Chapter 102: The Demon King Assembly of Mount Zixia

If a person wished to become famous, they had to possess the resolve to walk a single path to the very end. This was especially true in this prehistoric world teeming with gods, where the human race occupied the lowest, weakest tier. For Nan Luo to establish his name among humans, he had to pave his way with countless corpses and bones.

In the Palace of Immortality, using the body of a sword-attendant from Kong Xuan's Peacock Hall, he had severed the head of the Crown Prince of another hall and hung it from a flagpole. This act made the name Nan Luo known throughout the Palace of Immortality. Afterward, leaving the Yangping clan, he encountered demons pursuing humans and slaughtered countless demons along the way. Although he was only killing minor demons at the time and remained unknown to the wider world, others would eventually find out. After all, the prehistoric world abounded in mystical techniques, and there were many spells capable of reconstructing past scenes from the lingering aura in the air.

At the summit of Mount Buzhou, on the day the Heavenly Court was established, Kong Xuan and the Ancestral Wu Zhurong fought Taiyi. Countless great deities watched the battle in secret using esoteric methods. Nan Luo had drawn his sword and resolutely charged into the fray. On that day, his figure and appearance were etched into the minds of many.

Subsequently, the summons of the Heaven-Monitoring Star Lord, Nan Luo, which echoed through heaven and earth, made his name known to everyone under the heavens. He fought Xingtian and Houyi, and in the mountains, he killed dozens of demon kings and over a thousand demon cultivators who sought to take advantage of the chaos. When Eastern Emperor Taiyi patrolled the world, Nan Luo accompanied him, slaying countless individuals who attempted to rescue the nine sons of the Dragon King.

These were not even the events with the greatest public impact. There were also the three thousand heavenly soldiers whose presence baffled many. When Kuafu refined them into his robes right before Nan Luo's eyes, Nan Luo merely watched from the side and executed the single soldier who managed to escape. Although others did not understand why Nan Luo did this, many witnessed it.

Thus, the name of Nan Luo of the human race had nothing to do with romance or sentimentality. It was defined by a single word: slaughter. He was merely a man who staked his life at every turn.

All of this seemed rather distant to the common humans. Even if they heard of it, it went in one ear and out the other. They would never associate this Nan Luo with their own race. Moreover, for the past decade or so, the world had been in constant turmoil, while Nan Luo remained in Mount Luoling, refining the Lunar Stele.

It was only natural that Quanyin did not know Nan Luo's name.

"Aunt, I want to take the senior in the mountains as my master, is that alright?" Yue, Quanyin's niece, asked in the days that followed.

Quanyin replied, "The cultivation chants you are studying now were passed down by that senior. When the day comes that I can no longer teach you, I will take you into the mountains."

Although they knew of Nan Luo, they never addressed him by his name. Finding no suitable title, the Morning Mist tribe generally referred to him as "the senior in the mountains."

Although Nan Luo had sounded firm and confident when speaking to Quanyin, he was not entirely certain that his name alone would scare off Peng Meng.

Other demons might not care about Nan Luo's name, but the Wu clan certainly would. To the Great Wu of the Wu clan, Nan Luo was a man who had to be killed. He had obtained half a drop of the Ancestral Wu essence blood—a legacy meant only for the Great Wu—and possessed the Cosmic Manifestation, a divine ability unique to the Wu clan. While they could not voice grievances against the Ancestral Wu, they harbored deep resentment toward Nan Luo for obtaining the essence blood. Furthermore, Nan Luo had killed Zhaomian of the Wu clan, a deed now known to everyone in their clan.

The plot by Xingtian and Houyi to hunt down Nan Luo was also common knowledge in the prehistoric world. As for Nan Luo's strength, others might have thought the rumors exaggerated, but Peng Meng knew they were not. They knew Xingtian's temperament; he treated killing like a game, grew stronger as he fought, and would enter a frenzied state that multiplied his power the longer the battle lasted. He was the most troublesome and headache-inducing of all the Great Wu.

