On the other hand, the demons showed great offensive power on the other side of the seal, but why did they perform so poorly once they entered the cultivation world?
However, no matter how they considered it, demons continued to pour into the Second Realm Passage. The large protective barrier clearly couldn't expand any further, and more and more people emerged from its protective area. Finally, after everyone had exited, one of the demons shouted, and the protective barrier slowly descended and disappeared.
"What are you doing here?" Hui Zhe and the Lion King nodded to each other, then shouted loudly.
"We've come for only one purpose: you... surrender!" shouted one of the ten exceptionally tall demons.
Xiao Wenbing chuckled. "Heh. His choice of equipment is certainly direct." However, while his wish was good, whether it could be successfully achieved was a big question mark.
His gaze fell upon the waves outside the dam, where, seemingly due to a lack of follow-through, the water level not only failed to rise further but was also visibly receding.
Almost simultaneously, the dried-up riverbed at the bottom of the lake gradually became moist. Although the floodwaters could not break through the dam's blockade, some still seeped in through the ground.
Xiao Wenbing frowned slightly. He said softly, "The soil at the bottom of the river is already damp."
Hui Zhe nodded almost imperceptibly, then suddenly shouted, "You demons, you've entered my territory! Take our blow first!" The old Taoist waved his hand, and countless cold stars lit up on the bodies of tens of thousands of people behind him. Countless magical treasures and flying swords appeared, their multicolored light completely obscuring the sky, even dimming the sunlight.
"Be on high alert."
The demons were clearly prepared for this. Countless points of light appeared on their ground, ready to unleash a massive melee of tens of thousands at a single command.
Xiao Wenbing pulled the two women and Die Xian away to a distance. Their cultivation levels were too low, and in such a chaotic battle, they had no ability to resist. Therefore, their only option was to get as far away from the battlefield as possible.
No one criticized their actions, because no one expected a few juniors at the Golden Core stage to play a significant role in such an occasion, even if... they were successors of the Heavenly Thunder Palace and the Universe Ring.
The light on both sides intensified, and the atmosphere of an imminent battle gradually reached its climax.
However, at that very moment, a sudden change occurred.
Beneath the feet of the demons, countless thorny branches suddenly sprouted rapidly. These branches grew at an alarming rate, almost instantly reaching the feet of most of the demons.
This bizarre situation was completely unexpected by everyone, but it also immediately attracted the attention of the demons. With a loud shout from the leader, a large number of the demons used their magical weapons to attack the branches and leaves on the ground.
However, before they could even begin, the lush, thick leaves began to change again.
The thorns on the branches suddenly came to life, abruptly leaving the branches and swirling back towards the demons.
If an ordinary person encountered such a situation, they would not only be too scared to react, but they would also be terrified. Fortunately, the demons were not ordinary people. Each of them either expanded their bodies with magical artifacts or activated their protective divine skills to keep all the thorns at bay.
They were all accomplished cultivators, and with just a glance, they knew that although these thorns were somewhat strange, they were not dangerous and posed no threat to them whatsoever. Their protective auras were already extremely strong, making it impossible for them to be torn by these thorns.
Therefore, not many people took it to heart, but they soon realized that this idea was completely wrong.
Those demons who were cautious and used magical artifacts were fine, but many who were overconfident and only used their own internal energy to protect themselves immediately sensed something was wrong.
As soon as the thorns entangled them, they secreted a magical viscous liquid. This viscous liquid was extremely corrosive, and what terrified them even more was that even their protective magic could not withstand the corrosive power of this viscous liquid.
Almost instantly, the slime penetrated the protective aura and directly touched the demons' bodies. Upon entering, the slime immediately transformed into a thin film, enveloping them from head to toe. Inside the film, the demons' life force rapidly drained away; no matter how much they struggled, they couldn't break free from this tiny film, which seemed even thinner than paper.
This is the transformation technique of Elder King of the Man-Eating Flower: it grows from the soil and absorbs water to eat.
It was precisely because of the large amount of river and lake water that the Food King was able to transform into millions of forms, break through the earth, and launch a surprise attack on the demon race.
However, no matter how powerful the Food King is, he is still just one person. No matter how strong a person is, unless he is as powerful as the Divine Tree Ancestor or the Treasure God, he simply cannot contend with so many cultivators at the same time.
After the Devouring King multiplied into millions, although its size became incredibly enormous, and every vine on the ground possessed its own consciousness and power, its energy was not particularly strong due to its dispersed nature. Once one's cultivation reached the Tribulation Transcending stage, they would no longer fear such a thin membrane.
Therefore, when the cunning and ruthless Food King attacked, he didn't even touch those powerful Tribulation Transcending stage experts. All his targets were the demon cubs who were equivalent to the Nascent Soul stage and the Separation and Union stage in the cultivation world.
Whether in the cultivation world or the demon realm, both sides unanimously opted for elite force tactics in this crucial battle for both. Tens of thousands of people are practically insignificant to one realm, but any one of them, even a random individual, possesses at least the cultivation level of the Nascent Soul stage, enough to command everyone's attention.
