The long spear, ridged like a dragon's spine, had become some ten zhang in length in the Gold-Eyed Lion Emperor's grip, looking all the more savage and terrible for it.

Its shape could not have been more familiar — it was plainly formed from the old flood dragon's own dark tail.

The demons were all rather stunned.

Refining part of one's demon body into a spirit-treasure was a common enough thing within the Thousand Demon Den.

But to have it taken from you... with the original owner still alive, no less — the whole business was inexplicably absurd.

And what left the assembled demons still more chilled was this: the Gold-Eyed Lion Emperor had stolen the old flood dragon's tailbone, and the creature hadn't fought the lion to the death over it — it had vented its rage on a pile of innocent demon kings instead.

The more one thought on it, the more terrifying it became.

"Just what exactly happened here?"

The Thunder-Hoof Demon Emperor looked down with some wariness, its tone softening somewhat.

It hadn't spotted anything strange about this lion — but the Dark-Tail Demon Emperor's reaction just now had hardly seemed feigned. That old flood dragon had genuinely been afraid of the Gold-Eyed Lion Emperor.

"What do you mean, what happened?"

The powerful male lion glanced at the thing in its hand. "You mean this spear?"

Its golden eyes flashed, and it said slowly, "The Dark-Tail invited This Emperor out to seek treasure. The world's precious treasures belong to those of virtue. Plainly, this treasure judged This Emperor's virtue the higher. That old flood dragon envies This Emperor — truly, its outlook is far too small."

"..."

The moment those words were out, every demon fell silent.

It did sound rather reasonable.

Had the Dark-Tail Spear not been a part of the old flood dragon's own body, they'd very nearly have been convinced.

"This business of yours... you've gone a bit far with it." The Thunder-Hoof Demon Emperor finally understood the Dark-Tail's earlier fury.

"It coveted This Emperor's treasured spear. That I left it its life…