"Black-furred ape, your tribe can't hold on much longer. Once I deal with you, I'll send them to join you. You'd best not dawdle on your way."
Everything happening now was under the black bear's control.
The black bear felt quite pleased with itself.
Their black bear clan had pledged allegiance to the Sky-Swallowing Python relatively late and had never been highly valued.
This time, if it completed its mission perfectly, it was sure to gain the Sky-Swallowing Python's favor upon its return, and the black bear clan's status would naturally rise.
The thought of future prosperity made the black bear feel invigorated, and the pain from the injuries sustained in its fight with the two black-furred apes vanished.
It nodded to its companions, intending to end the battle then and there.
"Great Demon Bear! You can't kill them. If you kill them, you'll never get the monkey clan's treasure."
The rough male voice not only startled the three black bears but also caused many bloodthirsty demonic beasts to pause in their attacks.
Some demonic beasts, having lived their entire lives within the divine land’s tribal territory, did not understand the human tongue. Upon hearing the clear, articulate shout, they were bewildered.
However, among them were some long-lived demonic beasts proficient in both human and beast languages. Hearing this remark, their expressions varied.
The black bear looked in the direction of the voice, its killing intent almost tangible.
"Get out!"
"Get out!"
"Get out!"
The roars echoed through the air like rolling thunder.
Invisible sound waves swept towards the target like lightning.
"Don't attack, I'm coming out."
The four-winged blood horse, with its lustrous mane, let out a cry and leaped from its hiding place, revealing itself to the assembled demons.
Many of the monkey clan's demon monkeys had seen the four-winged blood horse before, and connecting this with its earlier words, they bared their teeth and showed their ferocity.
The other demonic beasts, however, looked at the four-winged blood horse with disdain.
In the midst of such fierce combat, the four-winged blood horse's presence was as insignificant as dust.
Its voluntary appearance would only make other demonic beasts think it had gone mad.
The black bear, possessing intelligence superior to ordinary demonic beasts, regarded the four-winged blood horse's words with half-belief.
It glanced coldly at the black-furred ape leader in the pit. Seeing that the latter was still unable to get up, it asked with feigned interest, "How would an outsider like you know about the monkey clan? Hmm?"
While the black bear wasn't inherently greedy, it was naturally tempted by the treasures of a super-clan like the monkeys.
Even if it couldn't obtain all the treasures in the end, it would at least get a share.
With the battle now decided, it didn't mind spending a little more time.
The four-winged blood horse pretended to be calm, walking step by step towards the black bear, its heart pounding.
"Great Demon, you may not know, but although I am an outsider, I am closely associated with the demon monkeys of Monkey King Mountain. You can tell from the expressions of those demon monkeys that I am not lying."
The black bear looked at the demon monkeys, whose fur was bristling with anger, and did not doubt this statement.
"Then tell me, what is the monkey clan's treasure, and where is it hidden?" The black bear's voice held an eagerness it hadn't noticed itself.
The four-winged blood horse's voice grew more subservient, "Great Demon, although I know the treasure's location, only the black-furred ape brothers know how to open it. That is why I had to speak up to dissuade you."
As the four-winged blood horse spoke, it slowly approached the black bear.
The black bear paid no attention to its movements.
Its mind was now filled solely with the monkey clan's treasure.
Indeed, it couldn't kill the black-furred ape brothers so quickly.
Monkey King, as the foremost, valiant warrior of the demon race, had defeated countless demonic beasts. The monkey clan's accumulated wealth was astonishing.
After obtaining the treasure, it would be time enough to deal with the black-furred ape brothers.
With this thought, the black bear's gaze towards the four-winged blood horse became less guarded.
Although the four-winged blood horse hadn't explicitly stated its intentions, the black bear, projecting its own motives, believed it had figured out most of it.
It was likely trying to offer this as a token of allegiance, seeing the monkey clan's weakened state.
The black bear disdained the four-winged blood horse's actions but felt, deep down, that it was understandable.
After all, if the Sky-Swallowing Python lost its influence in the great war, it too would find ways to protect itself and seek a new master.
Therefore, after exchanging glances with its two companions, the black bear decided to drag out the semi-conscious black-furred ape leader from the pit for questioning.
The black-furred ape leader was pulled out by the black bear and then slammed back onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Ugh!"
The black-furred ape leader grunted, and dark red blood slowly seeped through its black fur into the ground.
It was severely wounded, and its consciousness was somewhat blurred.
However, stimulated by the pain, it managed to remain somewhat lucid, and it heard every word of the conversation between the four-winged blood horse and the black bear.
"Black-furred ape, I won't waste words with you. Hand over your monkey clan's treasure, and I'll let them live."
The black bear looked down at the collapsed black-furred ape and threatened.
The black-furred ape weakly closed its eyes, remaining silent.
"Tch."
The black bear sneered but did not show anger. Instead, it gestured to its companion to bring out the black-furred ape Jin Gang from another pit.
Black-furred ape Jin Gang was lifted by the neck by the black bear. The intense suffocation caused Jin Gang to convulse involuntarily.
The four-winged blood horse paused, a flicker of anxiety flashing deep in its eyes.
"Black-furred ape, this is your brother, isn't it? You don't want to watch your brother die right before your eyes for a treasure, do you?"
The black bear grinned menacingly and tightened its grip.
Jin Gang's struggles intensified, and it let out low gasping sounds.
The black-furred ape leader's eyelids twitched, but it still didn't break free.
The black bear sneered, "Very well. Since you don't even care about your brother's life, I'll grant your wish!"
"Wait!"
The black bear actually had no intention of killing black-furred ape Jin Gang. The monkey clan's treasure was only likely to be known in detail by the black-furred ape brothers.
If it couldn't get the black-furred ape leader to talk, it planned to work on black-furred ape Jin Gang. Those words were merely meant to scare the black-furred ape leader and force a compromise.
However, it hadn't expected the one to intervene to be the four-winged blood horse. Its expression shifted subtly.
"Great Demon, I believe this matter can be discussed at length. If it is killed, it will be even more difficult to find the monkey clan's treasure later."
The four-winged blood horse, trying to suppress its fear, said with a fawning smile.
However, its words caused the snow leopard hiding in the shadows to change its expression, realizing something was wrong.
The snow leopard had asked the four-winged blood horse to stall for time because the latter's appearance and voice were highly deceptive, capable of making the black bear lower its guard.
But it had forgotten that the four-winged blood horse was simple-minded and could not hold its composure. After a slight probe, it had already revealed its true intentions.
At this moment, the four-winged blood horse should not have spoken.
As expected, after the four-winged blood horse finished speaking, there was no response from the black bear for a long time.
The four-winged blood horse had a premonition. Trembling, it raised its head and met a pair of beastly eyes filled with killing intent.
It instinctively took a step back, its blood chilling instantly.