However, only with such cultivation can one avoid becoming worthless cannon fodder in this great battle, and only with such cultivation can one barely withstand one or two attacks.
However, the demon never expected that there would be such an old monster as the Food King in the cultivation world.
An old monster who lingered in the cultivation world for three thousand years, refusing to go to the immortal realm.
The Food King was extremely patient. He waited until he had absorbed enough water, until the demons removed the large light shield that covered everything, and until all the demons' attention was drawn to the sky by Hui Zhe and the others' magic treasures before launching his attack. This also achieved the best results.
Therefore, once they were entangled by this old guy's torso, those Nascent Soul stage demons immediately withered up, their flesh and blood quickly sucked clean by the Devouring King, leaving not even a trace of food behind.
The King of Food moves swiftly and decisively, specifically targeting those with low cultivation levels. At the same time, if the opponent is cautious and uses a protective artifact, he will also turn around and leave without wasting a moment.
He knew that the demons wouldn't just stand by and watch him display his power. His victory was entirely due to his unexpected use of the four characters. Once the demon cubs realized what was happening, it would be his turn to find a way to escape.
Sure enough, the leader of the demons immediately shouted, "Use your magic weapons to protect yourselves! Elder Yan, make your move..."
This person's prestige was obviously extremely high. All the demons who had not yet suffered the calamity, regardless of their realm, almost simultaneously summoned their magical treasures to resist the all-pervasive vines and thorns.
The Food King sighed inwardly, not expecting the demon cubs to react so quickly. However, he was not slow either. In just a short while, he had absorbed the life energy of over a thousand demon cubs. All the vines, replenished by this powerful life force, became even greener and stronger.
An old man with bristling hair and a flushed face leaped out from the center of the demon realm. Although he didn't know what supernatural powers this guy possessed, he was clearly there specifically to deal with him.
The King of Food made a decisive decision, immediately making the most triumphant and riskiest choice of his life.
Volume 4, The Divine Artifacts, Chapter 229: The Might of the King of Food (Part 2)
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Suddenly, a vine shot upwards, breaking through the layers of light blocking the way, and in mid-air, it transformed into the face of the Food King.
This old man-eating flower is indeed extraordinary. Even with so many obstacles, it still couldn't stop his breakthrough, which shows how high his cultivation level is. It is truly a rare sight.
The ugly old face was contorted with rage as he roared, "Are you all idiots? Watching a circus act?! Smash it all!"
"Ah!" Hui Zhe and the others suddenly realized what was happening and cursed inwardly. They had clearly told the old man to be careful not to act recklessly without a signal to help, lest they accidentally hurt him. How did it become their fault now?
However, at this point, personal grudges were no longer a concern. Everyone knew that the best option was to do everything possible to injure the enemy.
Thus, at the command of Hui Zhe and the Lion King, all cultivators, whether human, demon, or hybrid, set aside their past grievances and worked together to unleash their full power.
Countless magical artifacts, dark lightning bolts, talismans, and flying swords rained down relentlessly from the sky upon the numerous demons on the ground.
The demon below was prepared for this. Although an unknown monster was constantly harassing them from below, a protective net had already been laid out in the sky.
The number of cultivators was no less than that of their opponents, and their individual cultivation levels were not necessarily lower. The magical treasures they unleashed were ever-changing, numerous in variety, and dazzlingly beautiful.
In contrast, the demons were much simpler. Each of them summoned a sphere, slightly different in size and color, but their magical power merged and complemented each other, unifying each person's cultivation and spiritual energy. Though seemingly ordinary, their power was immense, completely blocking all the colorful attacks from above.
At this moment, Elder Yan, with his red hair and beard, tossed out a tiny, bright red spark. This spark seemed to possess a life of its own; once it touched the avatar of the Food King, it immediately burst into flames. In an instant, the entire lakebed was engulfed in a raging inferno.
"What are they trying to do? Commit suicide?" Xiao Wenbing exclaimed.
Zhang Yaqi and Feng Baiyi both shook their heads, indicating they couldn't see the mystery. However, one thing was certain: the demon would never seek his own death.
These three were the only humans who didn't participate in the attack. As for Butterfly Fairy, she naturally stayed close behind her master, obeying his every command.
Since he was idle on the sidelines, he naturally focused intently on the changes on the battlefield. When he saw Elder Yan recklessly unleashing a raging inferno, he was naturally filled with curiosity.
"There might be something strange about this fire," Zhang Yaqi casually guessed.
"That's probably how it is." Xiao Wenbing remained silent for a moment, then let out a long, dejected sigh, abandoning his research, and said.
Sure enough. Something truly astonishing happened.
Although the vines on the ground are all transformations of the Food King's incarnations, and the energy contained within them is not particularly strong, the Food King's ability to dominate among his peers has its own unique strengths. The thorns on the vines are the Food King's trump card. These thorns not only possess extremely strong corrosive properties, but also have extremely high defensive capabilities. Even if they encounter a cultivator's Samadhi True Fire, they might not be able to burn through them.
