Chapter 367: Various Actions

In the Demon Realm, within a frosty palace suspended deep in the high heavens, the three Demon Emperors had once again gathered.

"The ambush failed, and the name of that mysterious Godfiend remains unknown," said Emperor Xinghe, a black-haired demon with a single horn, as he chuckled.

"Information on newly promoted human Godfiends is always detailed, with records starting from their sect entry," Emperor Peng remarked angrily. "Even the ancient Godfiends who have awakened recently, most of whom appeared within the last one or two millennia, usually have recorded information. Yet, during a life-and-death struggle, they couldn't even identify who this Godfiend was? What a bunch of useless creatures!"

"Losing the Three Absolute Array and having Huangyao killed certainly proves their uselessness," Empress Xuanyue said calmly.

Emperor Xinghe smiled and said, "Sister Xuanyue, Brother Peng, I promised you both that if I knew the Godfiend's identity, I would be willing to perform a curse-kill. But now, without even knowing their identity, I'm powerless."

A curse-kill requires a medium.

Blood or hair as a medium is ideal, making the curse easiest to perform. Even cursing a Marquis Godfiend from across worlds would only cost Emperor Xinghe about a year of his lifespan.

Failing that, a name and accurate identity are necessary. With a precise target but no physical medium, a curse-kill would likely consume decades of lifespan, with stronger targets demanding more, potentially over a century. Even for an Emperor with a lifespan of ten thousand years, expending lifespan for a curse-kill is a highly reluctant act.

Emperor Xinghe only agreed after Empress Xuanyue and Emperor Peng made their promises.

The allure of Patriarch Cang Yuan's treasure was simply too great.

"We must eliminate this Godfiend," Emperor Peng stated gravely. "Otherwise, our demon race's numerical advantage will be ineffective, and our top-tier forces will suffer losses in the human world. Then we'll have no other recourse. Many Marquis Godfiends can 'feign death' and endure for a very long time. Our only hope would be for more world entrances to appear. Waiting idly like this could take three to five centuries. If it drags on for a millennium, the human world and the Demon Realm might even begin to separate."

Empress Xuanyue also nodded. "The human world possesses profound foundations. Prolonging this conflict risks unforeseen complications. Patriarch Cang Yuan was a powerful Seventh Tribulation realm expert who died of old age within the human world, not in the outside world. All his life's accumulated treasures remain there; obtaining them will be our greatest opportunity."

"And he was a 'Physical Body Seventh Tribulation' realm expert," Emperor Xinghe added, a flicker of longing in his eyes.

Tribulation realm experts.

They are categorized into Soul Tribulation realm and Physical Body Tribulation realm.

The demon race's cultivation system excels in physical prowess, and these three Emperors also follow the physical body path. The accumulated lifetime wealth of a 'Physical Body Seventh Tribulation' realm expert... the temptation is enough to drive these three Emperors to madness.

"We must push forward on all fronts, denying humanity any opportunity," Empress Xuanyue said coldly. "Grand Profound Demon Saint and Fire Dragon Demon Saint have arrived. Once they both recover to the Fifth-Heaven Demon King realm, we will send them through the world's nexus points into the World Gap to retrieve more Fifth-Heaven Demon Kings. Then, a horde of peak Fifth-Heaven Demon Kings will systematically kill the Marquis Godfiends guarding the cities. Humanity only has nine Creation Supremacies in total, most of whom are occupied guarding mega-cities and sect strongholds, leaving them unable to rescue anyone."

"On another front, after eliminating that mysterious Godfiend, we will unleash millions of demon kings to continuously hunt in the human world, ensuring that hardly any mortals are seen on human lands!"

"Without a sufficient mortal population and with a large number of Godfiends dead, the human world will be at the mercy of our demon race," Empress Xuanyue continued. "Our demon race can even gradually damage the world's foundation, bringing the human world close to 'world degradation.' Once truly degraded, the human world will shrink significantly, and the strongest beings it can produce will only be at the Creation realm. Humanity's three major sects will undoubtedly be terrified. After all, it's highly unlikely for humanity to produce another Patriarch Cang Yuan to elevate the world's tier again."

A lower-tier world.

Achieving the Creation realm would be incredibly difficult, more than ten times harder than it is for humanity currently.

