Chapter 21: Seeing Gold Again?

Yu Qiye had been gone for more than ten years.

In those ten-plus years, a great many things had happened.

For instance, the wild boar demon who first followed him had long since fallen in battle.

Moreover, the Crow Cave had expanded several times over.

It had already become one of the most formidable forces near Flower Fruit Mountain.

There were two demon generals alone, seven great demons, and over a hundred minor demons.

The divine mastiff’s combat power was even more astonishing.

When it went berserk, even several demon generals together could not subdue it.

Indeed, it was truly terrifying.

“Here, we must thank our master for the blessings bestowed,” the divine mastiff spoke human words, its expression filled with gratitude.

“Is that the Magic Heart trait?” Yu Qiye’s eyes flickered as he scanned the divine mastiff’s attribute panel, suddenly revealing a trace of surprise on his face.

That trait had evolved repeatedly.

Now it had transformed into a red trait.

[Devouring Demon (Red)—In slaughter, it raves; in destruction, it goes mad! In battle, it fights like a true demon, its power multiplied several times, but at the cost of gradually fading consciousness.]

“Could the trait I bestowed actually evolve?” Yu Qiye was somewhat astonished.

This was something to note.

It was evident the Magic Heart trait had a high compatibility with the divine mastiff.

At that moment,

“How did the wild boar demon fall in battle?” Yu Qiye suddenly asked.

He remembered the wild boar demon well.

Though it looked fierce, it was simple-minded.

“Your Majesty, the rapid rise of Crow Cave drew the ire of several factions. We repeatedly clashed with them, eventually leading to open warfare,” Qingqiu Xue replied succinctly.

“In one of those battles, Brother Wild Boar…” Qingqiu Xue left the rest unsaid.

But from her words, Yu Qiye sensed the hardship they had endured on this path.

Clearly, their expansion and rise had not been as smooth as imagined.

“Gather the demons who opposed us and bring them to me. I will personally have a word with them.”

Hearing Yu Qiye’s words, Qingqiu Xue’s expression changed slightly. She clenched her teeth before speaking,

“Your Majesty, that won’t do. Among those who oppose us is a demon called ‘Lion Elephant.’”

“Rumor has it he possesses the bloodline of Suanni, has a lion’s form, and is terrifyingly powerful. Years ago, he had already reached the threshold of demi-demon king. Even the divine mastiff struggles against him. Though you are strong, still…”

Listening quietly, Yu Qiye smiled.

His restrained aura seemed to have caused them to misunderstand something.

“You don’t think I have wasted these past ten years, do you?”

As his words fell, an overwhelmingly terrifying aura surged from his body.

Boom!

The entire cave grew dim.

A shadow of a massive black bird spread over the entire cave, enveloping the divine mastiff, Qingqiu Xue, and the others.

“What? Has Your Majesty stepped into the realm of demon kings?”

“Master, you…”

Shouts of disbelief came from Qingqiu Xue and the divine mastiff.

What kind of monster was their lord?

In just over ten years, he had broken through his limits and reached demon king status.

Yu Qiye’s ascension to demon king dealt a great shock to Qingqiu Xue, the divine mastiff, and the others.

They struggled to comprehend it for a long time.

But soon after came an indescribable joy.

Their lord had become a bona fide demon king.

That meant the entire Flower Fruit Mountain might be united under one banner.

And what awaited them then was likely a terrifying Demon Empire—a kingdom of monsters.

After briefly demonstrating his power, Yu Qiye inquired about the current situation.

“Seems like most of Flower Fruit Mountain’s seventy-two demon kings have appeared.”

His eyes gleamed.

Those seventy-two demon kings were treasures to him.

Each was a walking trait.

If even one or two of those traits evolved to gold rank, it would be perfect.

Just then,

“Roar…”

Suddenly, a primordial roar echoed from outside the Crow Cave.

“Divine Mastiff, and you, stinky fox, come out here!”

Yu Qiye furrowed his brow.

Such ‘good’ luck—just returned and already provoked.

“Your Majesty, that is the Lion Elephant. He is extremely belligerent. After sensing the divine mastiff’s immense power, he often seeks to fight him,” Qingqiu Xue explained.

“I see.”

With a light laugh, Yu Qiye spread his wings and flew toward the cave’s entrance.

Outside the Crow Cave was a clearing.

At that moment, an enormous creature sat there.

It resembled a lion, its size comparable to a small mountain.

Merely crouching on the ground, it radiated an oppressive, suffocating pressure.

“You must be Lion Elephant?”

Before Yu Qiye arrived, a voice had already sounded.

“Who’s there?” Lion Elephant roared violently, turning his gaze to locate the source.

In the next moment, he lifted his eyes to the night sky.

There, at some unknown moment, stood a youth.

He bore twin wings on his back and stood silently in the sky.

His eyes lowered, as if looking down with disdain.

“Where did this crow demon come from, daring to stand above me?”

Lion Elephant looked up and let out a long howl.

The sound transformed into rolling waves of sonic force, like one shockwave after another, continuously crashing toward Yu Qiye.

Yet in the next instant, Lion Elephant’s pupils contracted.

The terrifying sonic waves dispersed in all directions the moment they neared Yu Qiye.

The clouds shattered, but the figure in the sky remained motionless.

“You are quite impressive.”

Suddenly, Yu Qiye’s face brightened with delight.

He hadn’t expected this small Lion Elephant to possess a golden trait.

No wonder he could slay so many demons on Flower Fruit Mountain.

No wonder he could declare himself king nearby.

Born with gold—truly a child of destiny.

If he could grow stronger, he would surely become a famed demon king, stirring up great upheaval.

[Race: Lion Demon Clan (possessing Suanni bloodline)]

[Rank: Demi-Demon King]

[Traits: Ancient Lion Roar (Gold), Divine Elephant Strength (Red), Metal Body of Geng (Red), Hammer Path Minor Mastery (Purple), Lion’s Majesty (Purple)]

This was Lion Elephant’s trait panel.

More splendid than imagined.

Especially the gleaming golden trait—Ancient Lion Roar—which seemed almost magical, capturing all of Yu Qiye’s attention.

“If I can seize this trait… then perhaps I can truly touch the way of sound.”

Previously, Yu Qiye had stolen a red sound-related trait from the Tiger King.

After fusion, it became uniquely his—the Crow’s Cry Through the World.

This greatly amplified the penetrating power of his voice.

Capable of cleaving metal and shattering the sky.

Yu Qiye had not specially cultivated sound techniques or divine powers, or else he would have shown the world what truly terrifying and deadly sound could be.

But now, unexpectedly, he had encountered another powerful sound-related trait.

And this one was a legendary golden trait.