And Houyi was widely recognized within the Wu clan as second in strength only to the prime Great Wu, Kuafu. Cold and ruthless like his arrows on the outside, Houyi was deeply emotional. Having grown up with Zhaomian, he desired Nan Luo's death more than anyone, and would never hold back.

To survive the absolute killing intent of these two was a feat beyond Peng Meng's power to match, and he had the self-awareness to know it. Thus, he chose to retreat. What he did not know was that Nan Luo was currently trapped within the Lunar Stele and could not emerge at all. Otherwise, Nan Luo would never have taken the risk of having Quanyin deliver the message.

On this day, the little red bird Yaoyao spotted the magpie from Soul Burial Mountain again. Furious, she rushed forward to confront it. The magpie turned and fled, and the little red bird flapped her wings in hot pursuit, inadvertently chasing it out of the Luoling Mountain Range.

From a distance, she spotted a green-robed man standing in the void. Sensing danger, the little red bird spun around to fly back to Mount Luoling, but it was too late. Before she knew what was happening, she was grabbed by the green-robed man.

The green-robed man said, "Go inform your king that Lujingzi has come to visit." With that, he released her. Having already been captured once, the little red bird knew she stood no chance if he wished to harm her. Hearing that this man named Lujingzi only wanted her to deliver a message, she realized her life was not in danger, and her courage returned.

Flapping her fiery-red wings in the air, she glanced at the magpie perched on the shoulder of the green-robed Lujingzi. Determined not to lose face, she shouted, "Who are you, and what business do you have with my king?"

"Haha, you need not concern yourself with who I am. Just go and inform your king."

Looking at the smiling, amicable Lujingzi, the little red bird thought he must be afraid of her king, which was why he dared not enter Mount Luoling without permission. Remembering Beiling's overbearing style, her confidence swelled.

She thought to herself, *I'll agree to it first. Once I get back to the mountain, I'll just go straight to my nest and sleep. I won't report it to anyone. Who does things for no benefit? Do you take me, Yaoyao, for a fool like Big Bear? Think again...*

Flapping her wings, the little red bird said in a crisp voice, "My king has a terrible temper. He always kills intruders to make wine. Wait here while I go and report."

She turned to fly away, but suddenly her vision went dark. The sky and earth vanished, and a freezing aura enveloped her.

In the blink of an eye, the sensation passed, leaving the little red bird shivering. She did not know what had happened, but her intuition told her something was wrong. She whirled around and asked in alarm, "What did you just do? Let me tell you, I am the attendant of my king's cave! If you dare do anything to me, my king will not let you off!"

Though terrified inside, she spoke with great bravado.

Lujingzi smiled. "Haha, I was afraid you would go straight to sleep upon returning to the mountain and forget my business. So, I placed a minor restriction on you. I will undo it once I meet your king, and perhaps present you with a magic treasure to apologize. How about that, haha..."

The little red bird could not bring herself to trust this smiling man who had just placed a restriction on her. Truly frightened now, she turned and fled, transforming into a red streak as she plunged into Mount Luoling.

She was genuinely worried. Having not seen Beiling for a long time, the more she thought, the more frightened she became. Beiling's domineering methods had always terrified her, but now that she faced a powerful outsider, she immediately recalled the might of her own king.

Not knowing where Beiling was, she could only fly straight toward Luoling Cave.

Her impression of Nan Luo was limited to the day he promised her a cultivation manual. In her heart, this king was reliable and easy to get along with. Although she had heard he had slain King Jinsha, those were just rumors. She preferred to believe that it was King Beiling who had slain King Jinsha.

Especially now, bullied and restricted by an outsider, the little red bird wished more than anything for the return of the domineering, long-haired King Beiling. It would be best if Beiling could avenge her by slaying that green-robed Lujingzi.

Entering Luoling Cave, she saw Nan Luo sitting motionless. Seeing him so still, she wondered if this king was practicing some cultivation technique. No wonder he had only gone out once in all these years.

