856: Demon Realm Map

Deep within the Commander's Mansion, in a Secret Chamber filled with a cold and damp atmosphere.

A tall, slender man with a sinister aura suddenly opened his eyes! His pupils were vertical, like those of the most cold-blooded venomous snake! A faint green light shimmered in his vertical pupils, carrying a heart-palpitating chill. His entire body was covered in fine, dark green scales that reflected a cold, hard luster under the dim light. A thick, powerful python tail covered in dark green ring patterns coiled beneath him on the icy stone seat. The aura he emitted was unmistakably that of a Demon Marshal who had just entered the ninth rank!

"Hmm?! This pressure... a Demon King?!" The snake-man's heart shook violently, his vertical pupils instantly contracting into dangerous slits! He immediately sensed the powerful aura descending at the city's edge, its vastness far surpassing his own! "Where did this unfamiliar Demon King come from? How dare he barge into the territory of my Qingtian Python Clan without any announcement?!"

A chill ran down his spine! The other party was so brazenly releasing their pressure—was it a provocation? Or... a raid?!

As the commander, it was his duty to step forward! But the other party's Realm was overwhelming; he was no match at all!

'If the situation turns bad, immediately crush the 'Green Scale Jade' to summon the Old Ancestor!' A flash of ruthlessness and determination crossed Qing Xuan's eyes. His figure transformed into a dark green afterimage, moving like a ghost, instantly appearing in the sky above the street where Yao Delong stood.

He hovered in mid-air, suppressing the fear in his heart, and respectfully bowed to the silver-marked youth below who radiated overwhelming pressure. His voice carried a barely noticeable tension: "Esteemed Demon King, your arrival at my Qingtian Python Clan's 'Skeleton City'—may I ask your purpose? If you have any orders, my clan will do our utmost to assist." His posture was extremely humble, while secretly gathering his Demonic Power, ready to face the worst-case scenario at any moment.

Yao Delong looked up, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the sinister snake-man Demon Marshal. He took in the other's cautious vigilance but paid it no mind. In the face of absolute strength, such defenses were as flimsy as paper.

"Map." Yao Delong was concise, his voice not loud but striking Qing Xuan's heart like a heavy hammer. "A map of the entire Demon Domain, the more detailed the better."

"A map?" Qing Xuan was clearly taken aback, a flicker of astonishment in his vertical pupils! He had imagined countless possibilities—extorting resources, demanding blood sacrifices, even directly killing to establish dominance... but he never expected the other to be so "mild," merely asking for a map?! This was... utterly unlike a Demon King's style!

Though suspicion filled his heart, this request couldn't be simpler! Qing Xuan dared not show the slightest neglect, fearing the other might change his mind. He immediately retrieved a thick scroll from a bone-crafted Storage Ring on his finger. The scroll exuded an ancient aura, made from the tanned hide of some powerful Yao Beast.

"Esteemed Demon King, this is the Demon Domain map collected by my clan. Though not top-secret, it covers about eighty percent of the known regions and the distribution of major forces." Qing Xuan respectfully presented the scroll with both hands.

Yao Delong swept it with his Divine Thought, confirmed it was correct, reached out, and the scroll fell into his hand. He couldn't be bothered with further words and turned to leave.

"Esteemed Demon King, take care on your journey!" Qing Xuan hurriedly bowed in farewell, the heavy stone in his heart finally dropping with a thud, even feeling a bit... unrealistically relieved. A suspected Peak Demon King had come with great fanfare but left with little action?

He had just straightened up, not yet wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, when a slightly aged but powerful green figure appeared beside him as if teleporting. It was the Qingtian Python Clan's Old Ancestor, who had sensed the earlier pressure fluctuations and rushed over at high speed!

"Xuan'er! Where is that Demon King? Did any conflict arise? How much blood sacrifice and resources did he demand?" The Old Ancestor's tone was urgent, filled with deep worry and vigilance, his body surrounded by swirling green Demonic Power.

