22: Chapter 22 All Moves

"Human Race... courting death!"

The Python Demon slithered out from a crevice in the rock. Its jet-black scales shimmered with a chilling, eerie light under the moonlight. Its cold, vertical pupils stared into the distance as it asked.

"How many of them are there?"

The Grey Rat Demon looked at the small rat. After the other let out two squeaks, the Grey Rat Demon replied.

"Many... the human leading them is very strong. With a single sword, he killed Jiu Tian's subordinates."

A fierce glint flashed in the Vulture Demon's eyes. It looked at the Python Demon, then at the Grey Rat Demon, its voice raspy and hurried.

"Human Cultivators are invading the mountain. This is no small matter. We must mobilize manpower as quickly as possible to block them outside. If we disturb the Old Ancestor..."

It didn't finish the sentence, but the other two Demon Generals understood what it meant.

"Return to your territories immediately and summon your descendants!"

The Vulture Demon spread its massive wings, leaped from the giant rock, and its grey-brown figure flew toward the east.

The Python Demon did not hesitate either. With a twist of its body, it slithered quickly toward the west, disappearing into the bushes.

In the blink of an eye.

Only the Grey Rat Demon remained outside the Immortal Cave.

It crouched in a hollow, its small eyes darting around. It looked in the direction where the Vulture Demon had disappeared, then at the direction where the Python Demon had vanished. Finally, its gaze fell on the entrance to the Earth Lizard Ancestor's cave.

The entrance was pitch black and bottomless, like the open mouth of a beast.

A complex light flashed in the Grey Rat Demon's eyes.

It knew that the Vulture Demon and the Python Demon were mobilizing their descendants not just to deal with the Human Cultivators, but also to compete for more benefits after the Old Ancestor died.

It was at the First Stage Mid-level. It couldn't beat the Vulture Demon, nor could it beat the Python Demon, but its advantage lay in its tens of thousands of descendants.

If the Old Ancestor really died...

The Grey Rat Demon took a deep breath, turned around, and left as well.

...

Inside Desolate Ridge.

Wu Li was still in his nest, preening his feathers. Of the two mature spiritual fruits, one had helped him be reborn, and the other had gone to waste.

Five green fruits in exchange for two vague divinations—it wasn't a loss, but it wasn't exactly a gain either.

He tilted his head, his bean-sized black pupils staring at the empty nest, calculating his next move.

"If I don't move for half a month, nothing will happen..."

Wu Li murmured softly. The divination was very clear: as long as he didn't get involved in that muddy water deep in the Wanhui Mountain Range, he wouldn't be in danger.

But the problem was, could he really not move?

"I still need to keep an eye on things."

Wu Li leaped from the nest, and his bean-sized eyes scanned the area.

"You few, come here."

Wu Li jumped out of the nest and landed on a higher withered branch, his bean-sized black pupils sweeping across Desolate Ridge.

"Caw, caw, caw~~"

Five black figures were crouching on a nearby withered branch. Their feathers were glossier than ordinary crows, and their eyes were much more intelligent.

They were the crows that had gained intelligence after consuming the flesh and blood of the foxes from the Thousand Fox Den. Out of the hundreds of crows Wu Li had sent to the Thousand Fox Den, only these five had awakened their intelligence and become Qi Ling Realm Yao Beasts.

Although their combat power was pitifully low, they at least possessed intelligence, could understand commands, and could report back information.

Five crows seeing Wu Li summon them, they hurriedly flapped their wings and flew over, landing on the withered branch below Wu Li. They lowered their heads in unison, their postures respectful.

"Old Ancestor."

The voices were raspy but respectful. Although not yet fluent, they could clearly express their meaning.

Wu Li tilted his head, his gaze sweeping over the five crows.

The largest one had feathers that shone black. He said casually, "From now on, you shall be called Hei Yu."

He looked at the one next to it with a tuft of white hair on its wing. "You shall be called Bai Chi."

