Chapter 1888: Local Demon King

Each demon king and great demon has their own territory. They gather in the mountains and forests, leading their lesser demons or wild beasts to live a carefree life.

The northeastern part of the plain is like an enlarged version of the Demon's Nest Swamp.

And occupying this valuable land at the plain's northeastern estuary is the Woolly Mammoth demon clan.

He Lingchuan had seen one on his way here; its size was even larger than the steppe elephants that once roamed the Panlong Barrenlands. Perhaps due to the visual effect of its voluminous fur, it was solidly built and possessed powerful demonic energy.

It had been nearly a hundred years since the Woolly Mammoth demons seized this territory from its previous occupants. Unlike other demons, the Woolly Mammoths allow some humans to live and cultivate land within their territory, but only permit them to exist as tribes.

This is because Woolly Mammoths like sweet bananas, sugarcane, melons, fruits, and even various fruit and vegetable tubers. It can be said that, besides meat, they also enjoy whatever humans can eat, thus requiring farmers to plant and harvest for them.

These mammoth demons have significantly higher demands for quality of life than ordinary demons.

Furthermore, Woolly Mammoths value the purchasing power of gold and silver, knowing well that it can buy delicious and useful things, and even profound crystals! Therefore, they also direct humans to build docks and operate merchant ships in Gray Whale Port to generate profit for the demon clan.

However, outside the Woolly Mammoths' territory, the demons in the deep mountains and ancient forests are only interested in human flesh.

Several large birds flapped overhead. Dong Rui looked up and observed, "Those look like bird demons. Are they going to report our presence?"

They were being watched.

Sure enough, as soon as they left the Gray Whale Port area, dozens of large wolves emerged from the jungle ahead, surrounding the group with low growls.

Then four or five massive figures walked out, blocking their path.

Plump and furry, but not cute at all because they were too massive!

This was the Woolly Mammoth family that ruled the area.

The leading giant elephant had the longest fur and was the largest in size. It was probably too old, as its eyelids drooped and there were many wrinkles at the corners of its eyes.

"Which of you is He Xiao?"

He Lingchuan stepped two paces forward, ignoring the large wolves five paces away. "And you are?"

"Pang Sen." All the Woolly Mammoths in this group had names starting with "Pang," which was quite fitting. "Surrender quietly, and we'll all save ourselves some trouble."

The bird demon's message had arrived too quickly; it only had time to bring a few of its kin and a pack of wolf demons.

He Lingchuan sized up the giant elephants. "We have no grievances, so why are you trying to capture me?"

Demon kings in the deep mountains delineate territories, maintaining a "king not seeing king" dynamic. Their modus operandi is much like the White Bear King of White Fur Mountain or King Siwen of the Demon's Nest Swamp, each with a group of demons or wild beasts under their command. If an external enemy invades, the entire clan fights.

The old elephant Pang Sen rumbled, "The Heavenly Palace has identified you as having departed from Gray Whale Port and has requested our assistance in your arrest."

"You don't know why?"

"It's not important." They live in the remote mountains and dense forests, minding their own business and caring little about what happens in the outside world.

After all, they had lived this way for hundreds of years.

Pang Sen cared even less about who this person in front of him was, since capturing him would earn them a bounty.

He Lingchuan smiled. "What reward will the Heavenly Palace give you?"

"A hundred catties of light red profound crystals, enough for the entire family to benefit from for a long time," the old elephant said, twitching its trunk. "That's none of your business. My kin are heavy-handed; if you don't want to be seriously injured, just stand still and don't move."

"You're quite kind-hearted," He Lingchuan said, looking at the drooling wolf in front of him. His eyes narrowed, and he exuded a killing aura.

The wolf's mouth snapped shut; it suddenly shivered, retreated two steps, and tucked its tail between its legs.

Huh? This fellow in front of them suddenly didn't seem human anymore.

"The Heavenly Palace is the Heavenly Demon's lackey in the human world," He Lingchuan continued. "Are you really so at peace doing their bidding?"

He Lingchuan immediately leveled a major accusation, but Pang Sen didn't take the bait. "The Heavenly Palace, the Heavenly Demon, and you—I don't care about any of it."

It was just doing business for money. What did the Heavenly Palace, or being a lackey, have to do with them, the Woolly Mammoths? It wasn't falling for that.

It only knew that with such a large sum of profound crystals at stake, if it didn't earn it, some other demon would.

He Lingchuan looked up at the sky. "Then I'll pay you double. Will you work for me instead?"

Before Pang Sen could reply, another giant elephant spoke first, "Too late! It's too late!"

What they had in hand was the most tangible.

He Lingchuan chuckled. "You're quite principled. However, I am not your opponent."

Not?

Pang Sen sensed something was wrong. With a roar like a steam whistle, the wolves charged at their prey.

These northern vicious wolves were over five feet tall at the shoulder, larger than ordinary lions or tigers, with stout limbs and astonishing striking power.

However, even as the first giant wolf leaped to within three feet of He Lingchuan, close enough to bite his face with another lunge, the man did not retreat.

Immediately, its back tightened and its body felt light, as if something had snatched it into mid-air!

It looked up and saw a huge vulture, its wings spread wide, obscuring the sky.

He Lingchuan watched as it was carried high into the air by King Dong Ying, then slammed back to the ground.

The elephant herd nervously swayed their heads, discovering figures emerging one after another from the surrounding jungle.

Several hundred people—all cultivators. Pang Sen could keenly sense the powerful magical fluctuations emanating from them.

These were all survivors of the Battle of the Upside-Down Sea.

Illusion sect cultivators who could survive such a brutal war were akin to undergoing a complete transformation.

There were also more than ten demons, none of whom looked easy to deal with.

At the very front was a green ox, about the size of an ordinary wild ox and not particularly strong-looking. It even took a bite of grass on the spot, yet it gave Pang Sen the most terrifying sense of oppression—

as if this fellow could kick it half-crippled with just one hoof.

This wasn't right. According to the maritime bureau's records, He Xiao and his group were only a dozen people before they sailed out. Why had the number of people on their return journey swelled by more than tenfold, and why were there these additional demons of unknown origin?

He Lingchuan seemed to read its thoughts, and calmly said, "If you paid more attention to outside news, you'd know who I am. You dare to take on this job from the Heavenly Palace, so your price should at least be ten times higher for this life-buying money to be worthwhile."

These so-called great demons and demon kings were oblivious to outside affairs, completely unaware that the world had changed.

He took two steps back with his hands behind his back and gave a one-word command:

"Attack!"

Now he also had a large group of fierce subordinates and didn't need to do everything himself.

Wasn't this the advantage of being a leader?

The Illusion Sect cultivators and the demons charged forward at the command, even more fiercely than the wolves had attacked He Lingchuan and his group. They had drifted at sea for seven or eight days, cooped up in a cramped space for that entire time, and now that they were finally ashore, it was a good chance to stretch their limbs.

The Woolly Mammoth charging towards He Lingchuan was also blocked and sent back with a single shake of Xutuo's head.

Pang Sen's spiritual perception was not mistaken: a head-on charge from this unassuming green ox could send its strongest son sprawling on his back, unable to get up for a long time!