Chapter 625: Mingwang Appears

Helian Kuang was sobbing bitterly, his gut twisted with extreme regret. Other families and factions who had pledged allegiance to Prince Huai's manor, especially those whose names Prince Huai had already called out, could no longer sit still. They prostrated themselves on the ground, one after another, frantically repenting, begging, swearing oaths, and declaring loyalty to the Little Demon Empress in terror.

The Little Demon Empress's power and might were terrifying, but the crimes committed by Prince Huai's manor were a thousand times more horrifying. They might not fear death, but who wouldn't dread being cursed by the world and having their names live in infamy for ten thousand years?

"Little Demon Empress, we truly knew nothing of the things Prince Huai's manor did... we knew absolutely nothing!"

"If we had known... even if you gave us ten thousand more guts, we would never have dared to associate with Prince Huai's manor... I haven't even met that Prince Ming before..."

"Prince Huai... you... you... how could you be so utterly deranged! Not only did you secretly harm the Demon Emperor, but you also brought disaster to the entire Illusory Demon Realm... Such crimes deserve divine retribution, and even the extermination of nine generations wouldn't suffice as atonement! If we had known earlier... our Jiufang family would have spared no effort to personally hack you into a thousand pieces..."

"Little Demon Empress, though my brother and I... were blinded by greed, we truly knew nothing about Prince Huai's manor's affairs. Otherwise, even if it meant death, we would never have gotten involved with Prince Huai's manor in the slightest... If there is a single lie in our words, may we be struck by lightning... Please, Little Demon Empress, forgive our ignorance... From now on, my brother and I will dedicate our lives to you..." The speakers were Bai Guihun and Bai Guiming, the two who had previously besieged Yun Qinghong. As Prince Huai listed his crimes, they too were utterly terrified.

"This humble subject has always been loyal to the Demon Emperor Clan and to the Little Demon Empress... The reason I pledged allegiance to Prince Huai's manor was solely because I believed the Little Demon Empress had met with misfortune, and I did so for self-preservation... I truly knew nothing of Prince Huai's manor's crimes... My words and my loyalty are witnessed by the sun and moon, and proven by heaven and earth!" A great general clad in golden armor prostrated himself, almost cracking his head on the ground.

The grand hall was filled with lamentations, and every one of these prostrate figures was either a peerless expert or a proud, prominent family head. Just an hour earlier, they had all been incomparably arrogant. Now, however, they knelt and cried out like the most humble prisoners, desperately begging for mercy in fear and regret.

As for the people from Prince Huai's manor, they had all collapsed to the ground, their eyes either filled with terror or completely vacant, unable to even let out a moan. They knew that from this day forward, Prince Huai's manor was irrevocably doomed. As members of Prince Huai's manor, they were almost shattered by the shock of these crimes.

Death could be swift and painless. But if a lifetime of prestige were to turn into a lifetime of infamy overnight, to be cursed by countless people, whether alive or dead, and for one's descendants and even their entire family to face cold stares and ostracization... even their ancestors would be shamed by it. That was infinitely more humiliating and terrifying than mere death.

And at this moment, they were on the verge of just that. The crimes committed by Prince Huai's manor were unprecedented in the Illusory Demon Realm, monstrous offenses that angered both gods and men. And they had indeed betrayed the Demon Emperor Clan to pledge loyalty to Prince Huai's manor. Once this charge was confirmed by the Little Demon Empress, all their glory would sink into the vilest mud.

Even if they truly knew nothing of the crimes committed by Prince Huai's manor... and truly had not seen the long-vanished Prince Ming.

The Little Demon Empress slowly raised her eyes and said coldly, "I can believe that you were entirely unaware of Prince Huai's manor's crimes."

The Little Demon Empress's words filled them with sudden joy, but her next words were like a basin of ice-cold water poured over their heads: "However, for years, Prince Huai has openly and secretly defied me countless times, ruthlessly suppressing the factions and families loyal to me. His ambition has long been apparent! Even if you were blind, you should have known this clearly! Yet, you chose to betray me and pledge allegiance to Prince Huai's manor! This is no different from rebellion and treason... What right do you have to beg for my mercy?!"

