My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 217: The Crucial Double-Crosser

Li Rui had already battled Mountain Lord Lou for dozens of rounds, his battle scars accumulating near the limit of maximum efficiency.

Boom!

For the moment, he didn't use his continuously regenerating spiritual power but instead chose to directly clash with the enemy leader using the Soul-Seeking Saber.

At this point, Mountain Lord Lou was showing signs of fatigue, his once impenetrable heavy armor had shattered in many places. It was clear to the observers that this King of Tiger Demons, who commanded many demons in Demon Dragon Valley and refused to bow to Dangkong Mountain or swear fealty to Liangting Country, was at the end of his strength.

Grand General Li is too powerful!

Witnessing this, the morale of the rebellious demon warriors soared.

"Squeak——"

With a signal, over a dozen dark green streaks shot through the air, the toxic blow darts from the Bamboo Rat Guards flew out from the corners.

Of course, Li Rui intended to seize this opportunity. He swiftly dashed forward, arrived beside Mountain Lord Lou, and struck with a flying attack.

The King of Tiger Demons weighed the advantages and disadvantages and could only ignore the blow darts, wielding a blade to face the imposing Golden Steel Umbrella.

Clang!

Now that Li Rui had help, he certainly wouldn't foolishly engage head-on. He struck and then retreated, after which the blow darts pierced the undefended left arm of Mountain Lord Lou.

Swish, swish, swish.

The poison of the Bamboo Rat Guards came from Hui You. Although this venomous viper's frontal power was modest, his use of poison was indeed expert.

The arrowheads sank into Mountain Lord Lou's flesh, and the golden tiger hide visibly began to darken, this trend steadily spreading up his arm.

At this moment, the King of Tiger Demons' expression remained unchanged, he grimly raised his blade and swung it.

Boom.

The entire tiger arm was severed at the root, falling to the ground.

Li Rui's eyebrows twitched.

To be frank, among the great kings he had faced in Demon Dragon Valley, Mountain Lord Lou was indeed the most resolute. No wonder he could intimidate the other demons, despite the grievances, no one dared to rebel.

Such a person was ruthless to himself and even more ruthless to others.

He had some admiration but it didn't stop him from moving forward for the final blow.

Buzz, buzz.

The final attack, the Thunder Shocking Earth enhanced by the battle scars, was unleashed.

Boom!!!

Without a shield for protection and having severed an arm, Mountain Lord Lou couldn't withstand the attack, his body was torn apart by the Golden Thunder and shockwave, blood splattering.

"Roar..."

He growled, retreating several steps, stumbling, almost kneeling, but stubbornly supported himself with the long blade, refusing to fall.

Li Rui had fought with him for quite some time, recognized his strength, and wanted to quickly end him to avoid unnecessary pain.

At this moment, an urgent shout came from the side.

"Be careful!"

Upon turning, he saw Li Bailang and others encircling Zhi Long without success, that mountain-like Bear Demon King knocked away the crowd with one swipe, then charged towards them on all fours.

"Do you still want to save?"

Li Rui activated his endless stream, and spiritual power began a massive recovery.

When the two kings stood together, he could still defeat one of them; now, even if Zhi Long saved Mountain Lord Lou, the latter definitely had no combat power left, the outcome was decided.

But just as he prepared to advance, he suddenly discovered a blind spot he hadn't noticed before.

The threat he sensed from Zhi Long was very low.

Li Rui found it hard to imagine how the Black Bear Demon King, also famous for his brave strength, could hide his aura.

Because of the unexpected change, to be safe, Li Rui did not advance alone but prepared, as before, to call upon the Demon Race forces for long-range suppression, testing the situation first.

Zhi Long, undeterred, hurried towards Mountain Lord Lou, stretching out a massive bear paw, seemingly to support him.

However, the scene that followed was unexpected by everyone present, both humans and demons.

Zhi Long pressed his right paw on Mountain Lord Lou's shoulder, and with a "puff" sound, a fine steel spike on his left arm pierced directly through the heart and lungs of the lone great king of Demon Dragon Valley.

Even Li Rui was startled by this unexpected turn of events.

As everyone remained surprised, Zhi Long still moved rapidly, as if it was all premeditated. After the treacherous backstab, he opened his enormous jaw filled with sharp fangs and brutally bit through Mountain Lord Lou's neck.

