860: "An old acquaintance?"

"Old acquaintance?" The Unicorn Demon Marshal's eyes grew even more puzzled. When did the Great King have such an old acquaintance with such an unfamiliar yet powerful Aura? But he dared not be negligent, much less obstruct. The other party dared to directly call the Great King by name and was so composed—their status must be extraordinary.

"Since you are the Great King's old acquaintance, please follow this subordinate, my lord." The Unicorn Demon Marshal's posture became even more respectful as he made a gesture of invitation. "Please proceed to 'Raging Ape Peak,' where the 'Overlord Demon King' stationed here will receive you."

Led by the Unicorn Demon Marshal, Yao Delong and Xue Li soon arrived before a massive peak that resembled a sky-piercing pillar, entirely pitch-black yet faintly exuding dark red Evil Qi. At the summit stood a grand Immortal Cave, carved from a single massive piece of profound iron rock, brimming with a sense of primal power.

As soon as they landed on the huge platform before the Immortal Cave, a terrifying pressure, like a mountain bearing down with savage and domineering force, descended upon them!

Boom!

A towering figure, majestic as a demon god, slowly stepped out from the depths of the Immortal Cave!

The newcomer stood nearly fifteen feet tall! His muscles were knotted like forged steel, bursting with explosive power! His hair was not the ordinary brown of monkey tribes but a dark golden hue like burning magma, standing on end and gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen! His ape-like face was crisscrossed with scars, each one seeming to tell of fierce battles!

Most heart-palpitating were his golden eyes, blazing with intense Battle Intent as if they would never extinguish! Deep within his pupils, ancient combat runes seemed to flow! Merely standing there, he gave off a terrifying oppressive sense of fighting heaven and earth, never yielding! It was as if he were the Incarnation of power, the manifestation of the Origin of combat!

This was one of the two great Demon Kings under a mythical beast, renowned for his strength and unparalleled ferocity in battle—the Overlord Demon Ape, Overlord Ape!

Overlord Ape's blazing golden pupils instantly locked onto Yao Delong like two searchlights, filled with undisguised scrutiny and vigilance! He sensed a terrifying Qi and blood power in Yao Delong, as scorching as a furnace yet deeply concealed! This was no ordinary Physical Body a Demon King could possess!

'What a strong Physical Body! Not inferior to old Yuan's! Even... more refined!' Overlord Ape thought with inner shock, yet his Battle Intent subtly surged. He revered ultimate power, and encountering a 'fellow practitioner' inevitably made his hands itch for a test.

His rough voice rang out like clashing metal, carrying the pride of a Demon King: "Brother Demon, my subordinate says you are the Great King's old acquaintance? But I, Overlord Ape, have followed the Great King for centuries and never heard him mention such an 'old friend' arriving."

His massive fist clenched slightly, knuckles cracking like muffled thunder. "May I ask where Brother Demon hails from and what your title is?" His Aura was imposing, carrying a pressure ready to strike at any moment.

Facing this demon ape like an ancient Vicious Beast, Yao Delong's expression remained as calm as water. He spoke softly, yet his voice clearly reached Overlord Ape's ears:

"Send a message to Sky-Splitting, saying..."

Yao Delong paused, a meaningful curve forming at the corner of his mouth:

"From the Demon Transformation Mountain Range, the Pill Venerable Secret Realm, an old acquaintance visits."

"The Pill Venerable Secret Realm?!" Overlord Ape's blazing golden pupils contracted sharply! He clearly knew of this place and understood what it meant to emerge alive from there and become the Great King's 'old acquaintance'! His gaze toward Yao Delong instantly changed! All doubt and provocation vanished, replaced only by deep gravity and a trace... of barely perceptible wariness!

Without another word, he immediately took out a Talisman shaped like a fang, emitting intense spatial fluctuations. His lips moved rapidly, imprinting Yao Delong's words exactly onto it, then crushed it in his hand!

Hum!

The spatial Talisman light flashed and vanished!

Less than three breaths later—

Hum!

Another, stronger spatial fluctuation rippled out! A spiritual light Talisman burning with bloody runes instantly appeared before Overlord Ape!

Overlord Ape probed it with his Divine Thought, giving it just a sweep—

His ape face, covered in ferocious scars, instantly changed dramatically!

"Boom!"

An indescribable look of shock exploded in his golden eyes! He even lost control of his Demonic Power, his robust body trembling violently, the profound iron rock ground beneath his feet cracking into a spiderweb of fissures!

The next second, under the horrified gazes of several trusted Demon Marshals and the Unicorn Commander behind him—

This Overlord Demon Ape, always unruly and only submitting to the Great King Sky-Splitting, daring to fight to the death against strong foes, actually deeply bent his mountain-like rigid spine toward Yao Delong! He performed an almost ninety-degree bow of utmost respect, as if to a superior!

His rough voice now filled with unprecedented reverence, even carrying a barely perceptible tremor:

"G-Great... my lord! This humble demon Overlord Ape failed to recognize Mount Tai! I offended earlier—please forgive my insolence!"

He straightened up abruptly, stepping aside to clear the path to the Immortal Cave, his posture lowered as much as possible:

"The Great King has ordered this humble demon to immediately and respectfully welcome my lord to Lietian Peak! My lord, please proceed! This... little fox friend, please as well!" His gaze swept over the snow-white little fox behind Yao Delong, not daring to neglect her either.

This scene nearly made the old subordinates who had followed Overlord Ape for years pop their eyes out! They knew their boss's usual temper best! Even facing the Great King Sky-Splitting himself, he addressed him as a brother, at most offering a fist salute! When had he ever been so... so awed by someone?! What exactly did that message Talisman say?!

Xue Li hid behind Yao Delong, watching the demon ape, powerful as a demon god, suddenly become so respectful, further confirming her guess! Her large glass-like eyes darted around as she covered her mouth with a small paw, concealing her inner shock and slight pride: 'As expected! Senior must be a Demon Emperor powerhouse hiding his strength! Even such a fierce Demon King is scared like this! Following Senior was truly wise!'

Yao Delong was not surprised by Overlord Ape's reaction. He gave a slight nod, said nothing more, and strode toward the teleportation array deep within the Immortal Cave, emitting even stronger spatial fluctuations.

"Lead the way."

Two plain words, yet carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Yes! My lord, please!" Overlord Ape hurried to follow, like the most loyal guard, guiding Yao Delong and Xue Li toward the teleportation array leading to a mythical beast's true core lair.

The teleportation array's light faded.

Yao Delong, Xue Li, and the respectfully guiding Overlord Demon Ape Overlord Ape had already appeared at the foot of a massive peak that pierced the clouds, perpetually shrouded in dense, tangible spiritual mist and demonic clouds.

"My lord, this way please! The Great King awaits at the summit!" Overlord Ape's attitude was humble, showing none of his previous wild dominance, as he stepped aside to guide them with impeccable posture. Several Demon Guards guarding the mountain path, with fierce Auras, were about to salute as usual when they suddenly caught sight of their own Overlord Demon King, who usually looked down on everyone, now acting like the most faithful servant, guiding an unfamiliar man in blue robes and a snow-white little fox!

His respectful and humble appearance nearly made them pop their eyes out! They froze in place, even forgetting to salute, their hearts roiling with shock: 'Who... is this person?!'