Chapter 1468: Want to Date but Afraid of Being?

Who was the Demon Emperor? The only being in the world who could stand alongside Human Emperor Zhao Hao. Although many believed he was slightly weaker than Zhao Hao, reasoning that otherwise the demon race wouldn't have lost that great war and been driven to the desolate lands.

This was primarily the human perspective, however. The demon race generally believed the Demon Emperor was stronger, arguing that he was older, more experienced, and had lived longer. They maintained that the demon race's defeat back then was due to multiple factors, not because their revered Demon Emperor was incompetent.

For the past century or so, countless people had debated fiercely over who was truly the strongest in the world. But regardless of their allegiance, supporters on both sides would agree that the two were on the same level, with any difference being minuscule.

Yet, such an invincible being was now kneeling on one knee, pledging allegiance to another?

Not just Crown Prince Jinwu, even Zu An, Yan Xuehen, and the others felt their hearts shatter at this moment.

Yun Jianyue recalled how she had once forced her way into the imperial palace, but couldn't even meet Zhao Hao and was severely wounded by a single attack from afar. Yet now, the Demon Emperor, a peer of Zhao Hao, was groveling before another person?

Though nominally pledging allegiance, everyone understood clearly that he was doing so because he felt the power gap was too immense, and was merely trying to save his life. This was what Yun Jianyue found most incomprehensible.

A true man, born into this world, cultivates to never back down from a challenge. (Though she wasn't a "true man," she shared the same philosophy.) Her current cultivation was far below the Demon Emperor's, yet she would never consider kneeling in surrender. So why would the Demon Emperor, a monumental figure in the cultivation world, choose to beg for mercy from his opponent? He utterly lacked the heart of a strong cultivator. It was a complete disgrace to all cultivators!

But if he lacked the heart of a strong cultivator, how could he have become one of the strongest in the world? Yan Xuehen, and even Yu Yanluo, were similarly questioning everything they knew, utterly unable to comprehend the scene before them.

At this moment, Zu An felt like he was watching *The Mummy Returns*, where the protagonist and a powerful boss like Imhotep ventured into the Scorpion King's tomb. He had initially thought that a powerful being like Imhotep would help share the burden, only for the latter to immediately kneel and join the enemy.

Crown Prince Jinwu looked at his father, his emotions cycling through shock, disappointment, and then intense contempt. How had this old man taught him from childhood? He taught him to have the heart of a strong cultivator, delivering countless pompous and virtuous sermons. Yet, when he met a truly strong opponent, this was how he acted? He secretly spat at his father's back, and then the next second, he too knelt down with a thud. "Great God Gonggong," he declared, "this junior is also willing to offer humble service!"

Faced with this scene, Xiangliu and Fuyou widened their eyes, and Gonggong was also somewhat astonished. But then he turned and burst into booming laughter. "Hahaha, excellent, excellent! Only a wise person knows how to adapt to circumstances. Now that I have re-emerged, I need subordinates to help me expand my territory. In the future, you won't be left out of any benefits."

Seeing the fawning smile on Crown Prince Jinwu's face, Zu An secretly felt contempt. Truly, like father, like son; this servile, groveling demeanor was clearly inherited. "Hmm, given the current situation," he thought, "since we can't win, perhaps joining is the only option."

Just as he was wondering how to appear even more sincere than the Jinwu father and son, Gonggong's gaze suddenly sharpened, fixing on him intensely. "I sense it, I sense it!" he declared. "You have the aura of Yu the Great about you!"

Rage points from Gonggong: 444,444,444…

Zu An: "???"

What the hell was this? Others could join if they couldn't win, so why wasn't it working for him? And what was this "aura of Yu the Great" he was talking about? Could it be that he was the destined protagonist, a reincarnation of Yu the Great? Having read so many stories in his past life, he couldn't help but make these associations at a time like this.

"You must be mistaken, sir," Zu An hurriedly explained. "I'm separated from Yu the Great by tens of thousands of years; how could I possibly have his aura?"

"Tens of thousands of years? Has so much time passed already?" A bewildered expression appeared on Gonggong's face, clearly shocked by the immense passage of time and change.