The remaining three, according to their size, were named Heida, Heier, and Heisan in order.

The five crows nodded repeatedly, a hint of excitement flashing in their eyes. They had names now.

Wu Li's voice turned cold.

"Scatter and help me keep an eye on the recent situation in the mountain. As soon as there is any movement, report back to me immediately."

"Yes, Old Ancestor!"

The five crows replied in unison, spread their wings, and flew off separately.

Just as the five crows dispersed,

The Vulture Demon flew back to its own territory, stood on the cliff platform, and let out a sharp screech.

The sound traveled very far. Soon, dozens of vultures surged from all directions—big and small, their grey-brown feathers blotting out the sky.

"Pass on the order."

"Human Cultivators are invading the mountain. All Yao Beasts in Wanhui Mountain, listen to my command immediately and search for the humans in the mountain!"

The Vulture Demon's voice was raspy and cold, its small eyes filled with killing intent.

"Yes!"

Dozens of vultures screeched in unison and quickly passed on the message.

Meanwhile,

The Python Demon also returned to its own territory.

It coiled in a swamp, lifted its head, and let out a low hissing sound.

In the swamp, countless venomous snakes emerged from the mud and water—different sizes, different colors, dense and packed, making one's scalp tingle.

"Human Cultivators are invading the mountain. Kill without mercy!"

The Python Demon's voice was hoarse and cold. The snake swarm hissed in unison and followed behind the Python Demon, slithering toward the west.

The Grey Rat Demon returned to its own turf, crouching on a mound of earth, its small eyes darting around.

It didn't rush to mobilize its descendants like the Vulture Demon and the Python Demon, but instead crouched there, thinking for a long time.

"Old Ancestor, are we going to move too?"

A small rat demon asked.

Hearing this, the Grey Rat Demon murmured softly, a hint of cunning flashing in its eyes.

"Move, my ass."

"Do you know how fierce those Human Cultivators are? The Old Ancestor's Foundation was completely broken by their hands. Now that they are here, they must be prepared. I'm not going to get involved in this mess."

"You all, return to the cave immediately. Do not go out."

When the Grey Rat Demon finished speaking, it turned around, burrowed into the depths of the cave, and disappeared into the darkness.

...

Following the riot of the various demons in the mountain,

On the east side of Desolate Ridge.

Chen Yuanshan leaned against a large tree, his hair somewhat disheveled, his face ashen.

Behind him, more than thirty Disciples were slumped on the ground, all in a sorry state.

From the moment Jiu Tian released the message, they had already encountered two waves of attacks.

The first wave was a pack of wild wolves.

Five First Stage Early Stage Grey Wolves led dozens of wolves that sprang out from the bushes, pouncing recklessly without fear of death.

Zhao Heng and the others took the lead in fighting back. Although they used Spells to wipe out these wolves, their position was almost exposed.

Following closely behind was a swarm of poison bees.

Dense and sky-blocking, the poison needles on their tails could pierce through spiritual energy shields.

Chen Yuanshan could not go all out. It was still Zhao Heng leading the team, using Talismans to cast a wall of fire to burn a large batch, but one female Disciple ran a bit slow, was stung on the back of her neck, and then the swarm gathered, torturing her to death...

After that, there were several more small attacks—venomous snakes, wild boars...

After several waves of attacks, everyone was physically and mentally exhausted.

But Chen Yuanshan still didn't dare to go all out.

A Concealment Talisman was stuck on his body. Once he used his full strength, the power of the Talisman would fail, and his spiritual energy fluctuations would be completely exposed to the Earth Lizard Ancestor's perception.

At that time, it wouldn't just be these small demons that were alerted. Fortunately, the rest of the journey was considered smooth.

"Elder Chen, up ahead is the Earth Lizard Ancestor's Immortal Cave."

Zhao Heng approached, lowered his voice, and spoke, his tone carrying a trace of exhaustion.