Outside, Demon Pu's power was still rapidly increasing, gradually approaching the peak of the Dragon Transformation Realm.
Meanwhile, Blood Demon's body seemed to shrink, withering away bit by bit.
However, Demon Pu felt no sense of relief. Instead, he kept a tight gaze on Gu Qingfeng, who stood motionless, a hint of surprise stirring in his heart.
Had Blood Demon not succeeded in seizing Gu Qingfeng's body? Impossible. Gu Qingfeng's soul was no match for Blood Demon's divine-infused soul. It should have crumbled upon contact, and Blood Demon should have already completed the possession. So why hadn't he fled yet?
Could Blood Demon still have some hidden card up his sleeve?
At this thought, Demon Pu felt a slight tension. Having followed Blood Demon for over a century, he knew all too well how terrifying the old monster could be. Such a being likely had some unknown trick hidden away.
Unable to resist, Demon Pu probed, "Lord Blood Demon, why haven't you fled yet? Could it be that you can't bear to part with your own body?"
At that moment, Gu Qingfeng, who had been standing with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. A brilliant light erupted from his gaze, radiating a divine brilliance.
Seeing this divine light, Demon Pu immediately understood that Blood Demon had successfully taken over Gu Qingfeng's body. Yet, his tension only grew. Why wasn't he fleeing? Did he truly have a trump card?
"Blood Demon is dead," Gu Qingfeng suddenly declared.
Demon Pu was stunned for a moment, then let out a cold laugh. "My Lord Blood Demon, what kind of act are you putting on now? Are you so afraid to admit your identity? Or do you think pretending to be Gu Qingfeng will make me spare you?"
"Pretend your ***! Blood Demon is dead, and now it's time to settle the score between us. You've deceived me time and time again, and today, I'm going to make sure you pay for it!" Gu Qingfeng cursed loudly.
Hearing these familiar and... colorful words, Demon Pu was momentarily dumbfounded, taking several seconds to process what had just been said.
"Gu Qingfeng! You're actually still alive?"
"I'll outlive you, you piece of trash. How much longer do you need to finish devouring him? Hurry up, I'm on a tight schedule."
At this moment, Demon Pu's mind was in turmoil.
He never could have imagined that Gu Qingfeng, whom he had always regarded as an ant, had actually managed to kill Blood Demon's soul. How was this possible?
As for the idea that Gu Qingfeng might be Blood Demon in disguise, Demon Pu didn't buy it for a second. Those familiar and... uniquely eloquent words were something only Gu Qingfeng could deliver. Even if Blood Demon tried to imitate him, he could never replicate that signature air of... shamelessness.
The way Gu Qingfeng spoke, instantly raising one's blood pressure with his words, was unmistakable. There was no doubt—this person in front of him was Gu Qingfeng, not Blood Demon.
At this moment, Demon Pu began to truly take Gu Qingfeng seriously. He realized with shock that, despite having lived for centuries, he had never truly understood this human before him.
Gu Qingfeng's actions were utterly unpredictable, almost inhuman.
And now, he had even managed to kill Blood Demon. There must be some great secret hidden within him.
What was even more baffling was Gu Qingfeng's complete lack of fear. It was as if the concept of fear didn't exist for him. After devouring Blood Demon's soul, he should have fled, but instead, he stood there, waiting for Demon Pu to finish devouring Blood Demon's body, not even attempting to strike.
Just how confident was this guy?
"Gu Qingfeng, you really have some nerve, not running away. You're of no use to me now. Aren't you afraid that once I finish devouring him, I'll take your Devouring Demon Body for myself?" Demon Pu tested the waters.
"Run?" Gu Qingfeng sneered. "I've said it before—I hate being lied to more than anything, and you've deceived me over and over again. If I don't kill you today, I'll change my surname!"
"Then why not strike now, while I'm immobilized?"
"I'm not like you demons. I, Gu Qingfeng, have my own code of honor. I don't take advantage of others when they're vulnerable. I'll wait here for you to finish devouring him, and then I'll deal with you!" Gu Qingfeng declared with righteous indignation.
Seeing this, Demon Pu was truly at a loss. He couldn't tell whether Gu Qingfeng was being serious or not.
Because with Gu Qingfeng, you could never be sure.
What sounded absurd might actually be true.
And what sounded reasonable might be a lie.
So was this guy really so honorable, waiting for him to finish?
Or was there some ulterior motive at play?
As Demon Pu's mind raced, Gu Qingfeng had already plopped himself down on what used to be Blood Demon's throne. He even pulled out a half-eaten chicken leg from his spatial ring and started munching on it.
He was tired of standing, and a bit hungry too, after all the night's events. Just waiting around was boring.
Watching Gu Qingfeng casually eating a chicken leg, Demon Pu grew even more uneasy.
Then, Gu Qingfeng took out the Purple Sun Wine that Shadow Demon had gifted him and started drinking heartily.
What's meat without wine?
Today was a day worth celebrating, having reaped the rewards of Blood Demon's demise. It would be a shame not to toast to such an occasion.
As he drank, Gu Qingfeng even struck up a conversation with Demon Pu. "By the way, Demon Pu, how many of the Seven Demon Generals are still alive?"
Demon Pu remained silent, his brow furrowed as he stared at Gu Qingfeng.
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm talking to you. Why are you staring at me? I don't mean anything by it. I just like a lively atmosphere. If all seven are still alive, why not call them over? It'd be a great celebration, especially since you're now the leader of the Blood Demon Cult."
After a long silence, Demon Pu finally spoke. "Only the top three of the Seven Demon Generals survived."
Gu Qingfeng sighed with regret. What a waste.
"What about Shadow Demon? Isn't it still alive? Where is it? Call it over, and tell it to bring some poison. Purple Sun Wine is too good to drink without a little something extra."
Demon Pu: "..."
Time ticked by, and Demon Pu fell into an eerie silence. The only sounds in the hall were the occasional crunch of Gu Qingfeng eating his chicken leg and the gulps of wine he took.
Finally!
Demon Pu completed his devouring. Blood Demon's body, drained of all its power, disintegrated into nothingness, leaving no trace behind.
And just like that, the once-mighty Blood Demon, a tyrant who had once roamed the world, was dead.
Killed by the combined efforts of Gu Qingfeng and Demon Pu.
Seeing that Demon Pu had finally finished and was now radiating an overwhelming aura of demonic energy, Gu Qingfeng's face lit up with joy.
He took another swig of wine and remarked with a hint of nostalgia, "You finally finished. I was starting to worry the flowers would wilt from waiting."
Demon Pu remained silent and motionless, as if still wary of something, his gaze fixed firmly on Gu Qingfeng.
Then, Gu Qingfeng continued, "You know, it's truly fascinating how things turn out. Just a few days ago, you came to me, proposing that we team up to kill Blood Demon. Back then, neither of us took it seriously, each with our own agendas. But who would have thought that, despite all the twists and turns, Blood Demon actually ended up dead by our hands? You took the body, I took the soul—we split it right down the middle. Isn't that something?"
"What I find most interesting, though, is you, Gu Qingfeng. I can't help but wonder—what exactly is going on in that head of yours?" Demon Pu said intently.
"Though I don't know how you managed to kill Blood Demon's soul, I've now reached the peak of the Dragon Transformation Realm. I'm far beyond what Blood Demon, a mere soul without a body, could ever hope to match. And as a natural-born demonic entity, my strength surpasses that of any ordinary cultivator at my level. To put it bluntly, I am now the strongest being beneath the gods themselves.
Do you understand what that means?"