However, the spark in Elder Yan's hand, which he didn't know the source of, caused all the vines and thorns scattered across the ground to burst into flames upon contact with it, none of them escaping unscathed.
However, incredibly, the demons seemed to possess a peculiar immunity to these sparks. Even if the fires burned ten times more fiercely, the demons remained standing still, as if completely unaware. In fact, these fires did not harm these cultivators from the demon realm.
The avatar of the Food King tumbled and swung in the sea of fire. Although it was a grand spectacle, kicking up clouds of dust, everyone could see that it was struggling in its death throes, making a last-ditch effort to fight back.
The demon leader sneered, glancing at the disheveled formation. He hated this unexpected monster to the core. Its antics had not only cost the group over a thousand weaker assassins, but also completely disrupted his meticulously planned scheme.
Fortunately, Elder Yan acted in time, using the advantage of elemental counteraction to eliminate the thief in one fell swoop, thus relieving his great worry.
He looked up at the sky, watching the various colored lights emerge endlessly, seemingly capable of attacking him without end. His expression changed slightly; the cultivation world was indeed different from what it was three thousand years ago.
The people he brought, while not all of the demon realm's elite, comprised at least a tenth of their numbers. His intention was to establish a foothold here and then expand in all directions. However, compared to them, the cultivators were equally formidable, making victory far more difficult.
Seeing the relentless attacks from the enemy, and with their own side lacking magical treasures, they could only barely hold their ground, let alone launch a counterattack.
He frowned deeply, finally letting out a long sigh. With a flick of his wrist, a white light screen slowly rose from his hand—the very same white light shield that even Feng Baiyi's heavenly lightning couldn't overcome.
"Good heavens, this treasure has been brought out again. Hmm, breaking it will indeed be quite difficult," Xiao Wenbing muttered to himself.
A murderous glint flashed in Feng Baiyi's eyes, and she gripped her free right hand tightly. If it weren't for the gravity of the matter, she would have really wanted to test her limits to see if she could break through this strange magical artifact.
The lakebed gradually calmed down, and the King of Food's clone withered away. Everyone could see that it was nearing its end.
"Alas, Senior Food King, he was just too reckless." Xiao Wenbing sighed and said, "However, the fact that he was able to eliminate more than a thousand enemy soldiers by himself is unparalleled in the world. No wonder he was able to defeat Yi Duolong. It turns out that it was true."
His words implied that he was deeply saddened by the loss of such a top expert, which shows that in a war of this scale, unless one is a super being like a god, the bravery of an individual is always limited.
However, no sooner had Xiao Wenbing finished speaking than the Demon Man's Ten Transformations began again.
Just as the Demon Leader and Elder Yan thought that the Food King had run out of tricks and their attention had shifted to the sky, the land right next to the Demon Leader suddenly exploded.
The flying pebbles knocked the unsuspecting demons off their feet, and four long tentacles shot up and bound the unsuspecting demon leader tightly.
Then, the tip of the tentacle transformed into a huge membrane, completely enveloping the demon leader's body.
The King of Food's actions were perfectly timed and skillfully executed, achieving their goal in the blink of an eye.
"Great!" Hui Zhe and the others were overjoyed. They never expected the old man to be so skilled; it was truly unbelievable.
However, their joy was premature. The demon leader's cultivation was far superior to his peers, and even compared to the Food King at his peak, he was only slightly inferior. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and crimson flames erupted from his body.
"ah……"
The four tentacles wrapped around him emitted a mournful cry that resounded throughout the heavens and earth. The thin membrane that had been enveloping the demon leader vanished instantly, like scraps of paper meeting a raging fire.
However, he was too happy too soon.
The Food King's ultimate goal was not to become the leader of the demons. He was also self-aware enough to know that he might be able to defeat the leader of the demons in a one-on-one situation, but if he wanted to do so while surrounded by demons, it would be wishful thinking.
Therefore, from the very beginning, his attack on the demon leader was merely a pretext. Even those four long tentacles filled with powerful energy were just part of what was destined to be sacrificed.
A black phantom, moving at a speed almost imperceptible to anyone, suddenly climbed up the protective shield above the demon leader's head.
"Hmph, courting death." Only now did the demon leader realize the other party's true intentions.
However, he was not worried about this. He had spent all his energy to refine this magic weapon and had long since become one with it. It would be difficult for others to snatch it.
Moreover, this treasure can not only be used as a net for defense, but it can also be rolled up to trap enemies inside, making it a super magic weapon that combines offense and defense.
He sneered, opened his mouth slightly, and was about to chant an incantation to activate his magic weapon and capture the murderer who had harmed countless of his comrades on the spot.
Unexpectedly, a black shadow flashed in the air, and the Food King revealed his true form. His extremely ugly face flashed with a fierce light, and Huo Ao opened his big mouth and spat out a mouthful of foul blood at the demon leader.