Pan Long watched the Monsters talk without budging an inch and nodded to himself.
The Eastern Sea forces were indeed disciplined and well trained. The Monsters of Yun Province could not compare.
Judging by their demonic auras, the Monsters before him were not especially strong. But they stood in battle formation, their auras linked into one and joined to the mountain's veins beneath their feet. That made them many times more powerful.
If he caught them alone, Pan Long was confident he could cut them down one by one. But faced with this formation, he would have to lose his mind to charge in and seek death.
He stepped closer and asked, "May I go up the mountain?"
The Monster at their head twitched a pair of enormous whiskers. He looked Pan Long over with golden-red eyes and shook his head. "They're setting up an altar on Half-Mountain. Once the evil bird Yiwu is slain, her head will be offered to the River God. What would you go up there for?"
"I met two Dragon Gods here before and spoke with them about a few things. Seeing this battle, I thought they might come back when it's over, so I wanted to wait for them."
Another Monster, with a shell on his back, brightened. "Could you be the 'fated one' the two generals mentioned?"
"I don't know if I count as a fated one, but the two Dragon Gods did entrust me with a few things."
"Then you are!" The turtle Monster nodded and smiled. "That makes us one of our own. I won't hide it from you: they're setting up a Formation on the mountain, waiting for a chance to lure that evil bird over and blow her up, even if it kills them too. Go up now and