Chapter 41: Try Not to Get Beaten to Death

Meeting the Flood Demon King for the first time truly opened up a whole new world for Yu Qiye.

So, demon kings could be this peerlessly magnificent?
So, demon kings could radiate such overwhelming dominance?

However, the Flood Demon King seemed to have a rather complex relationship with the North Sea Dragon Palace.
According to the Macaque King, he was apparently the illegitimate son of the North Sea Dragon King.
Yet the North Sea Dragon King refused to acknowledge him.
He even regarded him as an abomination, launching punitive campaigns against him time and time again.

"To wage a crusade against his own son, this North Sea Dragon King is truly a ruthless individual."
Sighing inwardly, Yu Qiye, accompanied by the Handsome Monkey King, followed the Flood Demon King toward the deep-sea palace.

During this journey, Yu Qiye took the opportunity to check the Flood Demon King's trait panel.

[Race: Flood Dragon.]
[Stage: Late Mysterious Immortal.]
[Traits: Summon Wind and Rain (Gold), Benevolence Like Water (Gold), True Dragon Body (Red), Nine Rivers Homage (Red), Wrath of Overturning Seas (Red), Dragon Roar Piercing Ears (Red), Mystic Blade Slash (Purple)...]

One had to admit, the Flood Demon King's traits were quite extravagant.
Two Golds and four Reds...
Coupled with his Mysterious Immortal cultivation base.
No wonder he would rank second among the Seven Great Saints in the future.

Most powerhouses were proud.
When the seven demon kings addressed each other as brothers, they likely judged one another primarily by cultivation base.
Here, cultivation base referred to actual realm, not combat prowess.
Cultivation realm was something that could be discerned at a glance.
As for combat prowess...
Unless it was a fight to the death, it was genuinely hard to tell.

Since the Flood Demon King ranked second among the Seven Great Saints, his cultivation base must have been exceedingly high.
And the reality proved to be just that.
The late stage of the Mysterious Immortal realm was already formidable.
Taking another step forward would lead to the Golden Immortal realm.
That could practically be considered standing at the pinnacle of existence in this world.

As for the Daluo realm?
That was an existence that only existed in legends.
Yu Qiye did not dare to dwell on it.
Moreover, Yu Qiye held a vague suspicion in his heart.
That was, perhaps Daluo immortals were unable to act freely.
Or rather, there were severe restrictions on their actions.
For instance, negotiating various conditions and ceding benefits in exchange for a single opportunity to strike.

Daluo immortals were existences that transcended the river of time and remained eternal.
They should have been able to endure in the world indefinitely.
However, powerful as they were, even they faced the possibility of perishing during a major tribulation.
The Journey to the West was precisely such a major tribulation.
They could make a move, but they had to be prepared to become embroiled in the tribulation.
Once embroiled, life and death became unpredictable.
Therefore, throughout the Journey to the West, no Daluo immortals were seen.
This might also be one of the reasons why the Handsome Monkey King was able to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace later on.

It was not that the Heavenly Court tacitly allowed it.
Rather, with the Daluo immortals sitting out, they simply could not suppress him.

"Perhaps they learned a lesson from the God-Conferring Tribulation."
Yu Qiye scoffed inwardly.
He was exceptionally well-versed in the God-Conferring Tribulation.
Initially, everyone thought it was just minor skirmishes.
Who would have thought it would ultimately draw forth all the Daluo immortals, even forcing the supreme Sages into fierce combat.

With the God-Conferring Tribulation serving as a precedent, the Journey to the West Tribulation would inevitably be more restrained.
If that were truly the case, it would undoubtedly be a fortunate thing for him.
This meant that during the Journey to the West Tribulation, if he could step into the Golden Immortal realm, he would possess a certain degree of self-preservation capability.
Then, he could accumulate sufficient foundation during the tribulation.
Once the tribulation passed, or even while it was still ongoing, he could attempt to break through to the Daluo realm.

This idea was sheer madness.
After all, which Daluo immortal had not endured millions of years of bitter cultivation?
Yet Yu Qiye possessed a sliver of confidence.
He, Yu Qiye, possessed "Supreme Wisdom," an "Eternal Demeanor," and was "Diligent in Cultivation All His Life"...
Of course, there was another point that could not be overlooked.
That was—trait plundering.

The combination of these elements gave him the certainty to seize fortune, usurp destiny, step into the Golden Immortal realm in a short period, and even assault...

The Flood Demon King's palace was located in the deep sea.
Surrounded by a ring of coral reefs, the palace looked as though it were carved from crystal, while its corridors and walkways were embedded with jade and seashells, shimmering with dazzling, multicolored light.
Its extravagance made even Yu Qiye narrow his eyes slightly.