Becoming an Emperor? They would have to desperately struggle in the River of Spacetime. It would be incredibly difficult for the human world to rise again. 'World elevation' is a blessing for the entire world, while 'world degradation' is a disaster.

"Without the obstruction of numerous Godfiends, we'll have plenty of ways to force humanity to submit," Emperor Peng added.

A direct assault? Forcibly seizing Patriarch Cang Yuan's legacy?

The treasures of a Seventh Tribulation realm expert are too formidable; the chances of success with a direct assault are extremely low.

Threatening them through other means would be far more effective, compelling the human Creation Supremacies to hand them over willingly!

In terms of foundation, the demon race has also produced a host of Tribulation realm experts, and the three Emperors are confident they can force humanity to yield.

"Your Majesties," the handsome demon saint 'Thousand Crickets,' clad in green robes, respectfully bowed.

Emperor Xinghe looked at Demon Saint Thousand Crickets: "Possess a body and infiltrate the human world. Achieve this within a year."

Demon Saint Thousand Crickets looked at the Emperor.

It had previously declined, albeit subtly, as after possessing a body and recovering to the Demon Saint realm, further advancement would be impossible.

No...

According to legends in the Demon Realm, it is possible to achieve breakthroughs even after possession, but the difficulty is no less than becoming a 'Tribulation realm expert.' Historically, only a handful of demons have managed this, making them far rarer than Tribulation realm experts themselves.

"If you go, I will impart to you the 'Demon Star Scroll,' the highest esoteric art of the karma lineage in our demon race," Emperor Xinghe said, gazing coldly at Demon Saint Thousand Crickets. "If you refuse, you die."

"This subordinate is willing to go," Demon Saint Thousand Crickets said, kneeling respectfully.

While Mount Yuanchu did not publicly announce the death of Demon Saint Huangyao, they did send letters informing Yan Jin and Anhai King.

"Demon Saint Huangyao is dead?"

Anhai King sat cross-legged in his quiet room, carefully reading every word on the letter. The letter's description was simple: Supremacy Qin Wu personally acted and slew Demon Saint Huangyao.

"I had intended to kill you myself, but I didn't expect you to die so quickly," Anhai King thought, a cold glint in his eyes. Suddenly, sensing something, he looked up at the outside, and the letter in his hand silently disintegrated into dust.

A translucent figure permeated through the quiet room's door—it was the shadowy black-robed figure.

"Anhai King," the black-robed phantom greeted with a smile. "I believe you already know that Huangyao is dead. We hope this lessens your anger somewhat."

"You want me to join your demon race and help you," Anhai King said coldly. "But you still killed my child?"

"Your identity is top secret, and we feared it would be exposed to Mount Yuanchu," the black-robed phantom apologized. "Within the human world, only Nine Abyss Demon Saint and I were aware of your involvement. Huangyao was not, which is why your child was killed. These were all misunderstandings."

Anhai King snorted coldly.

"I also have good news for you," the black-robed phantom said with a smile. "The demon race has agreed to your long-standing request for the Emperor-level esoteric arts of the 'Time Lineage.'"

"Agreed?" Anhai King's pupils contracted.

"Yes."

The black-robed phantom chuckled, "Your human race has very few Emperor-level esoteric arts, and not a single one from the 'Time Lineage.' This time, our demon race has agreed to present you, Anhai King, with three Emperor-level esoteric arts of the 'Time Lineage.' Of course, as per our usual custom for transactions, you must also provide something in return."

"You've always been unwilling to provide Emperor-level esoteric arts from the Time Lineage, and now you're offering three?" Anhai King questioned. "Speak, what do you want?"

"Ancestor Huangyao and his group failed to intercept a Mount Yuanchu Godfiend and were killed by a Yuanchu Supremacy," the black-robed phantom explained with a smile. "What we need you to do is identify that intercepted Mount Yuanchu Godfiend. It's very simple: just a name, confirmed without a doubt. Then, we will present you with the three Emperor-level esoteric arts of the 'Time Lineage.'"

"I told you, I don't know," Anhai King said thoughtfully.

"If you truly wish to investigate, I'm confident you can uncover it," the black-robed phantom asserted. "Three Emperor-level esoteric arts from the Time Lineage, for just one name."

With that, the black-robed phantom dissipated.

(End of this Volume)

Tomato will take a day of rest, and Volume 16 will begin updating the day after tomorrow.