This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 209, Section 208: The Elder's Memories (Extra Chapter, 4K)

"You lot, you can come in now." The tall guard with ten eyes waved his scale-covered hand and stepped aside to make way.

The moment you step inside, the noise hits you!

The wide main road was crowded with people of all kinds of strange races, and the air was filled with the mixed smells of food, spices and some kind of magical energy.

The buildings on both sides are towering, decorated with shimmering magic crystals and fluttering banners.

"Wow! This is quite a sight..." My companion's eyes widened. "Compared to this place, Shenxue Port is like a small rural town!"

"It's probably because of the 200th anniversary celebration," the other person said calmly. "Even in the Demon King's Castle, there aren't usually this many people."

Wo remained silent, but his shock was no less than that of his companions. The unprecedented spectacle made him instinctively tighten his clothes.

"Hey, let's split up," his companion patted him on the shoulder. "Remember, meet at the city gate at dawn three days from now!"

"Understood." Wo nodded, watching his companions merge into the crowd, while he turned and turned into an alley next to the main street.

He came along mainly because he heard that the Demon King's City had the most complete books on magic arrays and potions, and he wanted to choose some that suited him.

But before that...

Wo patted his belly, having gnawed on hard salted fish all the way. Now that he had finally arrived in the legendary Shanghai, how could he not try the local delicacies?
Following the enticing aromas and sounds of people, he chose a tavern that was almost full and bustling with activity.

Before I could even squeeze in, the fervent chatter inside reached my ears:

"Hey, do you guys think we'll get to see the Demon King at this festival?"

"Probably. I heard that the Demon King attended the centennial celebration, so it should be the same for the two-hundredth anniversary celebration!"

"Heavens! To be able to see His Majesty the Demon King in person... this trip was worth every bit of distance!"

Clearly, there are quite a few outsiders like Wo who have come from afar.

However, when he finally managed to squeeze through the door, the bustling noise inside the tavern suddenly subsided as if it had been choked.

Countless gazes—curious, scrutinizing, and even carrying a hint of barely perceptible repulsion—were like fine needles, subtly piercing the blue magic markings on his bare arm.

A murmur of whispers arose from the corner:
"The demonic beings...the guards' side..."

"But... why is the magic rune blue? I've never seen it before..."

Behind the bar, a boar-man owner with fangs that looked almost poking his face was expressionlessly wiping the counter with a rag, seemingly oblivious to the subtle silence.

Wo composed himself and walked to the bar: "Boss, do you have any authentic signature dishes to recommend?"

The boar-man boss paused in his wiping motion, his thick eyebrows raised high as he looked at Wo Shen: "You...aren't you a local demon?"

"I just entered the city today!" Wo forced a smile.

"Oh—outsider!" The owner exclaimed as if suddenly realizing something, his enormous tusks seemingly cracking open in a smile, his indifference instantly replaced by warmth. "No wonder the magic markings are different colors! Since you've come from afar, you must try our signature dish—Red Tooth Wild Boar Ribs! Slow-roasted over charcoal with our secret sauce, I guarantee you'll never taste this anywhere else, not even in your wildest dreams!"

He patted his chest and began to introduce himself with great enthusiasm.

This sudden change in enthusiasm made Wo feel slightly doubtful. He couldn't help but wonder: Is the reputation of the local demon race not so good?

The noise in the tavern, which had been suppressed by Wo's appearance, erupted again after hearing his conversation with the owner.

While the focus of the discussion remained on the celebration, some people brought up another topic:
"...By the way, will that 'plague god' take this opportunity to cause trouble?"

"What plague god?"

"Who else could it be! It's that human who's been lurking on the border for the past few years, wreaking havoc there!"

"Him? He'd be lucky to get ten times the courage! This celebration will be a grand affair, with Marshal Mad Wolf, the Vampire Grand Duke, and the Demon Lord all gathered together, and even His Majesty the Demon King might be there in person! That coward who only knows how to exploit loopholes only dares to run wild in remote places! Daring to come to the Demon King's City? Perfect opportunity to teach him a lesson!"

……

A delicious meal.

Although the red-toothed wild boar ribs are not as unique as the owner boasts, they are definitely delicious!

Wo thought to himself that this was mostly due to the abundance of spices in the capital.

Leaving the bustling tavern, Woo resumes his journey to find the bookstore.

However, at a relatively quiet street corner, two men dressed in city guard uniforms harassed him.

Their skin was covered with scarlet demonic markings that shared the same origin as Wo's, but were a completely different color!
“Hey,” one of the demon guards said, arms crossed, his eyes sweeping over Woo with disdain, “a new face, huh? Where did you come from?”

Not wanting to cause any further trouble, Wo whispered, "Deep Snow Harbor."