After waiting a while without any movement from Nan Luo, she grew anxious. If she kept waiting like this, who knew how many years would pass?

She landed a few paces in front of the jade bed, bowing and kowtowing while flapping her wings. To her surprise, the moment she opened her mouth, the voice of her long-silent king echoed from the void.

Overjoyed, the little red bird embellished the story, describing how she had been lured out by a magpie, tortured by a green-robed man named "Luluzi," and placed under a restriction, leaving her no choice but to disturb the king.

Nan Luo smiled and said, "Go and bring that green-robed Luluzi here."

The little red bird was reluctant to go back. Her hope was that Nan Luo would dissolve the restriction with a wave of his hand and then go out to slay the intruder. Hearing him tell her to bring the man in, she said, "That man looks incredibly sinister. He must be harboring ill intentions toward our Mount Luoling."

"Haha, it matters not. As long as they are within Mount Luoling, no one can stir up any trouble. Go ahead, and let me see what this sinister person looks like."

Hearing Nan Luo's words, the little red bird had no choice but to go and invite the green-robed Lujingzi. As she was about to fly out of Luoling Cave, Nan Luo's voice sounded in her ears:

"Your restriction has already been dissolved. Go in peace. That man will not harm you..."

The little red bird was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude. She flew swiftly to the edge of the Luoling Mountain Range. Suddenly thinking that approaching him directly would make her look weak, she called out toward the distant void:

"The King grants permission. Lujingzi may enter the mountain."

Lujingzi's hearty laughter echoed through the void; he did not seem to care about the little red bird's petty cleverness. As he flew past her, he glanced down and let out a soft gasp of surprise, realizing that her restriction had already been dissolved.

It was only a momentary reaction. Smiling all the while, his green robes fluttering, he followed the little red bird to the entrance of Luoling Cave.

Entering the cave, he saw Nan Luo sitting cross-legged with closed eyes. Lujingzi narrowed his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then offered a polite greeting as equals.

The little red bird fully approved of Nan Luo's posture. She thought to herself that although this king did not seem as domineering as King Beiling on the surface, he certainly had his own pride. Look at that—when the visitor bowed, the king sat motionless, not even batting an eyelash.

"I am indisposed and cannot return the greeting. Please forgive me," Nan Luo's gentle voice echoed from the void.

"Haha, not at all. So the King is indisposed. No wonder you have not left this place for years. We are preparing to hold a Gathering of Demon Kings at Purple Cloud Mountain in a month. All demon kings within a three-thousand-mile radius will attend. I wonder if the King will be able to participate?" the green-robed man asked with an equally warm smile.

"I made an error in my cultivation and cannot leave this place. I fear I will be unable to attend. I hope Fellow Daoist Lujingzi will not mind."

"Haha, is it truly that serious? Then the King must prioritize his health. However, I heard there is also a King Beiling here. I wonder if she might attend?"

"Beiling has left the mountain and is no longer here. I fear she will not be able to attend the gathering either."

Lujingzi assumed a look of regret. "I have heard that King Beiling is not only exceptionally powerful but also peerlessly beautiful. It is a pity that I cannot meet her. Truly a pity. I am sure many will return disappointed."

Nan Luo merely smiled. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Lujingzi took his leave.

Long after Lujingzi had departed, the little red bird flew to the cave entrance to look around, then flew back. In a tense, whispered voice, she asked, "King, is it true that you cannot move?"

"Haha, yes. What of it?"

"Oh no, this is terrible! That Lujingzi clearly isn't a good person. Now that he knows you can't move, he'll definitely harbor bad intentions. What... what should we do? And you even told him that King Beiling isn't here! That makes it even worse!"

The little red bird flew up and down in panic, a stark contrast to the motionless Nan Luo.

"It is fine. As I said, as long as they are within Mount Luoling, no one can stir up any trouble."

The faint voice drifted from the void, but the little red bird remained skeptical.

Please add to your collection...