” Li Qingshan was surprised.
At first glance, there were six or seven of them at the very least.

“That’s not true.
There’s only one.” Gong Yuan arrived beside Li Qingshan on her cloud and pointed at a corner of the images.

Li Qingshan saw it too.
As it turned out, the huge snakes all shared a single body.
It was a hydra, but he did not ease up when he realised this.

Hydras were legendary exotic beasts.
Their bloodline originated from the divine beast Jiuying, or Nine Nascences.
Each head possessed an ability of its own, and each head was equivalent to a life.
In order to kill it, all nine heads had to be destroyed, but its regeneration was shocking as well.
Even when a head was cut off, it could grow back very quickly.

“If it really is a hydra, then it’ll be very difficult to win this battle.” Gong Yuan was stern.

Li Qingshan nodded in agreement.
If this was the very beginning, they would have been confident enough to face any Demon King in battle, but they were not in their optimal state anymore.
Killing an exotic beast like that was extremely difficult and dangerous.

Most importantly, the question was whether it was an actual hydra or a strange form that a Demon King had taken after demonifying.
If it was the former, then they could get ready to retreat.

 ……

Hidden in the demon cavern, close to the Demon domain, the Demon Kings engaged in an intense conversation.

“Meditative Brain King, why did you send the Nine-headed King up? They’re going to be too frightened to come over,” two Demon Kings said the exact same thing at the exact same time.
It came from a male and female, but their voices overlapped perfectly.

“The Nine-headed King has always been stationed here, so of course, it should still be him.
It’s not like he’s a true hydra.
He only achieved that form through cultivation and demonification.
If he’ll be frightened away by just a sham, then this Li Qingshan isn’t worth all of his effort!”

“A sham! Meditative Brain King, I heard you fled at the news of battle without even getting close, offering up your demon cavern without even fighting! How dare you call me a sham!”

“Hehe, I know the best if I’ve received him in battle or not.
According to my calculations, it’ll be almost certain death for you if we’re not here today.”

“Shut up!”

“What, do you think you’re stronger than the Martial Chief King?”

When the Martial Chief King was mentioned, the Demon Kings all fell silent.
Even among Demon Kings, the Martial Chief King was infamous for his strength and viciousness.
None of them were confident enough to serve as his opponent.
He was even deeply trusted by the Demon Emperor, having been called back to the Demon domain multiple times.
Originally, they thought he was going to demonstrate himself in this battle, but they never thought he would die so soon.

“Stop, both of you! Now is not the time for disputes.
Nine-headed King, not only are we here for revenge, but we’re also here for great evil god Qiongqi’s plan.
It’s fine if you inhibit our revenge, but if you ruin the great evil god’s plan…”

“Bone-eating King, stop strutting around with borrowed plumes.
I’ll get around to you sooner or later!” the Nine-headed King said viciously, but he no longer tried to do anything carelessly.
If the ambush this time failed because of him, great evil god Qiongqi did not even have to do anything.
Just the Demon Kings below that had suffered heavily at Li Qingshan’s hands would skin him alive.

“Meditative Brain King, what should we do now?” the Bone-eating Shaman King ignored the Nine-headed King’s empty threats and asked.

“Nine-headed King, teach them a lesson!” the Meditative Brain King said, ordering him, “Hehe, show them what you’re made of!”

“You… damn you!”

The conversation was secretive and rapid.
It sounded long, but it had only taken a moment.

On the edge of the swap, Li Qingshan was about to launch an attack from the distance to probe them out, where he would retreat if it did not seem right, when a roar rang out from the depths of the swamp.
The nine snake heads straightened out, rising from the ground like buildings and radiating with demon qi.
The snake eyes all gazed over, filled with coldness and malice.

Li Qingshan began laughing instead of becoming angry.
“He really is a fake! Let’s get him!”