Qing Xuan quickly replied, "Old Ancestor, that lord has already left. He... he didn't demand anything." He paused, his tone carrying an unbelievable strangeness. "He just... asked for a Demon Domain map and left directly."

"Only asked for a map?!" The Qingtian Python Clan's Old Ancestor was also stunned, his face covered in green scales showing deep confusion. Having lived for thousands of years, he had seen all kinds of powerful Demon Kings—greedy ones, brutal ones, aloof ones... but one who specifically descended, released overwhelming pressure to intimidate the entire city, and then only took a map before leaving? Unheard of!

"Could it be... some reclusive old monster who has been in seclusion for so long he doesn't even recognize the way?" The Old Ancestor could only guess, then shook his head. "Never mind, never mind! As long as there's no loss, it's fine! Our clan is lucky! Such beings are unpredictable; best not to provoke them!"

Yao Delong had long since left Skeleton City far behind, unfolding the thick beast-hide scroll on a secluded mountain Peak.

His Divine Thought probed in, and vast information instantly flooded his mind!

On the beast hide, ancient demonic script and spiritual power formed illusory images, outlining an incredibly magnificent and awe-inspiring map of the entire Demon Domain!

North · Cold Abyss Realm: The image showed an endless icy sea and floating glacier continents, with biting cold winds and ice crystals refracting colorful auroras. At the core of the image, a colossal shadow covering the sky, resembling both fish and bird, stood proudly—the Kunpeng Imperial Clan! Below it were annotations of subordinate forces: the Golden-Winged Roc Clan, soaring through the Nine Heavens with unparalleled speed in the Demon Domain; and the Mysterious Turtle Clan, with long Lifespan and peerless defense.

West · Hundred Thousand Great Mountains: The image transformed into endless, towering mountain ranges reaching into the clouds, with giant trees piercing the sky and Evil Qi soaring. Two distinct yet equally domineering auras were marked: the Zhenhou Clan, whose roars shook the heavens, devouring the sun and moon; and the Zhu Yan Clan, with immense strength, masters of weaponry! Beneath these two Imperial Clans, the Howling Moon Celestial Wolf Clan lived in groups, cunning and ferocious, among other subordinate forces entrenched there.

East · Surging Sea Thunder Marsh: The image became a vast, boundless ocean with towering waves, interspersed with terrifying islands where thunderclouds and storms never dissipated. Two Imperial Clans controlled it: the Thunder Marsh Kui Niu Clan, with a single leg like a mountain, roars like thunder, mastering lightning; and the Bi Fang Clan, with a single foot and blue wings, carrying flames in their mouths, capable of burning mountains and boiling seas!

South · Nine Nether Abyss: The image presented a dark, deep, eerie region filled with poisonous miasma and terrifying fissures. Marked were two heart-palpitating Imperial Clans: the Nine Infant Clan, with nine heads and snake bodies, wreaking havoc with water, fire, and poison; and the Chaos Python Clan Clan, devouring heaven and earth, distorting space!

Central Continent · Ancestral Land of Ten Thousand Demons: At the core of the image, a vast plain and sacred mountain bathed in radiant light and auspicious energy, with the richest earth veins! Two supreme Imperial Clans presided: the Qilin Clan, Incarnations of auspiciousness, revered by all demons; and the Heavenly Fox Clan, naturally enchanting, with wisdom akin to demons!

Yao Delong's gaze firmly locked onto the area marked "West · Hundred Thousand Great Mountains," near the entrance to the Demon Transformation Mountain Range of the Xuan Ye Dynasty.

There, a mark was specially annotated in dark red demonic script, radiating overwhelming ferocious Evil Qi—

a mythical beast! Peak Demon King!

Its territory was located about thirty thousand miles south of Yao Delong's current position!

"Found it!" Yao Delong's eyes blazed with intense light, a confident smile curling at the corner of his mouth.