Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

Three days later, after arranging matters within his clan, Ironwing Demon General and Chen Yuan set off for Thunder Mountain Cave.

The territory under the jurisdiction of the Thunder Mountain Demon King is hundreds of millions of miles wide, and the territory he personally governs is thirty million miles wide. The other territories are granted to his demon generals.

The most fertile areas are almost entirely under the jurisdiction of high-ranking demon generals.

The territory of the Iron-Winged Demon General is only a little over ten million miles away from the Thunder Mountain Cave, but it is quite barren.

As for the cave dwellings established by low-level demon generals, their size is similar to that of mid-to-high-level demon generals, but they are much more barren and produce almost no cultivation resources.

The two flew above the clouds, deliberately avoiding the caves of other demon generals along the way, led by the Iron-Winged Demon General.

Occasionally, they would encounter a few demon generals, unaware that two mid-level demon commanders were flying past above the sea of ​​clouds.

Three months later, after enjoying the magnificent and desolate scenery of the Burning Demon Realm, Chen Yuan finally arrived at the Thunder Mountain Cave.

Due to the unique nature of the demon race, low-level demon beasts cannot transform into human form, and demon generals are ultimately few in number. Even the demon king's cave has failed to build a city.

However, the number of demon generals and human slaves in Leishan Cave is far greater than that in Tieyi Cave.

This vast mountain range, stretching for thousands of miles, carries a medium-sized spiritual vein of the Demon Realm, but its abundant spiritual energy surpasses even the giant spiritual veins of the Human Realm and the Myriad Demon Continent.

Palaces and pavilions were scattered throughout the area, and even the residences of the slaves were magnificent, exquisite, and elegant.

Besides the human slaves traveling among the mountains, there were also demon generals who had transformed into human form and were flying through the sky.

They all concealed their demonic aura, but none of them could escape Chen Yuan's divine sense.

However, apart from these demon generals and human slaves, the Leishan Mountains lack low-level demon beasts that have not yet taken human form.

Chen Yuan was not surprised by this. He already knew from the Iron-Winged Demon General that the original form of this Thunder Mountain Demon King was a blue-feathered thunder falcon with a powerful bloodline that was no less than that of the Holy Race, but its numbers were extremely small and it had no clan behind it.

Like the Iron Wing Cave, the Thunder Mountain Cave was not shrouded by a massive array, but only had several demon generals patrolling back and forth in the sky.

Just as Chen Yuan and the Iron-Winged Demon General landed, a demon general came forward to greet them.

Iron Wing Demon General revealed a deep blue token, made of some unknown spiritual material, which flickered with wisps of lightning. One side was engraved with the words "Thunder Mountain" and the other side with the words "Iron Wing".

Upon seeing the token, the patrolling demon general immediately bowed respectfully and addressed them as "Iron-Winged Demon General," then led the two into the mountain range to a thousand-foot-high peak.

A low-ranking demon general who was in charge of this peak, Ironwing Demon General, had known him for a long time and asked him to inform him that he wanted to see Thunder Mountain Demon King.

This low-ranking demon general was short and stout, named Yu Cheng. He seemed to be in charge of welcoming and seeing off guests at Leishan Cave. He had a goatee and always had a smile on his face, readily agreeing to everything.

He merely asked Chen Yuan's name without delving into his background, settled the two in two palaces, and then took his leave.

After waiting for three days, Yu Cheng finally reappeared and led the two into the depths of the Leishan Mountains.

The outer edges of the Leishan Mountains are clear and sunny, but the further you go into the mountains, the more gloomy the sky becomes, until it is covered with dark clouds.

Lightning flashes intermittently through the clouds, and muffled thunder rumbled from afar.

The two followed Yu Cheng for hundreds of miles before finally arriving at the center of the mountain range and stopping.

Low-hanging leaden clouds covered a small mountain over three hundred feet tall, and lightning struck almost every moment, its colors—blue, purple, red, and white—dazzling and continuous.

Chen Yuan refined the Kui Niu's true blood and mastered the power of thunder. Feeling the rich thunder power in the world, the sea of ​​true essence in his dantian became more active.

