Zhu Lie looked at them with undisguised contempt. "What Great Demon God? How come I've never heard of him? I don't know what kind of abilities he has, yet he dares to declare himself a god on his own? What utter shamelessness."
The moment those words left his mouth, it was like kicking a hornet's nest. The numerous demon kings all glared at Zhu Lie with fury, clearly enraged by his disrespect toward the Great Demon God.
Even the succubus, who had been speaking with great caution all along, rarely wore such a solemn expression. She clenched her teeth and said, "Sir, please watch your words!"
Zhu Lie cast her a leisurely glance, his tone flat. "I say what I mean — why should I watch my words?"
That indifferent gaze snapped the succubus back to her senses. Her face drained of color, and she grew flustered, regretting her momentary impulsiveness. She pressed her crimson lips together and didn't dare speak out of turn again.
Another demon king stepped forward, his voice deep and heavy. "Your cultivation is formidable and your methods are impressive — we may very well be no match for you. But if you have come here specifically to humiliate us, then we would rather fight to the death. Our deaths mean nothing, but the name of the Great Demon God shall not be defiled!"
As his words fell, every demon king took a step forward in unison, each wearing a grim expression, looking as though they were ready to battle Zhu Lie at any moment.
The succubus hesitated briefly, then also stepped forward, her face growing even paler.
"Oh?" A cold smirk tugged at the corner of Zhu Lie's mouth. "You trash actually dare to contend with me?"
Threads of killing intent coiled around him as the dragon essence within his body churned quietly. To him, killing these demon kings might require a bit of effort, but he was absolutely capable of doing it. The fury of an eighth-rank Red Dragon was not something just anyone could withstand — even a Third-Order Emperor Realm cultivator would find no favor before an enraged dragon.
The fate of the strongest demon king in Demon Fury City was the perfect example.
Zhu Lie didn't put these demon kings in his eyes, and saw no need to treat them as equals. In his view, Demon Fury City was nothing more than a slightly oversized anthill. When he was in a good mood while walking past, he might lift his foot and step over it; when he wasn't, he'd simply kick it aside. Now these ants were actually provoking him of their own accord — only blood and death could quell the anger rising in his heart.
Killing intent surged like a tide, rolling and churning. The air between them grew taut, swords drawn and bows bent.
"The Great Demon God... is very strong," Yang Kai said softly, his voice low.
Zhu Lie turned to look at him, frowning, not understanding why he would suddenly say something like that. Then again, even though he found Yang Kai extremely disagreeable and believed that the only reason he couldn't beat Yang Kai was bloodline suppression, he couldn't deny that the man did have some ability.
With merely a First-Order Emperor Realm cultivation, he could project power comparable to a Third-Order Emperor — such depth was something very few in the entire Star Boundary could match.
So when it came to Yang Kai's words, Zhu Lie gave them at least some weight.
The demon kings were also somewhat stunned. Their expressions as they looked at Yang Kai softened considerably, and each of them silently agreed that this human was at least a hundred times more pleasant to look at than the red-haired young man.
Yang Kai offered Zhu Lie a slight smile. "In the vast world, extraordinary individuals are born in abundance. Sacred Spirits may stand above the rest, but there will always be beings who exceed the imagination of you and me. All we can do is strive forward and catch up — and one day overtake them, surpass them, crush them."
Zhu Lie stared blankly. "Are you lecturing me?"
In his heart he actually admitted that what Yang Kai said made sense, but the arrogance ingrained in his bones wouldn't let him agree. In the eyes of every dragon, dragons were the most powerful beings in existence, the lords of all creation standing above the clouds, with every other creature left to gaze up at them. And the fact that Yang Kai spoke to him in such a matter-of-fact tone only made him more irritated.
"You've got quite the stubborn pride, kid!" Yang Kai chuckled, then turned his head toward the succubus before Zhu Lie could fly into a rage. "I called you all here for one thing."
"What does the honored sir wish to know?" the succubus asked gently.
Yang Kai had just spoken in defense of the Great Demon God, which had greatly improved her opinion of him. She was no longer as afraid as before, and most of the other demon kings felt the same.
"Tell me about the Guixu," Yang Kai said calmly.
"What?"
"A Guixu!"
"The Beast of Destruction!"
"How do you know the name Guixu?"
The group of demon kings all changed color, clamoring over one another as though they had heard something utterly shocking. Yang Kai let out a cold snort, which finally silenced them, but watching the way their eyes communicated with one another, it was clear their shock had not subsided.
The succubus swallowed and asked carefully, "Sir, may I ask why you are inquiring about this?"
"Nothing special. I raised a Guixu, so I wanted to learn more about it. The Guixu is a beast native to the Demon Realm, isn't it? So naturally, I came to ask you about it."
"You... you raised a Guixu?" The succubus's face lost all color, and she managed a strained smile. "The honored sir must be joking. How could such a beast possibly be kept in captivity?"
Some of the demon kings wore expressions that hovered between amusement and disbelief, looking thoroughly odd. None of them believed Yang Kai's words, thinking the man was a tremendous braggart — after all, the claim was far too absurd. A Guixu, that beast born to destroy all things, being kept as a pet by a human? If that were truly the case, the man would have long since been swallowed whole, and wouldn't be standing here talking.