An Ill-Fated Fall into Pansi Cave (XI)

Meanwhile, Ao Tu inspected the numerous rewards.

He accepted all the other rewards after reviewing them once.

Even with the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, he only briefly grasped its principles before withdrawing it.

The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree was the only thing that Ao Tu found so appealing that he didn't immediately take it back.

Ao Tu transformed the precious tree into something the size of a teacup and six feet long. With a gentle brush, seven beams of Jewel Light scattered out, a truly formidable sight.

What's even more remarkable is that once this precious tree fell into Ao Tu, it immediately recognized Ao Tu as its master.

Congenital Spiritual Treasure possess a spirit and choose their own masters.

The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree recognized Ao Tu as its master, thus complementing and mutually supporting Ao Tu.

At this moment, Ao Tu heard someone rushing over. He looked up and saw that it was not the White Bone Spirit, but the Scorpion Demon.

But then the Scorpion Demon entered, dressed in a strikingly heroic outfit with a red cloak draped over her back, exuding the aura of a female Demon King. However, upon entering, she immediately and seductively sat down in Ao Tu's lap, instantly dispelling all her previous heroic aura.

Ao Tu said, "Stop fooling around. Isn't your name the White Bone Spirit? What are you doing here?"

The Scorpion Demon said, "Sister White Bone has short legs and walks slowly, so I came over first. Your Great King, what were you doing just now? I'll help you."

Ao Tu didn't mention that he was thinking about how to fight the Tathagata Buddha, but casually said to the Scorpion Demon, "I'm thinking about where to find a Mount."

Upon hearing this, the Scorpion Demon hurriedly laughed and said, "Your Great King, if you want to find Mount, why go to such lengths?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu, having not seen the Scorpion Demon for a long time, did not immediately recognize the Scorpion Demon tone in her words and asked, "Are there any suitable Mount in the city?"

The Scorpion Demon laughed, "Of course."

Ao Tu said, "If it's Demon King has already defected, then let it go. First, it won't sound good if word gets out; second, it would be too hurtful."

Upon hearing this, the Scorpion Demon took Ao Tu's hand, her eyes gleaming with lust, and said, "Your Great King is truly a kind man. Rest assured, I am doing this willingly and have no complaints whatsoever. Please, Your Great King, ride on my back and make me your Mount!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tu maintained his composure, but inwardly he couldn't help but think, "She is indeed Scorpion Demon; only she could utter such words. But if it were the White Bone Spirit or the Little Spider Demon, they could never say such things."

Just then, the White Bone Spirit rushed in and shouted, "Scorpion Demon! The Great King summoned me, why are you rushing to come? You shameless thing!"

The Scorpion Demon ignored him and buried her head against Ao Tu's legs.

Helpless, Ao Tu helped the Scorpion Demon up, straightened her armor, and said, "You're still one of my generals, don't be silly. I treat you sincerely, I would never treat you as a servant Mount." Then he looked at the White Bone Spirit and asked, "Is the roster ready?"

The White Bone Spirit took out the roster and presented it to Ao Tu.

Ao Tu flipped through it.

About 60% of these Demon have slaughtered humans to varying degrees, using human flesh for cultivation. Although they haven't incurred the wrath of heaven and man, they can still be considered ferocious monsters.

The remaining 30% or so of the Demon mostly live deep in the mountains and forests, practicing cultivation and not actively eating people. However, when they sometimes go down the mountain, they inevitably have some entanglements and grudges with Human Race, killing and eating people. But overall, they still cultivate by absorbing the essence of the sun and moon and the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth. These can be called benevolent demons.

Finally, there is a very small number of monsters who have never harmed anyone, or who are naturally timid, or who Grass and Wood spirits. These Demon are extremely few in number and generally have low cultivation levels.

After all, ordinary Demon generally don't have any profound Cultivation Technique, and the fastest way to cultivate is to eat people.

Cultivating solely by absorbing the essence of the sun and moon is like the old turtle in the Tongtian River, who has cultivated for 1,300 years without even shedding its original shell.

However, everything has its price; if one can uphold spiritual practice and persevere, both one's character and Future achievements will be greatly enhanced.

Ao Tu accepted the list. With this list, he would save a lot of trouble in arranging the formation and the future Investiture of the Gods.

Ao Tu rested in the city lord's mansion that night.

A special Formation was set up outside the door to prevent the White Bone Spirit and the Scorpion Demon from entering.

The next day, Ao Tu saw many familiar Demon again: Six-Eared Macaque, Tiger Vanguard, and Red Boy. They had all returned from various places after being summoned by the Blood Sea.

There are many other Demon King, all of whom were recently subdued by the Blood Sea King from various places, and some of them possess Supernatural Ability powers and martial strength.

One of them is a toad spirit that can eat people and is extremely powerful.

There was also an old Mountain Goat Spirit who could tell fortunes and concoct medicines; he was the one who harmed the fewest people among all the Demon King.