"Oh? Those guys by the beach?" Another guard scoffed, suddenly grabbing Wo's wrist and rubbing the dark blue magic markings on his forearm with his rough fingers. "Heh, that dark blue... it's probably cold resistance, right? Tsk tsk..."

Wo Gang wanted to flatter the other party by saying "you are knowledgeable and well-traveled," but before he could finish speaking—

boom!
Without warning, a heavy punch slammed into his abdomen!

He groaned, wincing in pain as his stomach churned violently.

"Ugh—!"

Immediately afterwards, fists rained down, and Wo was knocked back, crashing into the stone wall. He was powerless to defend himself, and even his cries of pain were choked in his throat.

"Why...why?!" Wo managed to lift his head, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, and asked with difficulty.

"Why?!" The guard kicked him in the chest, pinning him to the wall, and spat. "You still have the nerve to ask? A disgrace to you demons! Getting tattoos like this? To become a lowly merchant?!"

He grabbed Woo's collar, his eyes burning with twisted rage. "It's because of cowards like you that the reputation of the Demon Race is declining year by year!"

“I…I was born with…” Wol coughed up blood, a bitter smile on his face, “…and I couldn’t choose this magic rune…”

He never expected to get beaten up for something like this.

"Can't choose?" The guard grinned maliciously, raising his fist again. "Then choose a dignified death! Go die! Use your blood to wash away the sins that have tarnished the name of the demon race!"

Just as the fist was about to land, the two guards suddenly froze.

At the alley entrance, a figure stood silently, seemingly out of nowhere.

A wide, hooded robe completely enveloped him, and his face was covered by a blank metal mask, leaving only two deep, unseen eyes piercing through the shadows.

"What are you looking at?! This is the city guard's job! Get out of the way if you don't want trouble!"

"Hiding and acting suspiciously! There's definitely something wrong!" another chimed in.

However, when their gazes met those peering through the eye sockets of the mask, a chilling coldness, seemingly capable of freezing to the bone, instantly crept into their hearts. "Never mind...never mind!" The lead guard released Wo as if electrocuted, his voice hoarse as he forced himself to remain calm. "Today...is a celebration. Consider yourself lucky!"

Before leaving, he glared at Wo fiercely, his eyes seeming to say, "You won't get away with this next time." Then, he and his companions disappeared hastily into the alleyway as if avoiding a plague, their backs even looking somewhat... like they were fleeing in panic.

"Are you alright?" A gentle voice sounded, and a hand wearing a pure white glove was extended in front of W.

"Thank you... thank you!" Wo used the support to stand up. Through the exceptionally soft silk gloves, he could barely feel the other person's bones; it was as if he were holding a warm cloud.

"Why are they causing you trouble?" The voice behind the mask carried a hint of concern.

“Ha,” Wol smiled bitterly, raising his bloodied hands. Crimson bloodstains snaked across the deep blue magic runes, creating a stark contrast. “Because my runes are imprinted with cold resistance, not combat skills. They probably think that tarnishes the reputation of ‘the Demon King’s strongest creation’…”

"What a narrow-minded view." The masked man shook his head slightly. "Has no one considered that the Demon King bestowed these infinitely possible magical runes upon the demons so that you might shine in all fields, not just on the battlefield?"

These words made Wo look up sharply, staring in astonishment at the masked man—he had never heard of such a viewpoint before!

Catching the incredulous look in Wo's eyes, the masked man's tone remained calm: "Surprised? You're a demon descendant from Deepsnow Harbor, aren't you? I've heard of you. You opened up the northern sea route, connecting the continent of Tabu, and your contributions to the prosperity of Deepsnow Harbor are undeniable. Isn't that another kind of honor?"

“You…you know so much.” Wo unconsciously used honorifics.

The other person's speech and demeanor revealed his extraordinary status. Being recognized by such a person filled Wo with a warm feeling.

But then he became disappointed: "Unfortunately... that waterway has been shrouded in fog since the year before last, and it will probably never be navigable again. We will have to find another way out."

"Sigh...yes, the mist..." Mentioning the mist, the masked man also let out a long sigh, his tone filled with the same helplessness.

"My lord! So you were here all along!"

A figure dressed in a pure black robe strode over, his physical features clearly indicating his vampire identity.

"My lord, we've been looking for you for ages! The celebration is about to begin!"

"Okay, I'm leaving now," the masked man replied helplessly.

Before leaving, he turned to look at Woo again, his tone solemn: "Don't let those people's prejudices shake you. Do what you should do, persevere, and I believe..." He paused, his voice carrying a strange certainty, "...that's what the Demon King must also expect!"

Looking at the figure in the wide robe blending into the crowd, and hearing the other person's almost "endorsement"-like confident tone, Wo couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.

However, given this person's status and position, perhaps... he really did hear the Demon King's teachings firsthand?
This thought stirred a flicker of excitement within Wo.

