Chapter 1004: Who Is the Prey After All

Bones littered the ground, and the landscape was drenched in blood.

The air reeked of decay, and not a trace of life could be seen—only an endless expanse of gloom, scorched earth, and withered trees. The hollow howl of the wind sent chills down the spine, while ghostly shadows flickered across the sky, filling the air with boundless despair and an eerie, hellish aura.

Standing in the depths of the Black Domain’s abyss, the great monk Chen Kunpeng remained unfazed as dark mist swirled around him. Yet, the sinister fog could not touch him, scattering like mere smoke as he strode forward, appearing no different from an ordinary monk walking through a haze of black dust.

Such a sight would have gone unnoticed in the realms of human immortals or mortal lands—utterly mundane.

But here, in this boundless Black Domain, it was beyond unnatural!

A radiant, well-fed monk, venturing alone into these depths, advancing as if on a smooth path, his face gleaming with a contented smile—he was impossible to ignore.

He had barely taken a few steps when multiple pairs of eyes emerged from the ancient graves, glowing with eerie light in the darkness. Hoarse whispers rose like the murmurs of demons.

"A human dares to walk here?"

"Kekeke… Such fresh flesh is far more delectable than the half-dead. I’ve grown weary of feeding on human prodigies—this will make for a fine change of taste…"

"Hehehe, great minds think alike! I, too, have been craving something new!"

"Oh? If that’s the case, let us share, lest we ruin our harmony!"

"Well said. I… might leave a few bones behind!"

"You dare take the first bite alone?!"

The hushed discussion quickly devolved into squabbling as terrifying demonic energy surged from the graves.

In an instant, dark mist erupted like towering pillars of smoke.

Several formidable figures materialized, blocking the path through the valley—a towering ox-headed demon standing several zhang tall, a half-human tree monster writhing with vines, and a tiny, fanged spirit demon no taller than a few inches…

The horde of fiends unleashed their dreadful auras, clashing violently, unwilling to yield. The earth cracked beneath them, and the black mist in the sky churned and split apart!

Dozens of demonic overlords continued to escalate their power, refusing to back down!

"Venerable Red Ox! Your Ox Demon Tribe has schemed your way to too many advantages! Today, you won’t hog this feast!"

"Last time, the Ox Venerable slipped away on some excuse, and neither he nor the Skeleton Venerable have returned since! They’re probably feasting in the outer realms right now!"

"Exactly! The Ox Demons always take the lion’s share—this time, they get nothing!"

"That old ox is the craftiest of all! Don’t let him win!"

"Whoever snatches it first keeps it!"

…

Demonic mist roiled like storm clouds as the crimson ox demon, massive as a mountain, found itself besieged by the swarm of fiends. Their energies collided and tangled, sending shockwaves rumbling through the demonic realm!

Though the Red Ox was mighty, it could not withstand the combined assault. The colossal figure was battered back, its massive hooves carving deep craters into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

BOOM!

Countless skeletal demonic minions were swept away by the aftershocks, toppling like a tidal wave!

The chaos of the demonic struggle was terrifying—ordinary demons dared not intervene, unable to even approach as these monstrous beings fought to the death!

As for the monk caught in the middle, none of the demons paid him much attention. To them, he was nothing more than a lamb awaiting slaughter.

Just as the battle reached its peak, shaking the very fabric of the demonic realm, a calm voice suddenly rang out, soothing the mind and even dispersing some of the demonic energy.

"Amitabha…"

The prolonged voice carried a mystical power, causing the horde of demons to momentarily lose some of their ferocity. They instinctively looked down, only to find that the sound came from a monk.

The monk stood quietly with his palms pressed together, his robes pristine, yet his figure was pitifully small—no larger than the toe of the Venerable Red Ox. This immediately drew raucous laughter from the demons.

"This monk has quite the nerve, daring to speak up?"

"Probably begging for mercy!"

