"Dammit, although there weren't any demonic beasts like that woman said, there really have been a lot more wild animals around recently!" Yi Feng's cursing voice rang out.
Over the past couple of days, countless snakes, wild boars, crows and other creatures had swarmed him as if in a mating frenzy, pestering him to no end.
It could be said that he hadn't gotten a decent night's sleep recently.
Seeing the sky, he knew he couldn't continue traveling today. Yi Feng could only prepare to camp out for the night.
But he had to figure out a way to deal with those animals in heat first.
Thinking of this, Yi Feng took out a small medicine bottle from his little bamboo basket. He then poured the powder inside around his campsite. It was a medicinal powder Yi Feng had specially prepared beforehand, with similar uses to realgar.
While it might not ward off large beasts like wild boars, it should be enough to keep away insects and ants.
After doing this, Yi Feng yawned and leaned against a rock to sleep, exhausted.
On top of a mountain peak, Eagle King and Snake King led countless demonic beasts in descending upon this place.
At his command, countless beasts dispersed in all directions.
"We'll wait here for news," Eagle King said.
Snake King nodded. Just as he was about to close his eyes to calm his mind, he suddenly noticed something and exclaimed in surprise, "Is that Night Wind Centipede?"
Hearing this, Eagle King also looked over with a frown.
"Shouldn't Night Wind Centipede be recovering in the cave? Why has he come here?"
Saying so, Eagle King swooped over and grabbed Night Wind Centipede in his sharp talons.
"Ah, E-Eagle King, what are you doing here?"
Night Wind Centipede stared wide-eyed, asking in panic. As a servant of the ancient demon king, he knew a spirit pearl with great restorative powers was hidden here. He had wanted to take it and flee, but didn't expect to run straight into Eagle King after just getting his hands on it.
"I should be asking why you are here," Eagle King stared sharply at him. "Weren't you recovering your injuries in the cave?"
"I, I, I..." Night Wind Centipede swiftly hid the spirit pearl behind him and turned his little eyes around in thought before answering in a fluster, "With the demon king captured, how could I possibly stay put in the cave? I rushed out to see if there were any traces of that human."
Hearing this, Eagle King's expression softened slightly.
He asked again, "So Night Wind, did you find anything?"
"Did I find anything..."
Night Wind Centipede racked his brains in panic before gritting his teeth and saying, "Of course I found some clues. And I suspect that human is likely nearby!"
After speaking, Night Wind Centipede hung his head guiltily, not daring to meet Eagle King's gaze.
But to his surprise, Eagle King nodded approvingly and praised, "Night Wind Centipede, you have done well. As expected of one who has served six demon kings. You are right, based on reliable information, there is a human in this area. Whether he is that person remains to be verified."
"So, Night Wind, come with Snake King and I to investigate."
Night Wind Centipede nodded dumbly before reacting and staring wide-eyed.
"What, is Night Wind unwilling to assist the demon king?" Eagle King frowned and asked.
"No, no, of course not. I'd give my life for the demon king," Night Wind Centipede quickly affirmed, but his eyes kept darting around as he tried to find another chance to escape.
Soon, a lesser demon reported discovering Yi Feng's whereabouts.
"Let's go, Snake King and Night Wind!" Eagle King said.
Night Wind Centipede wiped his sweat. With the two great demon kings watching him, he had no choice but to follow along.
As they neared their target, Eagle King frowned.
"As expected, there is a human's aura, but no great fluctuations. Pass my order to surround this person completely. We will capture him together on my command!"
Eagle King immediately issued the order, clearly unwilling to repeat the Sword Sect incident where the human martial king still hadn't been captured.
Perhaps they could have already obtained clues to the demon king's whereabouts from these humans.
The demons swiftly surrounded Yi Feng, staring at him with cold eyes.
But Yi Feng was unaware of any of this, still fast asleep on the rock.
At Eagle King's order, the surrounding dozens of demons instantly turned into streaks of light, enveloping Yi Feng.
In but a moment, they reached Yi Feng's vicinity.
Yet in the next instant, those demons suddenly faltered, their bodies weakening as their vision darkened.
The demons revealed panicked expressions. The weaker ones directly reverted to their true forms and dropped dead on the ground, leaving only some stronger demons barely persevering, yet unable to advance an inch.
Eagle King became vigilant.
"Reporting, sire, poison. This human has laid poison around the area," one of the demons said gravely.
Eagle King's gaze swept over the ring of medicinal powder on the ground. But this didn't make him retreat, because in his view, since his subordinates could still endure, the potency of the poison must be limited.
"Snake King, it seems we'll have to take action personally," Eagle King said to Snake King.
Snake King nodded. At the same time, his eyes drifted to Night Wind Centipede as he said, "Night Wind, having served so many demon kings, your strength surely isn't ordinary. Let us attack together!"
As he spoke, Eagle King and Snake King took on their strongest beast forms as a precaution before swooping forth.
Night Wind Centipede reluctantly nodded. Thinking it was just a human with no great fluctuations, there shouldn't be much danger. He also took on his true form and followed along!
Just as they were about to make their move, Yi Feng lying on the rock turned over, revealing his side profile.
This side view just happened to enter Night Wind Centipede's eyes.