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Chapter 158 158 chapters: Roaring Heavenly Dog Bites the Ox's Tail
Chapter 158 158 chapters: Roaring Heavenly Dog Bites the Ox's Tail
The Bull Demon King's combat power had exceeded the expectations of Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing. He had thought that Erlang God Yang Jian, by making a move, could capture the Bull Demon King as quickly as he had defeated the Six-Eared Macaque.
Then, with Yang Jian joining the battlefield with momentum, the Heavenly Army would be able to rout the demon soldiers of Flower-Fruit Mountain, charging directly into Flower-Fruit Mountain and completely exterminating the Demon Clan there.
Unexpectedly, Erlang God Yang Jian found himself evenly matched with the Bull Demon King, with neither able to claim victory!
It's not that Erlang God Yang Jian was lacking in strength, but rather that the Bull Demon King had shown even greater combat power than before when he had fought the Twenty-Eight Constellations.
Their clash could best be described as earth-shattering, not to mention that the turmoil above the Eastern Sea was so intense that even the ocean waters were displaced, exposing the ocean floor—such was their destructive power!
"At this rate, it seems quite difficult to breach Flower-Fruit Mountain! Damn it!"
Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing's gaze turned toward other battlefields. The Six-Eared Macaque, who had previously fled from the hands of Erlang God Yang Jian, now faced the Twenty-Eight Constellations, who also formed the Star-Destroying God Formation to counter the Six-Eared Macaque.
Unlike the Bull Demon King, however, the Six-Eared Macaque did not choose to confront the Four Symbolic Divine Beasts summoned by the Star-Destroying God Formation head-on but instead used his cloning divine powers. His clones blocked the advance of the Four Symbolic Divine Beasts, while his real body quietly broke through the formation, attacking the Twenty-Eight Constellations from behind.
Caught off guard, the Twenty-Eight Constellations were unable to withstand the instant explosive force of the Six-Eared Macaque, who injured two of them in just moments. This left gaps in the formation of the Star-Destroying God Formation, greatly reducing its power, which the Six-Eared Macaque and his clones together shattered.
With an insufficient number of formation casters, they could not summon the ultimate form of the Star-Destroying God Formation, the Emperor Phantom. The Twenty-Eight Constellations had no choice but to continue to jointly restrain the Six-Eared Macaque, but they were already at a disadvantage, and it was only a matter of time before they collapsed!
On another front, the Four Great Heavenly Kings faced Sun Wushuang, the Through-Arm Ape Monkey. Sun Wushuang's abilities were slightly inferior to the Six-Eared Macaque's, but the difference was not significant. He was more than capable of holding off the Four Great Heavenly Kings, who were now without the Zijin Fox Mink.
The Four Department Heavenly Gods of Wind, Thunder, Water, and Fire were tied down by the other five of the Six Great Demon Kings: the Jiao Demon King, Peng Demon King, Lion Camel King, Macaque King, and Yu Monkey King, who had formed the Five Elements Battle Formation.
With the Bull Demon King still engaged in fierce combat with Erlang God Yang Jian and unable to contribute, they lacked the numbers required for the Yin Yang Six Harmonies Battle Formation and could only rely on the Five Elements Battle Formation to withstand the various attacks of the Four Department Heavenly Gods. This too resulted in a stalemate in the battle.
The other Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals were still clashing with the demon soldiers of Flower-Fruit Mountain in formation.
The Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals formed the Heavenly Court's battle formations to launch attacks, while Flower-Fruit Mountain's demon soldiers also used the Five Elements Battle Formation and Heaven-Earth Trigram Formation to come up with the Minor Zhou Tian Seven Extremes Battle Formation to counter the enemy.
Though they were still not adept, they could not immediately activate the Great Zhou Tian Ten Directions Wheel Formation. They were somewhat at a disadvantage, but still managed to hold their ground and prevented the Heavenly Army from reaching Flower-Fruit Mountain's mountain protection barrier.
It can be said that the current situation closely resembled the battle 10 days ago. The two sides remained equally matched, with the Heavenly Army gaining no advantage.
"The strength of Flower-Fruit Mountain's Demon Clan is much stronger than I had imagined!"
Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing's brows furrowed deeply. He had boasted before the Jade Emperor that he would definitely break through Flower-Fruit Mountain and completely annihilate all within Flower-Fruit Mountain's Demon Clan who defied the Heavenly Court's rule. However, the current situation was undeniably a slap in the face, and it stung!
Even with Erlang God Yang Jian coming down from the mountain to join the battle, they still could not subdue Flower-Fruit Mountain's Demon Clan. How could he report back to the Jade Emperor?
"Perhaps, it is still necessary to use the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda?"
Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing glanced at the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda floating above his palm, feeling somewhat frustrated. While the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda was indeed his lifebound magic treasure and its power was formidable, activating it also entailed considerable expenditure.
The last time he had used it, although he had caught the demon race of Flower-Fruit Mountain off guard and forced them to retreat, in just that brief moment, Li Jing had used up thirty percent of his total Immortal Primordial Force!
The Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda was difficult to use as an attack magic treasure for extended periods, and Li Jing's Immortal Force was not enough to support its carefree use.
"Let's just wait patiently a bit longer. As long as Erlang God Yang Jian manages to capture the Bull Demon King, then this battle's victory will surely belong to our Heavenly Court!"
Suddenly, Li Jing recalled something. Erlang God Yang Jian had a divine dog with him called the Roaring Heavenly Dog, whose capabilities were not insignificant. Once deployed, even Da Luo Immortals would suffer. He was a formidable assistant to Yang Jian. Why has there been no sign of him? Could it be that Yang Jian was too rushed this time and forgot to bring the Roaring Heavenly Dog along?
As Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing quietly pondered, a change finally emerged in the battle above the Eastern Sea. Erlang God Yang Jian and the Bull Demon King, after a long fight using their divine power martial techniques, still found themselves evenly matched, unable to overpower one another. Yang Jian's expression started to show signs of embarrassment.
He had assured Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King and the other Heavenly Court immortals and war generals that he would definitely capture the Bull Demon King and assist the Heavenly Army in leveling Flower-Fruit Mountain. The current situation was truly a disgrace!
"Howl to the heavens! Come out and help!"
With this loud shout from Erlang God Yang Jian, a dark shadow suddenly burst out from the spiritual beast bag at his waist—it was the Howling Celestial Dog!
This Howling Celestial Dog was a contracted immortal beast of Erlang God Yang Jian, possessing strength at the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm. Though slightly weaker than Yang Jian, its fearsome power lay in its sharp white teeth, which could cut through metal and stone effortlessly. Once bitten, even a Daluo Golden Immortal would not escape unscathed!
No sooner had Erlang God Yang Jian called it forth than the Howling Celestial Dog let out a fierce bark, sprinted on all fours, and circled to beneath the Bull Demon King's feet. Its head suddenly enlarged and viciously bit into the Bull Demon King's tail.
"Ahh~!"
The Bull Demon King's Eight-Nine Profound Skill, like that of Sun Wukong, had also reached the Great Achievement Realm, and he too had cultivated the Vajra Indestructible Body. However, unlike Sun Wukong, who had completed a crucial meridian to attain the Heavenly Demon Body, the Bull Demon King was not of the Heavenly Demon Body.
His Eight-Nine Profound Skill had turned his body as tough as metal and impervious to water and fire, but it had failed to cover his tail, which remained his vulnerability.
The Howling Celestial Dog was truly cunning—it didn't bite anywhere else but targeted the Bull Demon King's tail, delivering such a painful bite that the Bull Demon King screamed in agony.
His strength drained, he pushed Erlang God Yang Jian back, swung his iron staff, and turned to strike at the Howling Celestial Dog, only to hit empty air; the Howling Celestial Dog had already anticipated the Bull Demon King's movements and leapt away after another bite.
The Bull Demon King didn't pursue the Howling Celestial Dog. Instead, he pulled his tail to the front, inspected the deep bite mark on its tip, and, with a pang of torment, burst into furious rage, "Damn beast, I'll skin you and stew your hide!"
A figure burst forth from his body and charged at Erlang God Yang Jian—it was a clone of the Bull Demon King!
A clone granted by Cloning Divine Powers!
Honing the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Transformations and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations to perfection enables one to master Cloning Divine Powers. At Flower-Fruit Mountain, this is no secret among the upper echelons.
Sun Wukong had placed both transformations and his insights into The Way of Transformation into the Heaven-Piercing Tower, available for the disciples of the Flower-Fruit Mountain Demon Cult to study, though access required points.
Within Flower-Fruit Mountain thus far, only a few high-ranking individuals had enough points to access all of Sun Wukong's insights on the transformations. The Bull Demon King was one of them, and so far, only he and the Six-Eared Macaque had managed to seamlessly integrate the transformations and unlock Cloning Divine Powers.
Others lacked either the innate talent or the necessary cultivation insight.
However, the Bull Demon King usually kept a low profile and rarely revealed his full abilities unless absolutely necessary. If it weren't for the unbearable pain from the Howling Celestial Dog's bite, he might not have revealed his mastery of Cloning Divine Powers yet.
The clone blocked Erlang God Yang Jian, and the Bull Demon King charged at the Howling Celestial Dog, transforming into a fierce tiger and pouncing ferociously.
"Is this, Cloning Divine Powers?"
The pupils of Erlang God Yang Jian's eyes widened in shock. The Bull Demon King had mastered Cloning Divine Powers! This was unimaginable!
Years ago, when he was accepted by Real Man of Jade Cauldron, Yang Jian was given a chance to choose a cultivation technique. He only asked, "Which technique is the strongest, and which secret can be cultivated to the greatest extent?" Real Man of Jade Cauldron had then revealed that among the techniques he knew, the Eight-Nine Profound Skill was the protective divine technique of the Chan Sect.
When cultivated to Great Achievement, it rendered the practitioner's body as tough as diamond, impervious to weapons, and resistant to destructive elements, even offering a chance to cultivate the Eternal Indestructible Body.
And for the secrets, the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations were easy to learn but hard to master, often only mimicking forms without embodying their essence. However, if one could cultivate it deeply and grasp The Way of Transformation, it not only compensated for these deficiencies by completely embodying both form and spirit but also unlocked a divine skill—Cloning Divine Powers.
Yang Jian, without hesitation, chose the Eight-Nine Profound Skill and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations and, as Real Man of Jade Cauldron had said, found success in his cultivation upon leaving the mountain.
He shone brightly in the Divine Enthronement Battle, establishing formidable achievements, and later even attained physical body sanctification, earning the title of Prominent Divine Lord. Although he hadn't yet achieved the Eternal Indestructible Body, he indeed unlocked Cloning Divine Powers through understanding The Way of Transformation offered by the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Transformations.
Undoubtedly, Yang Jian had exceptional talents, but importantly, he was of the Human Race. Cultivating Human Race techniques and marvelous arts came naturally to him. But how on earth could the Bull Demon King, a member of the Demon Clan, grasp the subtleties of these marvelous arts to understand The Way of Transformation and unlock Cloning Divine Powers?