"The more he begs, the more fear he’ll gather. That’ll make his flesh even more delicious!"

"You’re digging your own grave, monk! Scream all you want—it won’t help!"

"Hahaha…"

Staring at the fair-skinned monk, the Venerable Red Ox’s eyes widened with greed, a sly glint flashing within.

"This monk’s tender flesh must taste exquisite. How about we call a truce? I’m willing to share him with all of you!"

The demons halted their attacks, exchanging covetous glances.

"Not a bad idea, but we get first pick!"

"Agreed! I claim his hands!"

"I want his ears!"

...

The demons had already begun dividing their spoils, behaving like wild beasts.

Witnessing this savagery and hearing their bloodthirsty words, Chen Kunpeng pressed his palms together, shaking his head with a helpless smile.

"Ah, such discourtesy from all of you."

The demons looked down, then at each other, as if stunned by such absurdity before bursting into even louder laughter.

The Venerable Red Ox, in particular, roared with mirth, stirring violent winds around him!

"Hahaha!"

"Courtesy? Who shows courtesy to their meal?! The greatest courtesy I’ll give you is yanking you out of my dung later!"

His laughter boomed like thunder, saliva spraying like rain across the ground.

The demonic figures in the sky and the fiends on the land all cackled with twisted glee, treating the monk as nothing more than a plaything.

In such a scene, an ordinary man would have been scared out of his wits.

Yet Chen Kunpeng remained serene, his smile deepening as he performed a ceremonial bow.

"Amitabha. It seems this humble monk’s journey was indeed necessary. Your lack of courtesy calls for the spreading of Buddhist teachings. Please, honored guests, calm yourselves and take a seat to listen."

His tranquil voice spread as he gently pressed his right palm forward in the air.

BOOM!!!

An invisible, terrifying force descended from above!

In an instant, the entire demon horde plummeted to the ground, smashing dozens of craters into the earth. The Venerable Red Ox was forced to his knees, half-buried in the soil!

The overwhelming power pressed down on every demon without exception, "seating" them firmly in place!

The ox demon, being the largest, left the most horrifying crater beneath him.

Yet no matter how much demonic energy he mustered, his legs refused to straighten—as if an invisible giant hand pinned his shoulders, rendering him immobile!

"This—?!"

The Venerable Red Ox’s fury turned to shock, his massive eyes bulging in disbelief!

He frantically scanned his surroundings.

The other demons were in a similar state, all frozen in their craters, faces twisted in terror. Tremors spread through the earth as the demons’ gazes locked onto the monk, now filled with dread and astonishment.

They had assumed this was just a foolish monk with negligible power, courting death.

Never had they imagined...

This human was anything but ordinary—his strength was overwhelming!

To suppress an entire horde of demons with a single phrase—just who was this monk?!

Fear gripped their hearts as the demons exchanged wary glances.

The vast tide of skeletons, still miles away, was utterly terrified, not daring to advance even a step further, completely frozen in place by the horrifying sight!

The once laughter-filled valley fell deathly silent in an instant!

A suffocating hush enveloped the entire scene!

Under the unblinking stares of countless eyes, Chen Kunpeng remained smiling, nodding slightly in satisfaction before sitting cross-legged on the ground, palms pressed together like a monk delivering a sermon.

His gentle voice echoed, lingering in the air.

"Humans are born from their mothers. Demons are born from their mothers. Everything in this world has a mother—so why distinguish between you and me? All you do is fight and kill all day long. Such violence is unbecoming. Truly, unbecoming..."

Is this really Buddhist doctrine?

The demons widened their eyes, their bewilderment growing.

The monk's words defied their understanding, sounding utterly bizarre. Though his tone was mild, it only stoked the fury in their hearts, grating on their nerves like never before. Even the fear they had momentarily suppressed now flared anew, burning hotter than ever.

Despite knowing this man’s formidable power, many demons couldn’t help but glare with murderous intent, itching to sew that infuriating mouth shut.

