Chapter 781: Skeleton King

Chapter 781 -711: Skeleton King

Based on Tu Xiao’an’s observations, this Skeleton Monster’s aura had already reached the Pseudo Demon King Level.

The system also showed its Level as 35.

It seemed to be on the verge of breaking through to the Demon King Level.

If it did break through, its combat power would skyrocket. It would probably be a match for even a veteran Demon King from the Yaoling Mountain Range.

The creatures from the War Relics were inherently much stronger than those in the outside world.

Seeing the skeleton’s transformation, Feng Linjie felt extremely displeased. He wanted to stop the slaughter but was afraid of upsetting Tu Xiao’an.

After all, his status was far less important than this skeleton’s.

「An hour later!」

No more Skeleton Monsters fell from above; it seemed they had all been killed. Feng Linjie was panting heavily, his energy greatly depleted. He sat down cross-legged and began to cultivate to recover.

In contrast, Tu Xiao’an’s Skeleton Monster now stood over fifteen meters tall. Its bones shimmered with a brilliant light, each one seeming to hold some great treasure worthy of exploration.

It was powerful. The Skeleton Monster’s aura was now so strong that even Feng Linjie had to take it seriously.

It broke through. Level 36, the Demon King Level.

Tu Xiao’an had been expecting the Skeleton Monster’s Beast Transformation, but after reaching the Demon King Level, it showed no obvious changes.

It showed no signs of undergoing a Beast Transformation at all. It had merely grown taller and its aura had become immensely powerful.

Tu Xiao’an was disappointed.

‘Does this thing have to cultivate to the level of a Deep Mountain Demon King before it can undergo a Beast Transformation?’

But there were no more Ghost Fires for it to devour.

At that moment.

RUMBLE…!

A colossal Skeleton Monster, a full eighteen meters tall, appeared. It strode forth from a mansion a kilometer away. Though it had no flesh or blood, it was clad in black armor, like a majestic and bloodthirsty general who had slaughtered millions.

Its weapon wasn’t an axe but a long spear that it dragged behind it. From a distance, you could see a Black Dragon coiling and soaring around the spear’s shaft, a truly bizarre sight.

The sound of the long spear scraping across the ground was ear-piercing and grating, making one feel incredibly uncomfortable and uncontrollably agitated.

‘This one in black armor is probably the Skeleton King.’

‘With that aura and appearance, there’s no doubt about it.’

Tu Xiao’an used Conscious Insight on it and found it was also Level 36.

But it was at the peak of Level 36. Its monstrous aura was clearly stronger than that of the newly-promoted Skeleton Monster.

The Skeleton Monster, which hadn’t even had a chance to celebrate its breakthrough, froze as if petrified the moment it saw the Skeleton King approaching in the distance.

A formless fear washed over it, and it felt an urge to kneel and welcome its Monarch.

The Skeleton Monster was panicking like hell. It glanced at the cross-legged Feng Linjie, signaling for him to hurry up and attack.

‘If he kills it, the Skeleton King’s Ghost Fire will appear, and I’ll hit the jackpot!’

But Feng Linjie merely opened his eyes for a moment, saw the majestic Skeleton King striding over, and immediately shut them again, pretending he hadn’t seen a thing.

He was sick and tired of doing all the hard work just for someone else to reap the benefits.

Especially when it benefited this thing that had previously blocked his path.

‘You just devoured all that Ghost Fire and broke through. It’s about time you faced a challenge yourself.’

Seeing that Feng Linjie was ignoring it, the Skeleton Monster prepared to run to Tu Xiao’an, putting on a “poor, scared little baby” act.

But a single glare from Tu Xiao’an stopped it in its tracks.

“Solve this yourself. Kill it, and you’ll be the Skeleton King. If you get killed, then accept your fate.”

Tu Xiao’an said with utter coldness.

This skeleton had already grown to the Demon King Level; its power was immense. It needed to learn to face strong enemies on its own.

