Chapter 712 Twenty Years in a Flicker, Xiang Gu and Hu Qing Reappear

In the blink of an eye, twenty years passed swiftly.

For mortals whose lives scarcely reach a hundred years, twenty years is enough for a vigorous youth to step into middle age.

For low-realm cultivators of Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment, twenty years is often enough to bury their ambitions of breaking through further.

But for those of Supreme Realm or beast overlords, whose lifespans are exceedingly long, twenty years is but the snap of a finger.

They have countless spans of twenty years to squander.

The Mangcang Mountains remained desolate.

Still a place even Supremes dared not tread.

Long ago, the human Supremes and the beast overlords of the Mangcang Mountains forged a ten-thousand-year pact.

The beast overlords were not to take a single step beyond the mountains.

The human Supremes were not to enter them.

Any violator would be betraying the pact.

Of course, as nearly a hundred thousand years passed and those ancient Supremes died away, the pact faded from memory.

Figures like Lei Jinglong dared to break into the Mangcang Mountains for their own interests.

And now, three figures arrived in the Mangcang Mountains.

Not human Supremes, but demon Supremes.

Xiang Gu and Hu Qing!

At Hu Qing’s side was the Heavenly Fox Saintess, Hu Xinyue.

At this realm, demons and beasts were almost indistinguishable.

When demons revealed their true form, they were vast beasts.

Beasts could also shrink into human form, though doing so greatly slowed their absorption of heaven and earth’s qi.

The ten-thousand-year pact did not include demon Supremes.

“Xiang Gu, will those overlords agree?”

“I heard their mission is to guard the Mangcang Mountains forever, never leaving.”

The beautiful Heavenly Fox Supreme Hu Qing frowned.

Xiang Gu rumbled, “Their mission is to guard the cave mansion of the Great Desolate Venerate.”

“That much I know very well.”

“But now the entire True Dragon Holy Land has vanished, and the Netherworld Evil Dragon they suppressed has also disappeared. This is a great threat.”

“I think once the beast overlords learn the Netherworld Evil Dragon is missing, they will be the first to act.”

“After all, they were the ones who forced it into the Nether Sea and sealed it!”

Hu Qing sighed softly. “Let us hope so…”

Soon, they moved unhindered deep into the Mangcang Mountains.

Yet in the domains of the four beast overlords, none were to be found.

It was as though the four had vanished.

“You’re looking for Old Tree?”

A crisp voice rang out.

Xiang Gu and Hu Qing looked up, and a shadow vast enough to blot out the sky descended upon them.

A gale howled, dust filled the air.

When it cleared, they saw clearly—an enormous Heaven-Shrouding Skylark.

And behind it, a smaller one.

Though it hardly looked clever—landing by frantic flapping, slowing with its beak—no ordinary Skylark could manage such things.

Hu Xinyue looked at the little skylark and nearly laughed aloud.

“Indeed, we are Supremes from the Southern Seas. We came to seek the four beast overlords on urgent business,” Hu Qing said solemnly.

The Heaven-Shrouding Skylark thought for a moment. “The four are occupied now. I can deliver a message for you.”

Xiang Gu spoke earnestly, “This matter is too important. It concerns the safety of both demonkind and beasts.”

He sighed. “I’ll be frank. It is about the Netherworld Evil Dragon.”

The Skylark’s expression changed drastically. “Come with me. I’ll take you to them.”

“Good.”

Xiang Gu and Hu Qing immediately followed.

Before long, beneath the highest peak of the Mangcang Mountains, they finally saw the four greatest beast overlords.

The Drooping Heaven Banyan Tree, the Black Death Sky Serpent, the Azure Sky Divine Ox, and the Crimson Blood Winged Tiger—these four strongest beast overlords were gathered together.

Yet their expressions were unsightly.

As Xiang Gu and Hu Qing approached, they overheard the Black Death Sky Serpent muttering, “... I only had a few Supreme bones, and I’ve given them all away. Big Brother Tree, you must help me.”

The Crimson Blood Winged Tiger wore a bitter face. “Indeed, who knew he would demand so many Supreme bones, never stopping. Over these twenty years, I’ve already handed out six!”

The Drooping Heaven Banyan Tree remained silent for a long moment before speaking. “Have either of you given away more than I have?”

“I have surrendered no less than twenty Supreme bones. Did I complain?”

“Back then, we boasted boldly. Now we must swallow the bitter fruit of our own words.”

“We are beast overlords, beast Supremes! Or do you wish to go back on your word?”

The Black Death Sky Serpent and the Crimson Blood Winged Tiger lowered their eyes, sighing helplessly.

The Azure Sky Divine Ox scratched its head with a hoof. “Was it really that many? I gave all my Supreme bones to the new master, I don’t see the problem.”

The other two glared at him furiously.

The Drooping Heaven Banyan Tree said dully, “You only had two Supreme bones in total. Of course you feel nothing…”

Xiang Gu and Hu Qing exchanged looks of astonishment.

From what they heard, these four beast overlords were troubled.

To whom had they given their Supreme bones?

Such important things, handed away so directly?

A new master?

And who exactly was this new master?

It was only then that the arrival of Xiang Gu and Hu Qing drew the overlords’ attention.

The Black Death Sky Serpent growled in displeasure. “Sparrow, why did you bring outsiders in?”

The Crimson Blood Winged Tiger snarled, “I’ve never seen you before—where did you come from, demons?”

The Azure Sky Divine Ox laughed cheerfully. “Oh, unfamiliar faces, where are you from?”

The Drooping Heaven Banyan Tree, however, studied them closely.

Suddenly, as if recalling something, it spoke.

“Xiang Gu? I seem to remember you. At the end of the God-Demon War, you had just advanced to Supreme, correct?”

Xiang Gu smiled and nodded. “Indeed, senior. It has been a long time.”

The Banyan Tree also smiled, but its tone at once turned stern. “How much of our conversation did you hear just now?”

All the qi-roots upon its body rose like serpents, locking onto Xiang Gu, Hu Qing, and Hu Xinyue.

The aura of a beast overlord pressed down without restraint.

If not for Hu Qing’s protection, Hu Xinyue would have vomited blood on the spot.

Xiang Gu hurriedly chuckled. “We heard nothing at all.”

Only then did the Banyan Tree lower its countless roots, nodding in satisfaction.

The Heaven-Shrouding Skylark said calmly, “Earlier, they mentioned the Netherworld Evil Dragon, which is why I brought them inside.”

“What?”

At that word, all four beast overlords froze, even the Azure Sky Divine Ox.

Back in the God-Demon War, they had personally crippled the Netherworld Evil Dragon and suppressed it into the Nether Sea.

At that time, West State had already been devastated by countless Saint Realm battles, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Their clash with the Netherworld Evil Dragon became the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

West State sank from then on, becoming the Western Sunken Sea.

They and the Netherworld Evil Dragon had both been spirit beasts of the Great Desolate Venerate.

They naturally knew how terrifying the Netherworld Evil Dragon’s strength truly was.

“What has happened with the Netherworld Evil Dragon?”

The Banyan Tree’s voice was grave.

Xiang Gu’s gaze grew solemn. “The True Dragon Holy Land vanished overnight. The Netherworld Evil Dragon, suppressed in the Nether Sea for a hundred thousand years, has also disappeared.”

“Now the Four Sacred Dragon Palaces have mobilized completely, searching for its whereabouts.”

“We came to the Mangcang Mountains to invite the four of you to come forth, to face the Netherworld Evil Dragon together.”

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