Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Eighteen Demon Generals (Part One)

Although the submarine had been temporarily stabilized and prevented from sinking further, the immense water pressure and the peculiar magnetic field of the Bermuda Delta kept the entire system in a paralyzed state. If this continued, the vessel would inevitably be torn to pieces by the force. Dan Qiusheng understood the severity of the situation; there was no choice but to seek help from the Dragon Clan. “Master, hurry and ask Senior Yinglong for assistance! Have him help drag the submarine out of the Bass Delta's range. I just used my divine sense to probe—the bottom of the trench is hollow, filled with wreckage from ships and planes. It’s a graveyard beneath the sea! If the hull sinks past its limit of six hundred meters, most of us will never leave this place alive.”

“Rest assured, I’ll go right away.” Hearing that life and death hinged on this moment, Master Zhang dared not delay and rushed toward Yinglong’s chamber.

Perhaps aware of the urgency, a young man dressed entirely in shimmering silver, handsome and composed, came forward to meet Master Zhang. “Master, what has you so anxious?”

“Senior Yinglong, your arrival is timely. Let’s find the Alliance Leader together. He wishes for you to pull the submarine from this magnetic field zone; otherwise, once the hull sinks, those whose cultivation isn’t strong enough may end up buried with the vessel.”

“Don’t worry, Master. I’ll do my best. Go explain to the Alliance Leader, and I’ll head out immediately to try.”

Moments later, a massive silver dragon, stretching a hundred yards, appeared around the submarine. He folded his wings and grasped the hull with his claws. With a surge of energy, the submarine, nearly as large as his own body, began to move at his command.

“Xiaomeng, look—it’s Yinglong!” Hua Feng called Yunmeng to gaze outside.

It was Yunmeng’s first time seeing a legendary dragon. Amazed, she was still somewhat fearful. “Brother Hua Feng, do you think we’ll make it safely out of this strange Bass Delta?”

“Of course. We’ll never stop here. Don’t worry.” Hua Feng’s words were to comfort Yunmeng, and to reassure himself, his confidence newly restored.

After half an hour’s effort, the submarine finally left the magnetic field’s range. The system restarted, and Dan Qiusheng decided to land on a nearby island, leaving the last dozen kilometers to be traversed by swimming.

But soon after landing, while Dan Qiusheng and Master Zhang went out to scout the terrain, Hua Feng sensed someone secretly watching them.

“Come out, friend!” Hua Feng called behind him.

“Well… No wonder the master favors you. You’re quite impressive!” A figure in black robes applauded as he stepped from the shadows, followed by five others dressed identically. Clearly, he was their leader.

“Who are you and how do you know our whereabouts?” Hua Feng asked.

“Haha… Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is that you cooperate with us. Otherwise… well, you’ll bear the consequences!” The black-robed leader threatened.

Hua Feng knew a fierce fight was inevitable. He’d already been secretly gathering his strength, ready to strike first when the opportunity arose. His most powerful attack now was the practical Taiji Fist he’d learned from the “Flying Dragon Manual”—the peerless skill of Zhang Sanfeng, now mastered to some degree. Yet, the enemy’s strength was unknown. Facing six opponents, his chance of victory was nearly nil. He could only buy time, awaiting Dan Qiusheng and the others to arrive and join the fray.

“Boy, we’ve been watching you for some time. Besides your books, we’ve discovered you’re a rare Five Elements Balanced Body—a treasure in itself. If we bring you back and let the master absorb you, his demonic power will surely soar.”

“Master? Who is your master?”

“No harm in telling a dead man. Our master is the Great Emperor Chiyou, and we are his Eighteen Demon Generals! I am the leader—Wind Demon!”

“Oh, is that so? Then how should I cooperate with you?”

“Boy, you’re smart. Come with us quietly and report to the master.”

“Fine, no problem! I’d like to meet the opponent of the two Emperors of Yan and Huang myself…” Before finishing, Hua Feng decided to capture the leader first. He attacked Wind Demon, using all his strength to perform a small grappling technique. But he underestimated Wind Demon’s reflexes; as the chief among the Eighteen Demon Generals, he was formidable. Though Hua Feng was already at the peak of the Yuan King level, he was no match.

His full-force strike was dodged; Hua Feng switched to full defense. Wind Demon was swift, immediately delivering a thunderous blow. Hua Feng blocked with his left arm, using Taiji’s “four ounces to move a thousand pounds” to deflect most of the force, yet he was pushed back dozens of steps before regaining his footing. A heat welled up in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Seeing Hua Feng wounded, Yunmeng wished to help, but Hua Feng stopped her. She and Shenqiu could only defend against the other demon generals, preventing Hua Feng from being attacked from behind.

Without hesitation, Hua Feng recovered slightly and continued to use Taiji Fist against his foes.

“Humph… Foolish boy! If not for Dan Qiusheng and that old Daoist shielding you, I wouldn’t need to mobilize the top ten Demon Generals just to capture a brat like you. Seems you won’t come quietly without some pain! Demon Warriors, this boy is yours—don’t kill him, but feel free to torment him!” With a sneer, Wind Demon stepped aside. His mocking tone and disdainful look treated Hua Feng like a mere lab rat.

Such contempt infuriated Hua Feng. He considered using the advanced summoning technique from the “Shennong Manual,” which normally required a Yuan Emperor-level expert. But with the crisis at hand, he was willing to risk damaging his heart to transcend his limits.

Just then, unexpectedly, a figure appeared in the scene—the white-robed Yinglong, now in human form. “So you’re the new chivalrous leader? Step aside; leave these high-level Yuan Emperors to me. Remember, never hurt yourself before hurting the enemy unless all hope is lost!”

Yinglong began chanting, placing his right hand over his chest. His deep voice intoned, “Wherever there is water and life, the Dragon Emperor is omnipotent. The power of the four seas, under my command!” Instantly, the surrounding sea surged with boundless energy. A colossal water dragon, entwined with lightning, swept in from the ocean. “Go!” Yinglong shouted. Within the water dragon’s range, Wind Demon resisted with all his might, his body aching. Though skilled in wind manipulation, he knew he was no match for this tempest of water, wind, and lightning. He tried desperately to escape, but could not break free; the two were locked in stalemate.

Meanwhile, Hua Feng was surrounded by the five Demon Generals, yet felt no fear. Instead, a fighting spirit rose from deep within him, awakening. Perhaps sensing his surge in momentum, Wind Demon shouted, “Deal with the boy in the middle quickly—I’ll hold off the Dragon Clan!” he commanded.

Battle Demon, Mad Demon, Plague Demon, Break Demon, and Lunatic Demon, upon hearing this, showed no mercy, preparing to subdue the fierce-looking youth together. Their low, guttural voices echoed through the silent night. Watching the youth, one hand pointed to the sky and the other to his heart, Wind Demon felt a hint of fear rising from the depths of his soul. Still, he doubted a mere boy could stir any real trouble, believing it nothing more than a last struggle before death. How could a Yuan King-level cultivator escape the combined assault of five Yuan Emperor-level experts—even with the Five Elements Balanced Body?

Yet, the energy emanating from the youth grew ever stronger—so powerful that even Wind Demon, a peak Yuan Emperor, felt threatened. It was clear that, should this boy survive and mature, he would become a formidable adversary. Wind Demon steeled himself, focusing on Hua Feng’s rapidly shifting aura.