‘If it always wants to hide and pick up scraps, what use is it to me?’

Besides, the one that appeared was the Skeleton King. It was time to see if this thing was a mule or a horse.

Pies don’t just fall from the sky. And when one does, there’s usually a trap on the ground waiting for you.

‘Where in the world can you find a deal where you only get benefits?’

Tu Xiao’an had no love for useless things, and he had already helped this skeleton more than enough.

Just then, the black-armored Skeleton King, long spear in hand, stopped in front of the Skeleton Monster. Each step it took made only a single, crisp sound, its presence grim and cold.

It actually spoke in a human tongue, not with the whimpering cries from before. “You traitor. To think you would help outsiders invade. This king will now clean house.”

Its voice was hoarse and savage. Though it spoke human words, it didn’t sound human.

But fortunately, Tu Xiao’an understood.

Faced with the Monarch of its own lineage, the Skeleton Monster was caught in a dilemma. It gripped its axe tightly and also spoke: “You’re not my king anymore, and you can’t kill me!”

‘We’re at roughly the same Realm and power level now, so what’s with the act?’

‘Can’t back down!’

“GAGA…” A tangible, fiery aura erupted from the Skeleton King’s black armor. Its monstrous presence surged toward the heavens, erupting without restraint.

“Traitor, you refuse to see the error of your ways. You deserve to die!”

As the Skeleton King raised its long spear, the shadow-like Black Dragon on the weapon came to life, appearing Spiritual and Fierce, incredibly baleful.

However, the Skeleton Monster knew it had no path of retreat. Its master wouldn’t help; it had to face this alone. A surge of Energy burst from its axe, bizarrely forming a ferocious tiger that seemed alive. A tiger’s roar shot into the sky.

They moved. The two colossal skeletons—one unleashing a long spear with a Black Dragon, the other an axe with a tiger descending the mountain—clashed in an instant.

Both were Level 36, but their strength was not the same.

A great battle had just begun.

After only a few rounds, the Skeleton Monster was sent flying backward, rolling to a stop at Tu Xiao’an’s feet, its axe knocked from its grasp.

“Ying ying ying, Master, help me!” the Skeleton Monster cried pitifully, looking at its master. ‘I can’t beat it!’

Tu Xiao’an said with cold indifference, “If you die, your master will avenge you. Now get up and keep fighting.”

The Skeleton Monster was helpless. It could only pick up its axe, let out a furious roar, and charge toward the Skeleton King.

It didn’t want to die. It wasn’t some low-level Skeleton Beast anymore. It had been so difficult to grow this far.

‘If I die now, it’d be a huge loss.’

If it killed its former king, it could take its place.

“Traitor, kneel and admit your mistake now, and this king might forgive you. Join me in dealing with these outsiders.” The Skeleton King’s voice was incredibly domineering, as if it was Ruling the World.

The Skeleton Monster froze for a moment, then raised its axe and charged, answering with its actions.

“Still you refuse to see reason.”

The Skeleton King brandished its long spear with terrifying power. The weapon looked ordinary, but it was more formidable than any Divine Weapon.

The Black Dragon on the long spear was particularly extraordinary.

Tu Xiao’an observed quietly, thinking to himself, ‘Could that Black Dragon be the long spear’s Artifact Spirit?’

‘It doesn’t look like an illusion, but something real.’

In contrast, the tiger manifested by the Skeleton Monster’s axe was of a clearly different quality.

It looked intimidating, but it was something of a paper tiger.

‘Perhaps it’s because the Skeleton Monster just broke through and hasn’t had time to consolidate its abilities.’

CRASH! Amidst the clash of weapons, the Skeleton Monster was once again sent flying by the Skeleton King’s long spear, rolling to a stop at Tu Xiao’an’s feet.

This time, the damage was clearly more severe. Its entire body had fallen apart, scattering a pile of shimmering, glowing bones across the ground.