Chapter 1 Widespread Mist

　　A strange fog enveloped the area, its touch on the skin chillingly cold. Two voices echoed within the mist, each sharp and filled with surging murderous intent.

　　"Who are you, sir? Which mountain's demon king? Does having three heads give you the right to be so arrogant?"

　　"I am the West River Demon King, and I welcome the snake meat you bring. Come into my mouth quickly! I'm hungry!"

　　"Boom!"

　　A roar, without any superfluous words. An explosion resounded from within the mist, as if the earth had been overturned, making it difficult to stand.

　　The battle had begun.

　　Two enormous creatures were already dueling in the fog, locked in a life-and-death struggle. They were two giant pythons. The fog was too thick to see their full forms, but each of their scales was over ten meters in size, making their forms all the more terrifying to imagine.

　　Like ancient ferocious beasts resurrected, they stirred up a bloody storm, their baleful aura permeating the air, deterring anyone from approaching.

　　"You are the demon king of this abandoned ancient land? How is that possible! The rules of heaven and earth are incomplete here, and the laws are damaged. The creatures here are born with shackles on their flesh and blood. How could you break those shackles and advance to become a demon king?!"

　　A voice emerged from the mist, filled with shock.

　　"That's a secret. Come into my mouth, and I'll tell you!"

　　"Arrogant! You, a mere century-old demon, dare to open your mouth at me, a millennium-old demon! You are a mindless fool courting death! Kill!"

　　The brief exchange revealed startling information, leaving those nearby puzzled and bewildered.

　　"Demon king, what level is that?"

　　Bei Liu arrived riding his Second Aunt’s Dragon-Horse, carrying Xue Hua beer given by Gao Xin. He drank as he casually explained:

　　"Above fierce beasts are ancient beasts, and stronger than ancient beasts are demon kings. You guys are all fierce beasts. After evolving nine times, you become ninth-level fierce beasts. Breaking through that, you become ancient beasts."

　　"Ancient beasts are also divided into nine levels. After reaching ninth-level ancient beast, if your talent is strong enough, you can forge demon bones and become a demon king."

　　"But among ten thousand ninth-level ancient beasts, you might not even find one demon king being born. It not only requires talent, but also opportunity. Many people remain ninth-level ancient beasts their entire lives."

　　Bei Liu sighed, his tone filled with envy.

　　Because he was one of them.

　　He had been stuck at the ninth-level ancient beast stage for many years, unable to forge demon bones, and thus unable to advance to become a demon king. He could only be an external affairs elder at the Great Wilderness Sacred Hall, without even a formal position.

　　Now trapped here, he had repeatedly asked the Great Wilderness Sacred Hall for help, only to receive a cold "Understood" in return.

　　He had sent a message to that influential figure he once knew, but received no response.

　　Bei Liu sighed, "Without strength, you are nothing!"

　　"The only way for ordinary ancient beasts to advance to become demon kings is to evolve to the ninth-level ancient beast, and slowly grind away. As long as you don't die, you will eventually forge demon king bones and become a demon king."

　　He seemed to be speaking to those around him, and also encouraging himself.

　　The crowd listened in stunned silence.

　　"So, the King Cobra is already a ninth-level ancient beast, and has advanced to become a demon king?"

　　Bei Liu shook his head, remembering the other party's identity as a Heretic God Emperor Seed, his eyes filled with a hint of envy and fear as he said, "No, it's exceptionally gifted. When it advanced to first-level ancient beast, it forged demon king bones. So, it's not a ninth-level ancient beast, but it already has the strength of a demon king."

　　The crowd gasped.

　　"The King Cobra is already a demon king? Heavens, it was already this strong!"

　　"It's already this powerful without being a ninth-level ancient beast, how terrifying will it be in the future!"

　　Everyone's expressions were shocked and horrified. Some had dreamed of surpassing the King Cobra one day, but now their faces were pale and their eyes filled with despair.

　　Among the crowd, a six-tailed Danghu chicken arrived.

　　It was Cao Xin Yin, who was born in the year of the Rooster.