The Little Demon Empress's words undoubtedly struck a fatal blow to these people's weaknesses. They knew perfectly well what they had done and what their intentions were. The Seven Families, the various princely manors, and all those who had pledged allegiance to Prince Huai's manor trembled all over. The only thing they could do was frantically beg for mercy, declare their loyalty, and even swear the most venomous oaths.

The Little Demon Empress slowly extended her hand. This action instantly made everyone hold their breath... That small, delicate hand, as pure white and soft as fresh snow, was undoubtedly the hand of death capable of instantly claiming a life in their eyes.

As the Little Demon Empress's hand turned over, a gleaming short blade flew out from Bai Guiming's person and landed in front of Prince Huai, half the blade embedded in the ground. The Little Demon Empress's low voice then resounded: "Since you wish to prove your loyalty... very well. Whoever personally kills Prince Huai, I shall pardon their crime!"

A momentary silence fell over the grand hall. Then, a surging wave of energy erupted, shaking the Demon Emperor's Palace as if an earthquake had struck. All those who had been kneeling rushed towards Prince Huai like madmen, their speed and the unleashed profound energy almost surpassing their lifelong limits.

Helian Kuang was the closest and reacted the fastest. He snatched the short blade from the ground, his eyes bloodshot, and roared with soaring hatred as he charged towards Prince Huai: "Prince Huai... die!!" His hatred was certainly not feigned. In his current predicament, he naturally wouldn't blame himself for betraying his ancestors and righteousness; instead, he attributed everything to Prince Huai... The short blade in his hand was imbued with his full strength, thrusting directly at Prince Huai's vital points, wishing he could cleave his body in two.

Just then, a sudden, thunderous crash echoed overhead. A large section of the Demon Emperor's Palace roof shattered, and a column of crimson-black flames, vast enough to obscure the sky, descended with a scorching and malevolent wave of energy... Even before the flames arrived, the incredibly violent energy surge had knocked everyone charging towards Prince Huai to the ground, and the palace floor rapidly sank at a visible pace.

"It's Prince Ming... be careful!" Yun Che exclaimed in a low voice, grabbing the Heaven Smiting Sword, and rushed in front of Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou.

The Little Demon Empress flicked her sleeve, and Golden Crow flames shot into the sky, instantly scattering the overwhelming demonic flames. As the fallen demonic flames dissipated, a silver-robed figure appeared high in the sky, hundreds of feet above.

"Prince... Ming!!" All who had seen Prince Ming years ago cried out in astonishment. Although Prince Ming had been missing for over a hundred years, his appearance had not changed at all during that time. However, upon seeing this former "Smiling Buddha" again, his once gentle, polite, and unpretentious princely demeanor had now completely transformed into a devil's smile.

The Little Demon Empress floated into the air, facing Prince Ming, her eyes radiating bone-chilling killing intent: "Prince Ming, I thought you wouldn't dare to show yourself."

"Alas," Prince Ming sighed briefly, looking at the miserable state of Prince Huai's manor below. "Victor is king, vanquished is bandit. From the outset, I envisioned both the day of success and the consequences of failure... However, I was not defeated by any person, but by the Golden Crow divine spirit... Human power, after all, cannot contend with divine spirits. Otherwise, this Illusory Demon Realm would already be the domain of my clan."

"Prince Ming... it really is you!!" Mu Feiyan pointed at Prince Ming, trembling all over with rage. "The late Demon Emperor valued and trusted you greatly. When you wished to leave Demon Imperial City back then, the late Demon Emperor and I tried hard to make you stay... In those days, the Demon King told me to be wary of you, but I always dismissed it... I never imagined you would be such an ungrateful, despicable, and malicious scoundrel!"