However, there is only one question: the vampire servant just now seemed to be wearing a plain black robe?
Vo vaguely remembered that in the strict hierarchy of vampires, only the supreme Grand Duke was qualified to wear pure black...

I probably missed the other colors on the robe...

……

……

……

The celebration swept across the entire square, and I only managed to snag a spot in a secluded corner.

Amidst the deafening cheers, he stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the figure on the high platform—His Majesty the Demon King!
Although the mask was different, the figure, the temperament... it was clearly the "masked man" who had just helped him out of trouble!
Then look at the vampire duke next to him; he looks exactly like the "vampire servant" who came looking for the masked man earlier...

That is to say...

Wol looked down in disbelief at his right hand—His Majesty the Demon King had personally helped him up!

Thinking of what His Majesty had said to him, a surge of intense power instantly filled Wo's entire body!

hum-

A massive amplification array lit up high in the sky, and the Demon King's majestic voice, like thunder, rolled across the entire Demon King's city:
"My people!" The once gentle voice now carried immense authority. "It has been two hundred years since we broke free of our chains and regained our freedom!"

“I once stood on the scorched earth and watched you use your claws to dig through the rubble and your long tails to curl up the broken beams;

I once stood guard in the cold winter and saw wolves warming their cubs with their body heat, and vampires healing their comrades with magic.

Two hundred years!
You built a magnificent city on the ruins and dug out the Moon Well in the desert!
Back then, humans whipped our backs and spat on us, calling us 'raw and bloodthirsty beasts'!
Look at us now! Our magic crystal lighthouse illuminates the entire continent, and our forges can now smelt star iron!

This is not the glory of any one race, but the claws of the wolf clan, the magic of the vampire clan, the wings of the eagle clan, the wisdom of the snake people, and the bones and flesh of all the demons, together forging today's prosperous era!

This golden age will not last for two hundred years!
The next century, and the century after that, and forever!

The demon race is eternal!

"Eternal Demon King! Eternal Demon King! Eternal Demon King!" Wo roared hoarsely along with countless demons, his blood boiling!

He firmly believed that under the guidance of such a demon king, eternal glory would surely be achieved!

The Demon King's voice continued to echo, proclaiming the future direction of the empire:
"In the past, we defeated humanity, the dominant power, but only mercifully drove them into the dense forests of the south. Yet, humanity showed no gratitude, instead relentlessly harassing our borders. The Empire will eliminate these threats completely; this world has no place for these pests!"

"Destroy humanity! Destroy humanity! Destroy humanity!" The thunderous roar pushed the celebration to its boiling point!
however--

"What is that?" A questioning voice reached Woo's ears, pulling him slightly out of his frenzy.

Following the sound, one could see more and more people looking up in astonishment at the distant horizon.

Woo squinted—a tiny black dot was tearing through the clouds, rapidly approaching!

"A big bird?" someone guessed.

The winged guards had already taken to the sky to try to intercept it, but the black dot was high and fast, and in the blink of an eye it had already swept over the Demon King's castle!
Just as it passed the highest point—

Whoosh!
A figure separated and fell, plummeting like a meteor!
boom--! ! !
The solid stone slab in the center of the platform suddenly shattered!
Amidst the smoke, dust, and rubble, there was a human figure!

In an instant, the demonic runes around the Demon Commander burst forth with dazzling light, the Mad Wolf Marshal's body swelled to a four-meter-tall giant amidst a roar, and the Vampire Grand Duke transformed into a scarlet afterimage, pointing his fingers like a sword, aiming straight for the throat of the attacker!
However, before the next heartbeat could even fall—

The demon core on the demon leader's chest shattered, a huge burst of blood erupted from the burly chest of the Mad Wolf Marshal, and the vampire duke's protruding arm flew high into the air before everyone's eyes!
The newcomer casually flicked the blood droplets off the blade and smoothly sheathed the sword.

He then looked up at the only figure still standing on the high platform.

"You must be the Demon King. Nice to meet you. My name is Link, and I am the Hero!" Speaking in broken demon language, his voice also resounded throughout the city through amplification magic.

As if nothing had happened, he strolled to the edge of the platform, looking down at the countless angry demons below, even with a hint of curiosity.

“Is this a holiday? Sorry, sorry, I really didn’t mean to bother you,” he grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth. “I just happened to be passing by and did a little task.”

"...A mission?" The Demon King's voice was deep and icy.

"Yes, yes! The mission!" The hero Link nodded enthusiastically, frantically rummaging through his tattered backpack, finally pulling out a crumpled piece of parchment that looked like it had been gnawed by a rat.

"Ahem! Gathering quest: One Demon King's head. The reward..." He paused, shaking the parchment, "...one copper coin!"

(End of this chapter)