"Brother Flood Demon, this palace of yours is not a bit inferior to that Dragon King's palace."
The Handsome Monkey King praised from the bottom of his heart.

"This is merely one of the North Sea Dragon King's secondary palaces; I snatched it from him,"
the Flood Demon King stated frankly.

"..."
The Handsome Monkey King paused in his steps, suddenly falling silent before looking at Yu Qiye and asking tentatively,
"Brother Crow, what do you say if we go snatch a dragon palace ourselves?"

"Have you perhaps forgotten that you already snatched an As-You-Wish divine weapon from the East Sea Dragon Palace? That's far more valuable than a secondary palace,"
Yu Qiye laughed.

"Seems you're right."
Nodding slightly, the Handsome Monkey King realized this fact.
As it turned out, he had already made his move.

"The Ocean-Calming Divine Needle in the East Sea Dragon Palace was snatched by the Monkey King?"
Suddenly, the Flood Demon King looked toward the Handsome Monkey King.

"That's not called snatching, it's called a gift. The old Dragon King of the East Sea personally gifted it to old Sun here."
As he spoke, the Handsome Monkey King reached out with his right hand toward his ear, a flash of golden light dancing.
Immediately following, an ink-black iron rod appeared in his grasp.

"Hahaha..."
Witnessing this scene, the Flood Demon King, who usually kept his emotions hidden, burst out laughing.
His laughter was booming, sending sound waves rolling backward until the entire ocean seemed to tremble.

"To dare plunder the Dragon Palaces of the Four Seas, you are truly a good brother of mine, Flood Demon!"
The Flood Demon King cast aside his previous icy demeanor and threw an arm around the Handsome Monkey King's shoulder.

Shortly after, deep within the palace.
The three demon kings—Yu Qiye, the Flood Demon King, and the Handsome Monkey King—had already begun drinking merrily.
There were even clam-maidens and merfolk dancing one after another, swaying their charming figures.

"Let me tell you, the Dragon Palaces of the Four Seas have oppressed the aquatic tribes of the world for far too long."
"Did you know? I've long been able to shed my mortal shell and transform into a true dragon, but I simply refuse to do it..."
"And that North Sea Dragon King, he sires children but refuses to raise them."

Hearing this, the Handsome Monkey King slammed his palm on the table and rebuked angrily,
"This North Sea Dragon King is truly no good!"

"Indeed, he is no good,"
the Flood Demon King echoed, then added,
"If he weren't of my own flesh and blood, I would have killed him long ago. As a father, he can act ruthlessly toward his son, but I cannot be unfilial."
"Moreover, I want to prove to him that even the mixed-blood lineage he cares about least and despises most can still reign supreme over the aquatic tribes of the four seas and stand at the pinnacle of the waters."

Listening quietly, Yu Qiye finally understood why the Handsome Monkey King had managed to hit it off so well with this domineering and extraordinary-looking Flood Demon King.
So that was how it was.

"The Handsome Monkey King happened to blindly snatch the Ocean-Calming Divine Needle from the East Sea Dragon Palace, which just happened to strike a chord with the Flood Demon King."
Watching the Flood Demon King reveal his genuine emotions, Yu Qiye could clearly sense that he had truly accepted the Handsome Monkey King.
Especially seeing the sincere and unpretentious nature of the monkey's words, the Flood Demon King was utterly delighted.

"Bring wine! Bring wine! Today I shall drink to my heart's content with my two brothers!"
the Flood Demon King shouted.

"Yes, Great King."
Just at that moment, however, a resonant and vigorous voice suddenly echoed from outside the palace.

"Rebellious son, come out at once and face your death!"

Hearing this, the Flood Demon King's expression darkened slightly.
Before he could say anything, Yu Qiye suddenly stood up.

"Brother Flood Demon, Brother Monkey, continue with your drinking and don't let anyone ruin the mood. I'll go take a look and be right back."
Spreading his wings and forming the water-evasion incantation recorded in the Eight-Nine Mysterious Arts with his right hand, Yu Qiye dashed straight toward the exterior of the palace.

"Brother Heavenly Crow..."
the Flood Demon King called out suddenly.

"Hahaha..."
With a hearty laugh, the Handsome Monkey King couldn't help asking,
"Brother Flood Demon, could it be that you are worried about Brother Crow?"

At this, the Flood Demon King wore a solemn expression.
"Although I look down on that cheap father of mine, the Dragon Palace possesses countless secret treasures, plus this is the deep sea..."

"Then you truly underestimate Brother Crow."
Saying this, the Handsome Monkey King added,
"You'd better pray that your cheap father doesn't get beaten to death."