"Heh heh..." Prince Ming chuckled indifferently. "A person's life, whether a few decades or several millennia, is fleeting, eventually turning to dust and scattering into the world. In this brief life, with ambition, who would be content to live beneath others, and by what right would one be another's subject? The Demon Emperor Clan can be the rulers of the demons; why can't my clan? I merely did what many mediocre people desire but dare not do, or even dare not dream of! What wrong have I committed? Even if I have failed today, though I have regrets, I am absolutely without remorse!"

"Prince Ming's words are profoundly mistaken," Yun Che said with a faint smile, speaking slowly.

"Oh?" Prince Ming cast a sidelong glance. "Then tell me, which of my words were wrong?"

"Not just one sentence, but all of them are wrong," Yun Che shook his head, a slight smile on his face, though it was a smile of disdain. "What is a human? A human can be unremarkable, can have no great achievements, can live a life of mediocrity. But what makes a human truly human is not just having a human body or an independent will; most importantly, it is possessing basic humanity, a sense of shame, and conscience. Prince Ming, do you have these? Oh... it seems you completely lack them. So, what right do you have to call yourself human? At best, you're merely a malevolent beast."

"Since even the premise of you being human is flawed, everything that follows is, of course, just nonsense."

"Furthermore, comparing yourself to the Demon Emperor Clan is an absolute joke. Why has the Demon Emperor Clan been able to rule for ten thousand years? This has nothing whatsoever to do with whether they inherited the Golden Crow bloodline! Back then, it was the Ancestral Demon Emperor who quelled the Illusory Demon rebellion, ended the conflicts between humans and demons, and unified the entire Illusory Demon Realm, bringing peace and harmony for ten thousand years, with no major disputes ever since! Therefore, the Demon Emperor Clan is qualified to rule the world and to accept the submission of the Illusory Demon citizens. But you, Prince Ming... what qualifications do you have!?"

"As a member of the Illusory Demon royal family, you received the grace of the Demon Emperor Clan, born with a noble status and enjoying the finest resources. Yet, instead of being grateful and loyal, you harbored treacherous and wicked intentions! You even invited wolves into the house, causing immense disaster to the Illusory Demon Realm, plunging Demon Imperial City into chaos, and then basely and maliciously murdered the Demon Emperor and the Little Demon Emperor, almost causing the Little Demon Empress to perish in the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley... You have not contributed an ounce of merit to the Illusory Demon Realm; instead, you have caused monstrous harm! Compared to the Demon Emperor Clan's great feat of unifying the Illusory Demon Realm, you, Prince Ming, possess only depravity and malevolence! What right, what face do you have to compare yourself to the Demon Emperor Clan!"

"The Demon Emperor Clan can rule for ten thousand years, bringing peace and harmony to the world. As for you, even if your sinister plot had truly succeeded, on the day the truth was revealed to the world, you would eventually be destroyed by the wrath of the Illusory Demon citizens. Your rule could never last!"

"And your father, your grandfather, your ancestors through the generations—do you think they would be pleased and proud of your so-called 'ambition'? No, they would only feel heartache, sorrow, and disgust, wishing they could leap from the netherworld to strangle you themselves! Because you have disgraced their lifelong reputations and made your entire clan an eternal shame..."

"Silence!!!"

Prince Ming, who had remained indifferent even in the face of utter defeat, now let out an incredibly hoarse and furious roar. His face contorted, and his previously calm eyes wildly fluctuated. In this world, the sharpest things are not weapons, but words that pierce the heart! Every sentence, every word Yun Che uttered, was like the sharpest steel needle, mercilessly stabbing at his vital weakness, tearing his seemingly rock-solid and indifferent composure into a thousand holes.

He finally experienced firsthand the sharpness of Yun Che's words... and at last understood why his son, Prince Huai, had almost exploded with rage because of Yun Che, and even bore a lingering trauma.

"Oh! So you're throwing a tantrum out of humiliation," Yun Che said with a beaming smile, unfazed by Prince Ming's astonishing aura of furious rage. "Victor is king, vanquished is bandit? No, no, no, that saying is for true heroes. It doesn't suit you at all. At best, you're just a stray dog, about to be hunted down and cursed by everyone!"

Prince Ming's body began to tremble: "I... I'll kill you!!"