The Thunder Mountain Demon King is known by his name, Thunder Mountain, which is widely known throughout his territory.

But few demon generals and demon commanders knew that Leishan was just a low mountain of about three hundred feet.

Although Leishan is short, it can attract heavenly lightning. The Leishan Demon King chose it to establish his residence there and used it as his name, which made him famous far and wide.

The entire Thunder Mountain was shrouded in a layer of cyan-purple array shimmering with lightning, as if a giant bolt of lightning had locked the Thunder Mountain within it.

Legend has it that there is a supreme treasure of thunder in Leishan Mountain, which can attract heavenly thunder to descend. Apart from the Leishan Demon King, no one can enter this mountain.

Within a radius of a hundred miles around Leishan, there is not a single mountain peak or tree.

The ground was covered with charred, deep pits left by lightning strikes, with rubble flying everywhere.

Even the low shrubs and wild grasses were completely wiped out under the dark, sunless clouds.

Only scattered spiritual herbs of the lightning attribute, absorbing the rich lightning power of heaven and earth, thrived.

Chen Yuan dared not spread his divine sense, but with just a glance, he saw more than a dozen thousand-year-old spiritual herbs and two three-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs, growing casually like weeds.

One of the spiritual herbs, a three-thousand-year-old plant, is extremely rare, having grown for at least four thousand years. It is the main ingredient in a lightning-attribute elixir, capable of purifying the true essence of lightning cultivators. Even Chen Yuan was quite tempted by it.

However, he dared not pick them. Without the permission of the Thunder Mountain Demon King, no demon general or demon commander dared to pick these rare spiritual herbs that were everywhere.

The three descended into a great hall at the foot of Thunder Mountain. Two Nascent Soul stage slaves stood guard at the entrance, representing the highest cultivation level that the soul restriction could control.

After a cultivator reaches the Divine Transformation stage, their Divine Soul merges with their Nascent Soul, transforming into a Primordial Spirit, and the restrictions on their Divine Soul immediately lose their effect.

Chen Yuan and Iron Wing Demon General followed Yu Cheng into the main hall.

Unexpectedly, the hall was rather dimly lit and the furnishings were extremely simple. The pillars supporting the hall were carved with thunder patterns, and there were only a few scattered candles.

However, to the Demon General, there was no difference between light and darkness. The three of them arrived deep within the main hall and finally met the Thunder Mountain Demon King, who ruled over a vast area spanning billions of miles and controlled the lives and deaths of countless demons.

The Thunder Mountain Demon King sat on a tall stone chair with thunder patterns, with four maids at the late Nascent Soul stage standing respectfully beside him.

He was slightly thin, somewhat resembling the Iron-Winged Demon General, with a dignified appearance, looking to be around forty years old, dressed in a blue outfit embroidered with lightning patterns.

He exuded a powerful and majestic aura, inspiring a sense of awe and reverence in others.

Yu Cheng bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, Iron Wing Demon General and Kunfeng Demon General request an audience."

Iron-Winged Demon General followed suit, bowing respectfully and saying, "We pay our respects to Your Majesty."

Chen Yuan clasped his hands and said, "Junior Kunfeng pays respects to the Demon King of Leishan."

Both Yu Cheng and Iron Wing Demon Commander showed a hint of fear and trepidation on their faces.

However, the thunderous power emanating from the Thunder Mountain Demon King had no effect on Chen Yuan, who had refined the true blood of the Kui Niu.

He didn't deliberately put on a respectful demeanor, and the demon general of the Kunyu clan wouldn't tremble in fear before a demon king.

As expected, the Thunder Mountain Demon King's gaze swept past Yu Cheng and the Iron Wing Demon General, and landed on Chen Yuan.

He looked at Chen Yuan, waved to Yu Cheng, and asked, "Who are you? Why do you want to see me?"

Yu Cheng bowed and withdrew, leaving only Iron Wing Demon General and Chen Yuan behind.

Chen Yuan said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This junior comes from the Burning Wind Continent and has traveled all over the world. By chance, I met Fellow Daoist Tieyi."

