The few people present didn't even catch a glimpse of the falling elixirs before they vanished into thin air, flying directly into Po Kong's mouth without a trace.
Wuliang Xianweng, Deero, and Crana all clicked their tongues in amazement. This immortal's sister was truly bizarre. Yet, when they considered her status as a Primordial Being, it somehow became acceptable.
"How was it?" Zoran asked Po Kong.
Po Kong nodded slightly. "A little bit."
"Good. As long as it works." Zoran never dawdled and said decisively, "Let's move out."
Since the refined essence of the Immortal Elixirs, creations of pure providence, was indeed effective for Po Kong, there was no reason to hesitate. Having been eroded for eons within the Netherworld, she desperately needed to consume anything possessing power.
Whether it was matter related to the four elements – Earth, Wind, Water, or Fire – spiritual energy, immortal mist, or even Demon Chi and magic spells, to Po Kong, it was all nourishment. In fact, concentrated elixirs improved her strength much faster than devouring a common continent.
When he told Po Kong he was taking her to eat, he meant it. Of course, considering sustainable development, he intended to acquire both the alchemy techniques and a cauldron. As the Eldest Brother, he didn't mind moonlighting as a chef for his sister.
…
Two hours later.
Deep within a mountain range.
A group of Chan Sect disciples stood far off on a cloud, quietly watching the two figures floating in the sky ahead. The trial was simple: capture a Demon King.
Zoran's gaze swept across the mountains, absorbing every detail. The trial itself was a minor matter; he was contemplating far more. Since they were already here, he couldn't just learn a trade and leave. The most precious treasures in this world were the Spirit Pearl and the Demon Orb. According to the current timeline, these two opposing treasures should have already reincarnated as Nezha and Ao Bing.
Word was that the Tianyuan Cauldron could refine those two into supreme elixirs. He glanced at Po Kong, wondering if such a meal would be sufficiently nourishing for her. After all, when visiting another realm, it was only right to pick up a few souvenirs.
Thinking of this, he said to Po Kong, "The rest is up to you."
Po Kong nodded and leaped down toward the massive mountain before them. Mid-air, Zoran withdrew the gravitational pull that had been supporting her. When Po Kong hit the ground, it triggered a violent, bone-shaking tremor.
Deep within the mountain's core, the grey-skinned, curvaceous Lady Shiji felt her body sway. She put down her mirror, setting aside the question of who was the fairest in the land, and roared in anger, "Who dares disturb the meditation of Lady Shiji!?"
Coincidentally, her appearance shared some similarities with Po Kong's human form. One was the Mountain Demon, the other was a Stone Demoness. In terms of fundamental essence, they were remarkably close.
Once Po Kong hit the ground, finally away from Zoran's side and given permission to eat freely, she could no longer contain herself. She opened her mouth, and vast swathes of earth vanished into her maw. The moment physical matter entered her throat, it was transmuted into pure energy and devoured.
To the side, Deero suddenly shuddered. In his line of sight, the towering mountain range began to sink at a speed visible to the naked eye.
It was sinking into Po Kong's stomach.
Now that she was unrestrained, her speed of consumption was terrifying.
Inside the mountain, Lady Shiji suddenly panicked. The mountain Po Kong was eating was her True Form. Only a second had passed since the tremors began, but she could sense that nearly half of her physical body was already gone. A deep, irrepressible horror brewed in her heart.
Something terrifying was feeding on her.
What kind of being was this? Even if the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect came, they couldn't just use her as a snack!
She closed her eyes and focused her mind, merging her consciousness fully into her physical form. Suddenly, the stone mountain stood up, manifesting into a humanoid shape. As Lady Shiji reclaimed her True Form, her voice became thunderous and enraged: "Who is chewing on me!?"
Two massive holes opened in the upper half of the stone mountain, forming eyes. She scanned the ground and quickly spotted a figure whose proportions were similar to her own humanoid form, sitting on the ground and clutching her leg.
That mouth was like a black hole; life force and spiritual energy were annihilated the moment they drew near. If this continued, she would become the first Demon King to be eaten alive. The most terrifying part? The process was actually painless.
She shook her body violently, sending massive boulders tumbling down. It was unimaginable. If she had encountered this while sleeping or meditating, she would likely have woken up to find nothing left of herself.
"Die!" Lady Shiji roared, her massive body lunging downward. The weight of an entire mountain range collapsed toward Po Kong like the heavens falling.
However, Po Kong at the foot of the mountain didn't seem to care at all. She didn't know what she was doing, nor did she pay any mind to what was happening around her. Zoran was right, she had been eroded to the point of only remembering how to eat.
Fortunately, she still remembered her siblings.
As the stone mountain crushed down, Lady Shiji suddenly froze just before impact. She stared at the plump Po Kong sitting on the ground, completely stunned.
"What's happening?" Deero asked in surprise from the distance. "Why did she stop?"
The other person who knew the truth, Zoran, was watching with interest, his arms crossed.
Lady Shiji's True Form leaned down, her two massive eyes staring intently at Po Kong. She opened her mouth, about to say something. At that moment, Po Kong moved. She tilted her head up and met Lady Shiji's gaze.
Instantly, Lady Shiji trembled, gasping, "So beautiful!"
Every detail of Po Kong's form and physique was laid bare in her sight. Even with the mountain collapsing before her, Po Kong's expression didn't change; she simply took another look and went back to devouring the mountain. The hollow, empty feeling in her heart was finally being filled.
Lady Shiji panicked and hurriedly tried to push Po Kong away, crying out in fear, "Regardless of who you are, touching my True Form will lead to no good end!"
A massive pressure descended from the sky. Po Kong ignored it, sitting on the ground just as she had in the Netherworld. In an instant, the giant hand of Lady Shiji's True Form hovered in mid-air. She stared at Po Kong; though the other woman had done nothing, Shiji felt the pressure on her soul suddenly skyrocket.
She rubbed her eyes and looked closer. Perhaps due to their similar natures, she finally saw Po Kong's true reflection. The being sitting there devouring everything was no human.
It was a creature far more massive than her, infinite times larger than her mountain form. If there was such a thing as the Manifestation of the Cosmos, Shiji felt she was witnessing it now.
"So terrifying..." She shuddered, gravel falling from her body as she backed away. This "Goddess of Beauty" in her eyes was muttering something.
Leaning in, she finally heard it.
"Po Kong... hungry..." a low roar rumbled from the other's throat.
Po Kong reached out, her hands firmly snagging the mountain range that was trying to escape. She instinctively unleashed a burst of sheer, primordial strength. With a violent tug, the entire mountain range was hauled into her embrace.
Ahead, a yawning, abrupt maw drew closer and closer.
"No—!" Lady Shiji screamed in despair.
————
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