Yet, out of fear for Chen Kunpeng’s strength, they held back—for now.

His serene voice continued, drilling into their ears like a cursed chant.

"If you insist on fighting and killing, that’s just pure aggression. Acting so recklessly, you’ll lose your mothers sooner or later. So heed this humble monk’s words—repent, turn back, and embrace the Buddha’s path. That is the true way..."

"Do you understand?"

No one knew how long they endured it, but the maddening voice buzzed through the valley like a swarm of flies, never ceasing. Many demons trembled with rage, their patience wearing dangerously thin.

Finally—

One demon lord, his centuries-hardened demonic heart shattered by fury, could take no more!

With a roar, the rotting Treant Demon erupted in a surge of terrifying demonic energy, its gnarled branches lashing out!

"Goddamn it!!"

"Who the hell are you?! How dare you barge into our demon realm?! Shut your mouth, or I swear—even if it costs me everything—I’ll annihilate your very soul!"

Beside him, the tiny but razor-toothed Spirit Demon rose, baring fangs in a vicious snarl.

"This is the demon realm—our territory! No human gets to act this arrogantly here! Keep talking, and no matter how strong you are, you’ll die where you stand!"

Their rage ignited the others. In seconds, more figures stepped forward, unleashing waves of murderous intent so thick even the black mist recoiled.

The valley was now a cauldron of killing intent, the air trembling with imminent bloodshed.

The remaining demons stayed silent but watched intently, their centuries-honed cruelty and patience laid bare.

As the suffocating bloodlust locked onto the monk, the horde prepared to erupt into a massacre—

Chen Kunpeng merely glanced at them.

Shaking his head with a pitying smile, as if scolding unruly children.

"Ah, you lot are so mischievous..."

"This humble monk is earnestly spreading the Buddha’s teachings. Such rudeness—do none of you have mothers to teach you manners? Even a tree spirit should know better."

The Treant Demon shook with fury, slamming the ground as it leapt up.

"Bastard!!"

"You’re the one without a mother, you damned heretic!!"

Before the words even faded, dark clouds churned overhead, parting as a colossal golden palm tore through the sky and descended like a bolt of lightning!

BOOM!!!

The hundred-zhang-long palm crashed into the shadowed valley, crushing several jeering demons beneath its radiant glow. The earth trembled violently beneath their feet!

"ARGH—!!!"

The unwilling screams echoed, sending chills down the spines of the demon horde.

By the time the golden palm dissipated, the Tree Demon, the Spirit Demon, and several others had already been obliterated into dust under that terrifying force.

Staring at the scattered remains of their kin, the demons clenched their fists in fury, their killing intent thickening—yet none dared step forward. A suffocating pressure began to spread.

Time and again, they had struck, yet they couldn’t even perceive the attack before their comrades were annihilated in an instant!

Just how monstrous was this level of cultivation?!

Even the once-arrogant Venerable Red Ox now sat frozen, his eyes filled with dread, a profound sense of crisis rising in his heart.

Yet no matter how fiercely the demons glared, Chen Kunpeng continued speaking with gentle composure, as if nothing had happened.

"Amitabha."

"Esteemed benefactors, in the future, you must cultivate virtue and temper your rage. This poor monk had no choice but to act. Fortunately, there were no flowers or grass here, or the sin would have been far greater."

"The Buddha is merciful..."

Venerable Red Ox’s eyelids twitched violently, his murderous intent surging.

He finally understood—this monk hadn’t wandered into the demon realm by accident. He had come prepared, striking while the demonic powerhouses were still dormant!

They had been fooled by his mild demeanor, mistaking him for easy prey. Caught off guard, they had failed to evade, only to be crushed by his overwhelming might.

A hunter in their midst, wielding such terrifying power, yet pretending to be harmless—spouting empty words of compassion while playing the weak.

Humans... truly were despicable creatures!

Now, the only option left was to awaken those great ones with their divine sense!