There was one thing the Bald Witch King could not fathom — how had the Southern Barbarian Tribe's Sacred Artifact ended up in the hands of this man called Wu Niu.
Black Radiance had obliterated the world, wiping out hundreds of thousands of Southern Barbarian tribesmen, including every Witch King alive at the time. By all logic, the Sacred Artifact should have been lost or destroyed along with those Witch Kings, yet here it was, manifestly before his very eyes.
Had this Wu Niu actually gone to that battlefield?
The thought surfaced, but the Bald Witch King immediately dismissed it. As far as he knew, a Demon Saint of unfathomable power — equivalent to a Witch Saint — had been present at that site. If Wu Niu had truly ventured there, there was no way he could have returned alive.
The Southern Barbarian Tribe still had another Witch King, and the Sacred Artifact still existed. This was rather different from what the Bone-Eating Clan had anticipated.
Led by the Bald Witch King, several of the Bone-Eating Clan's Witch Kings exchanged glances, apparently communicating something in silence. Moments later, they reached a consensus.
The Bald Witch King spoke: "Wu Niu, hand over the Sacred Artifact. You have allied yourselves with the Demon Race — you are no longer children of the Barbarian God."
Yang Kai snorted: "Which eye of yours saw us allying with the Demon Race?"
Wu Chi barked: "Still trying to quibble? If you haven't allied with the Demon Race, why did you save this Demon King?"
Yang Kai replied: "I told you — he is my man. Of course I saved him!"
Wu Chi sneered with contempt: "From the sound of it, you're claiming you've subdued this Demon King?"
"Exactly!"
Wu Chi burst into laughter, clearly not believing a word of it. The other Witch Kings shook their heads slightly as well, thinking Yang Kai was boasting far too shamelessly. Just a short while ago he had been nothing more than a Grand Witch Master — what right or ability could he possibly have to subdue a Demon King? That was an existence on par with themselves, the Witch Kings — equally proud and unyielding. Put in his place, they would never submit to the coercion of a Demon Marshal; they would sooner die than live in humiliation.
"You have been steeped in demonic energy — you have fallen to the demonic path!" The Bald Witch King sighed. "Fortunately, the demonic taint in you runs shallow. Hand over the Sacred Artifact. There is still a chance for your Southern Barbarian Tribe to endure."
"Whether I have fallen to the demonic path or not, I know perfectly well in my own heart — I need not trouble yourself to worry about it. I came today only to bring my Wu Niu Clan's people away. I hope you gentlemen will be accommodating!"
Wu Chi thundered: "Stop wasting words with him! His mind is clearly gone — he cares only about rescuing this Demon King. Let me kill him and reclaim the Sacred Artifact!"
Wu Chi had a violent temper, and he struck with startling speed. Even as he spoke, he was already channeling his witch power. A colossal skull suddenly shot forth, swelling to the size of a house, its jaws gaping wide as it lunged toward Yang Kai, threatening to swallow him whole.
The Bald Witch King and the others watched coldly, neither intervening nor assisting — a clear tacit endorsement of Wu Chi's approach.
Yang Kai had seen this skull before. During his previous clash with Wu Chi, the man had deployed this witch artifact, which was as vicious and sinister as they came. But today, when Wu Chi activated it, its power seemed far greater than before.
A chilling aura washed over him. Yang Kai narrowed his eyes and watched.
The skull descended and engulfed him in a single bite.
Wu Chi was stunned — he had not expected it to be so easy. The elation that flickered across his face instantly twisted into shock. In the next instant, blinding sword beams erupted from within the skull, lancing out through every orifice. The entire skull reeled and stumbled through the air like a headless fly, refusing to obey Wu Chi's commands no matter how desperately he tried to rein it in.
Wu Chi's expression changed. He hurriedly shifted his hand seal.
The skull's jaws wrenched open, and Yang Kai burst forth in a streak of sword light, sword in hand. The remains of the skull shrank rapidly, its spiritual essence gravely diminished.
Wu Chi's eyes nearly split with fury. His heart ached unbearably. Inwardly, he was shaken to the core — how could this Wu Niu's strength be this terrifying? Last time, he had been a Lower-Rank Witch King facing a mere Lower-Rank Grand Witch Master and had still come off worse. He had assumed that now, having advanced to Middle-Rank, he could recover some face. Instead, the other man's growth had been even more monstrous.
He was completely outmatched. Though the exchange had lasted only an instant, Wu Chi had arrived at a definitive judgment.
Thankfully, he was not alone… With that thought, Wu Chi raised his gaze.
Over there, in front of Yang Kai, the Bald Witch King had apparently calculated the timing perfectly. He had already positioned himself before Yang Kai and thrust out a palm. A pillar of pitch-black energy roared toward Yang Kai with terrifying momentum — as if it could overturn heaven and earth and shatter the cosmos.
A full-power strike from an Upper-Rank Witch King was naturally devastating.
He intoned in a low voice: "Wu Niu, you were once an unrivaled genius of our Barbarian Race. Absent mishaps, you were destined for great things. What a pity you lacked the wisdom to preserve yourself and fell to the demonic path. The Barbarian Race cannot harbor you — die here."
Yang Kai laughed out loud: "Plenty of people have wanted me dead, and none of them met a pleasant end. You will be no exception, my lord."
Even as he spoke, the Million Sword thrust forward. A single point of cold light flickered, and then the blade erupted like a dragon.
The pillar of black energy shattered into countless blooms of sword light, melting away like snowflakes under a blazing sun.
The Bald Witch King remained unperturbed. With a shift of thought, his hand seal changed, and the annihilated black energy suddenly contracted inward, coalescing into a cage-like prison that sought to ensnare Yang Kai within.