There was another dog spirit who called himself Divine Mastiff, possessing Supernatural Ability such as Copper Head and Iron Brains.

There was another giant Crab Spirit, a dragon offspring, whose bloodline was unknown. It grew to an enormous size and had transformed its two crab claws into two large iron pincers. It was said that even Six-Eared Macaque suffered a loss in the water when it was subdued, and it was only after Red Boy boiled the sea that it was finally subdued.

There was also a Crow Spirit, it was said, possessed Supernatural Ability to ward off evil and bring good fortune. He came to seek refuge there of his own volition, but whether it was true or not, no one knew.

There was another red Fox Spirit, who was Xiao Jiu's uncle. She wasn't particularly skilled, but she was recommended by Ao Tu.

There are many other Demon King, which will not be listed here.

Ao Tu roughly calculated that, including Six-Eared Macaque, the Scorpion Demon, and others around him, there were seventeen Demon King at the Golden Immortal Realm or above.

The remaining Demon King and demon generals below the Golden Immortal level who had attained immortality numbered less than four hundred.

Some of the Demon were too far away to return, so there were probably five or six hundred of them in total.

Ao Tu gathered all the Demon together. He sat in the middle, Blood Sea on the left, Great Sun on the right, the seventeen Golden Immortal on either side, and the remaining hundreds of Demon below.

Ao Tu said, "I have a grudge against Spirit Mountain! The Blood Sea has a grudge against Spirit Mountain! The Great Sun also has a grudge against Spirit Mountain! I called you all here today to discuss how to attack Spirit Mountain!"

The Demon below cheered upon hearing this.

These Demon, though wicked, have some redeeming qualities: they respect strength above all else. Since Ao Tu and his companions are powerful and famous, they are willing to obey them.

The toad spirit said, "Third Great King, what do you suggest we do? How should we attack Spirit Mountain?"

These Demon were subdued by the Blood Sea, so they recognize Blood Sea as their Great King and Great Sun as their Second Great King. Ao Tu has just arrived today, so he is recognized as their Third Great King.

Tiger Vanguard saw this and wanted to speak.

Ao Tu gestured for him to sit down.

Both the Blood Sea and the Great Sun are his Incarnation; it doesn't matter who becomes the Great King.

Moreover, if a fight were to break out between him and Tang Sanzang's three disciples in the Future, Blood Sea would fight Wukong, Great Sun would fight Bajie, and he would fight Sha Wujing; this would be the easiest place for him, and he would even have the upper hand.

Ao Tu and the Demon Daoist, "We cannot attack Spirit Mountain by force. Spirit Mountain is treacherous, and there are many monks there. We are unfamiliar with the terrain, making it difficult to conquer. There is an old proverb in the Southern Jambudvipa of China: 'Defense is insufficient, offense is abundant.' Therefore, we cannot attack Spirit Mountain directly. We must make the monks of Spirit Mountain come down to fight us. Only in this way can we destroy the monks and avenge our great grudge!"

The demons, upon hearing this, could not understand any proverb.

The toad spirit said, "Third Great King, you speak, we'll all listen to you!"

Ao Tu said, "The Tang Sanzang and his disciples are almost at Pansi Ridge on their Journey to the West to the West. I'll go there first and capture them. Tathagata Monk the Tang Sanzang finds out, he'll surely send people to rescue them! I'll set up a great formation at Pansi Ridge beforehand to wait for them. I have a Demon-Gathering Banner; when the time comes, I'll unfurl it, and you'll all Supernatural Ability. Hurry over there, and we can wait for them to tire themselves out and use defense as a means of attack!"

Upon hearing this, all the demons exclaimed that it was a brilliant plan.

The old Mountain Goat Spirit was somewhat cautious and asked, "Third Great King, I've heard that there are three Buddha on Spirit Mountain. Can they withstand them?"

Ao Tu laughed, "That Maitreya Monk has already been killed by me in Little Western Heaven! Tathagata Monk, hold off the Blood Sea Brother! Arhat Randeng, hold off the Great Sun Brother! As for the remaining Bodhisattva and Arhats, you all, follow me to defeat them, capture Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra alive, and then together defeat Tathagata Randeng, seize Spirit Mountain, and forever enjoy the Western Sacred Land! At that time, the three of us Great King will become Buddha, and we will all be granted the titles of Bodhisattva Arhat, achieving immortality. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Upon hearing this, the Demon became overjoyed and laughed wildly, baring their fangs and Demon Horde. The demons danced wildly, celebrating with each other in their evil deeds. They were ecstatic and all paid homage, loudly congratulating the monsters!

The giant Crab Spirit, overjoyed, forgot its form and swaggered among the demons, saying that once they conquered Spirit Mountain, it would bathe in the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.

Ao Tu then ordered the Demon to select one out of ten clever and capable Little Demon from among their Little Demon to serve as Demon Soldier.

The demons readily agreed.

(And there's more!)