　　Hearing Bei Liu's words, he was excited, his eyes shining as he looked at the snake shadow fighting in the mist in the distance in the wilderness. He muttered to himself, "I used to have some doubts, but now I am very certain that the King Cobra is the Child of the World, the protagonist of destiny, and a protagonist of the major villain category."

　　"I must cling to this big, thick leg!"

　　"Otherwise, I will regret it for the rest of my life!"

　　Bei Liu had sharp ears and heard the other party's voice. He couldn't help but take a deep look at this six-tailed Danghu chicken, a glint flashing in his eyes.

　　"This guy is always talking nonsense, he doesn't seem like a diviner."

　　"But what he said sounds like it makes sense. Why can't I, Bei Liu, also try to cling to the King Cobra's leg? If the other party really doesn't die and instead rises up in the Great Wilderness in the future, that would be a thick leg, and I, Bei Liu, would make a fortune!"

　　Bei Liu pondered, his eyes rolling. Finally, he gritted his teeth, "Forget it, I still have five million wild boars in fixed deposit, which I originally planned to save for retirement. Forget it, I'll give them all to the King Cobra!"

　　"Five million wild boars, hopefully that can allow me to cling to this big leg!"

　　He had a direction in his heart, and his face became happy and relaxed. He even reached out and stroked the fur on his Second Aunt's neck.

　　"That place is quite sensitive, you better not touch it!"

　　Second Aunt suddenly turned her head.

　　Bei Liu quickly let go, smiled awkwardly, and promised not to touch it next time.

　　He squinted his eyes and looked at the great battle in the wilderness in the distance.

　　The strange fog was thick, making it impossible to see the specifics of the battle, but judging from the sounds, it was about to be decided. Moreover, the bloody smell in the air was getting stronger and stronger, and blood was flowing along the low-lying ground like a stream.

　　Obviously, one side was seriously injured and bleeding profusely.

　　A shrill scream rang out in the mist...

　　"Ah! I am a millennium-old demon, and I can't suppress you, a century-old demon! What kind of monster are you?!"

　　"As you can see, I am just an ordinary King Cobra!"

　　"Bullshit, is there a snake like you? I'm the snake, you have three heads and three mouths biting me in turns, what the hell are you?!"

　　The two giant pythons coiled around each other, biting each other, making terrifying roars and the sound of fangs colliding. Their fangs landed on each other's bodies, scales flying like shields and golden wheels, the sharpness of their aura pressing down on people.

　　A person born in the year of the Ox was watching the battle in the distance, but suddenly a scale flew over and slashed his head.

　　"Shua!"

　　A bloody ox head flew into the sky.

　　The crowd retreated in horror, hurrying to stand further away.

　　Heavy gasping could be heard from the mist, like a strong wind howling, stirring up the mist.

　　"Your Excellency is fierce, I admire you. Can we make friends and stop fighting?" The voice was filled with fear.

　　"I have no interest in making friends with food. Bring the meat!" Another cold and domineering voice rang out. Dimly, one could see a snake head standing high in the hundred-meter-tall void, opening its ferocious mouth and biting down into the mist.

　　A shrill scream rang out again.

　　But it stopped abruptly.

　　Then, with a "boom", like a heavy object falling to the ground, a hurricane was stirred up, rolling up the mist.

　　Then came the sound of swallowing food from the mist, very clear.

　　There was the "crack" of chewing bones, the "slithering" sound of drinking blood, and the "tearing" sound of ripping flesh. These sounds in the silent, baleful mist added a bit of horror and terror.

　　The onlookers in the distance looked at each other, able to see the fear in each other's eyes, as well as some anticipation and excitement.

　　"Everyone, did the King Cobra win?"

　　"It should be. Didn't you hear how miserable that guy was screaming just now? It sounded just like when one of my friends was swallowed by the King Cobra."

　　"Ah, I don't know what to say, but at this moment I feel inexplicably comfortable and relieved. It seems that having this ferocious King Cobra in our West River Town is not all bad."

　　The crowd was silent.