The hot, scarlet tiger blood spurted into the air, and Zhi Long, without avoiding it, bathed in blood; at some point, he also held a large bead necklace.

This chain had eighteen beads in total, each one made from a pale demon beast's bone.

After being drenched in Mountain Lord Lou's tiger blood, the beads turned scarlet, meanwhile, in every hollow eye socket, a red light kindled, and black smoke rose from the blood, quickly evaporating. Mountain Lord Lou rapidly withered into a dry corpse.

Yet this wasn't the end. Just after Zhi Long slung the necklace over himself, a chilling aura emanated from it, transforming into black gas that enveloped the already pitch-black Bear King.

He seemed to complete a ritual he had long planned, in a flash.

The battlefield's fighting halted due to the sudden change, most didn't understand what was happening.

In this bizarre atmosphere, Zhi Long spoke.

"I am the mighty Grand General of Dangkong Mountain. Demons of Demon Dragon Valley, surrender quickly, the Great Emperor will be lenient and generously welcome you. Then we shall share wealth and prosperity, a hundred times more enjoyable than impoverished backwaters like this!"

As he spoke, the skull beads trembled, as if eighteen voices were speaking with him, creating a powerful, daunting presence.

[Side quest updated: As Mountain Blocks, the Demon Dragon Valley's master has been terminated, replace it with the traitor of Dangkong Mountain (Dangerous).]

[Quest Target: Kill Zhi Long.]

[Quest Reward: Experience Points +800000, Skill Point +1, Free Attribute Points +8, Epic Level Equipment x1, Epic Level Enhancement Materials x5, Random Consumable Items x3]

Li Rui furrowed his brow.

This Bear Race was an indigenous force of Demon Dragon Valley, passed down since the first generation great king established the settlement. Initially, they were merely gatekeeper generals like Zhi Er, gradually promoted to the second chair over time.

He pondered the cause and effect.

What Grand General of Dangkong Mountain, certainly not an undercover agent planted hundreds of years ago.

That place was a complete Demon Race empire, capable of annihilating Demon Dragon Valley in moments, but being a poor backwater, nobody cared for it; leaving it could irritate Liangting. Hence, it was left alone, even obstructing whenever Liangting's border army tried to suppress it, sending forces from Dangkong Mountain to create a diversion.

Yet...

"Golden Scale Marsh wants to counterattack Liangting, it's rumored Dangkong Mountain wishes to ally against them. Perhaps a great war is imminent, so recruiting this group of demon bandits makes sense."

"Looking at it this way, Mountain Lord Lou must have refused to submit, but Zhi Long secretly contacted Dangkong Mountain and obtained that seemingly magical artifact of a bead chain, waiting for an opportunity to backstab."

Li Rui pulled Yue Ni and Zhi Yan over and asked, "Do you know what that string of skulls is?"

The Wild Boar Demon shook his head blankly, while the Wild Rabbit Demon, evidently more knowledgeable, speculated, "I heard that Yin Tuo Monarch of Dangkong Mountain is skilled in Witchcraft and Gu Skill, often crafting magical artifacts using skin, bones, and flesh of the deceased; perhaps it's his work."

"That should be almost certain."

Li Rui nodded.

The sudden development caught even him off guard; originally, the Bear and Tiger Races were united against the rebel army, resulting in internal strife and the emergence of a super boss empowered by Mountain Lord Lou's strength.

However, he was only momentarily dazed, then quickly devised a plan.

"Matters in the valley are for the valley to decide! No foreign meddling will be allowed! All unite, overthrow the bear, Demon Dragon Valley will never be enslaved!!"

No matter who you are, today everyone will rise up against you!

At this time, one of Mountain Lord Lou's trusted Tiger Demons also realized the situation amidst the shock.

"All tiger guards listen to my command, in the name of Mountain Lord, slay the traitor, and reclaim Demon Dragon Valley!"

The black smoke-covered Black Bear Demon furrowed its brow, feeling a bit dizzy.

"Didn't Yin Tuo Monarch say that once Mountain Lord Lou's might is seized, the demons would be terrified, then would obey my command?"

"Why doesn't it match what was promised?"