"We hit it off immediately. I have been staying at the Iron Wing Cave for several months and have been invited to serve as a guest elder. I have come here to earnestly request the Demon King's permission."

Iron-Winged Demon General added from the side: "Your Majesty, Fellow Daoist Kun comes from the Kun Fish Clan, and is of the bloodline of the Holy Clan."

"I sparred with him for a while, and was defeated after a few rounds. His skills were far superior to mine."

"If he can serve as a guest elder of the Iron Wing Cave and serve the King, he will surely make unparalleled contributions to the King in the great war between the two worlds more than 600 years later!"

The Thunder Mountain Demon King's eyes widened in surprise: "The Kun Fish Clan? Are you truly willing to submit to my command?"

Chen Yuan said solemnly, "This junior is willing to serve Your Majesty!"

The Thunder Mountain Demon King looked him up and down and smiled slightly: "Interesting. You are a demon general of the Holy Clan. Why did you come to the Heavenly Skeleton Continent to travel, and even give up your status as a demon general of the Holy Clan to join my ranks?"

Chen Yuan hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "To be honest, Demon King, I have offended one of the demon kings in my clan. Not only am I unable to govern a region, but I am also unable to participate in the war between the two realms. I have no choice but to travel far away to avoid trouble."

"Fortunately, thanks to Fellow Daoist Tieyi's persuasion, I have come to my senses. Since I have no place to stand in the clan, why not make a clean break, withdraw, and seek other opportunities?"

"I have heard Fellow Daoist Tieyi mention the Demon King's reputation many times. His cultivation at the late stage of the Void Refinement Realm is second to none among the many Demon Kings under the Blood Tooth Demon Saint."

"I humbly beg the Demon King to take me in. I will do everything in my power to serve you to the death!"

The Thunder Mountain Demon King nodded slightly: "If what you say is true, I cannot refuse to give you a chance. May I ask which demon king in your clan you have offended?"

"I had the opportunity to meet three demon kings of the Kunyu clan on the battlefield of the war between the two realms. Perhaps I can help you mediate between them."

Chen Yuan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head: "Please forgive me, Demon King, this is a matter concerning my clan, and I really cannot speak of it openly."

"However, the Demon King's cultivation is superior. If the Demon King still has concerns, this junior will take his leave now."

The Demon King of Leishan frowned slightly, his eyes flickered, and he remained silent, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

Chen Yuan bowed slightly, feeling a little uneasy.

If the Thunder Mountain Demon King were concerned about that fictitious Kun Fish Demon King, he would have already ordered him to leave.

After all, the Kun fish demon king forced him to not even participate in the war between the two realms, so his status in the Kun fish clan must not be low.

No one knows whether the Thunder Mountain Demon King would offend such a Holy Clan Demon King for the sake of a mid-level demon general.

A hint of worry flashed in Iron Wing Demon General's eyes. He had made a solemn vow in front of Chen Yuan, but the decision of Thunder Mountain Demon King was beyond his control.

The hall was silent for a long while before the Thunder Mountain Demon King suddenly spoke: "I have heard that the demon generals of the Kunyu clan are given a natal feather left behind by a deceased demon general. Would you be willing to take a look?"

Chen Yuan shook his head: "I have lost my natal feather. Please forgive me, Demon King."

Thunder Mountain Demon King narrowed his eyes: "Then how will you prove your identity as the Kun Fish Demon General?"

Chen Yuan secretly activated the Kunpeng True Blood, and a pair of jet-black wings slowly unfolded behind him. The surging demonic energy that had been contained within him was released, and violent spatial fluctuations permeated every corner of the hall.

He clasped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "Senior, please look, does this count as proof of my identity?"

The Thunder Mountain Demon King stared at the jet-black wings on his back, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He slowly nodded: "Indeed, such rich spatial power, coupled with these deep black wings, can only be possessed by the Kun fish bloodline."

"You may step back now. I will consider this for a few days and give you an answer."

Chen Yuan folded his wings, his aura dissipated, and he replied in a deep voice, "Yes." (End of this chapter)