"Run!" Seizing this opportunity, Zu An pulled the women with him and directly used his teleportation skill to flee.

The closest to him was the Demon Emperor, whose eyes narrowed slightly. But he did not try to stop them; instead, he subtly stepped aside. He had no desire to deplete his energy in a struggle with Zu An and his group.

Fuyou, who was like a giant bear, let out a heavy snort and lumbered after them. His heavy body made the entire hall shake.

Xiangliu remained standing in place. Firstly, due to his status, he was unwilling to bully the weak. Secondly, he needed to guard Gonggong, as Gonggong had not yet fully recovered. And the Demon Emperor's subtle movement just now had not escaped his notice.

At this moment, Yun Jianyue casually flung her hand backward, and countless hidden weapons shot out from her sleeve. These were all top-grade items from the Sacred Cult, with astonishing lethality. Normally, due to her pride, she disdained using them, but the enemy was too powerful now, so she couldn't afford to care about such things.

Fuyou roared and swept his arms, easily batting away the hidden weapons.

At the same time, Yan Xuehen also activated a formation. Bursts of light flashed, like a series of exploding flashbangs, making it impossible to open one's eyes. From the moment she entered the hall, she had subtly used her toes to lay down runic formations on the ground. She had originally intended to use them against the Demon Emperor at a critical moment, but she hadn't expected to use them in this situation.

Fuyou was caught off guard and instinctively closed his eyes. As a result, he could no longer completely avoid the hidden weapons, many of which struck his body, causing a burning pain.

Yu Yanluo, seizing this opportunity, activated her Sacred Spirit Pearl and manipulated the earth elements, causing the entire hall's ceiling to collapse. Originally, this grand tomb had ancient defensive runic formations, making it almost indestructible. However, Gonggong had just absorbed Emperor Yao's power from this hall. And those powers were originally the core of the hall's runic formations. Without them, Yu Yanluo could easily control it. Even Fuyou, as strong as he was, was overwhelmed by the sudden collapse of massive earth. By the time he burst out from the rubble, Zu An and his group had already escaped into the distance.

Fuyou roared in frustration, his hair bristling with rage as he gave chase.

On the other side, Xiangliu waved his hand, and the falling earth above them seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier, not a speck touching him or Gonggong. The Demon Emperor also had an invisible energy ripple outward from his body; these bits of earth naturally couldn't harm him.

He looked at Gonggong, his pupils narrowing slightly. From beginning to end, Gonggong hadn't made a move, even needing Xiangliu's help to block the falling earth. Could it be that...?

At this moment, Xiangliu frowned slightly. "I seemed to sense the aura of Nuwa just now?"

"Indeed, I sensed it too," Gonggong said, looking in the direction where Zu An and the others had disappeared, the red glow in his deep, skeletal eyes flickering uncertainly. "How interesting. I originally thought they were mere ants, but it turns out each of them is quite extraordinary."

The Demon Emperor was secretly alarmed. First Yu the Great, then Nuwa — how were Zu An and his group not already ascending to heaven? Crown Prince Jinwu, conversely, felt much more balanced. If Zu An had merely been a commoner who defied and defeated a 'tall, rich, and handsome' like himself, his strong self-esteem would naturally have been unable to bear it. But if the opponent was a reincarnation of a great deity, then losing to him was quite excusable.

"You go after them too. You must capture them alive," Gonggong commanded. Originally, Fuyou alone would have been enough for those people, but this group had the aura of Yu the Great and Nuwa; they were truly extraordinary. It would be safer for Xiangliu to go after them. Of course, he could also send the newly surrendered Demon Emperor, but if the Demon Emperor were to join forces with that group, Fuyou would be in danger. So, after thinking it over, Xiangliu was the more suitable choice.

Xiangliu glanced at the Demon Emperor and his son nearby, feeling a touch of worry. However, he was always meticulous and immediately realized that since his lord had arranged it this way, there must be a reason. So he promptly replied, "Very well!" With that, he vanished from the spot.

After he left, the Demon Emperor outwardly stood respectfully by Gonggong's side, but was secretly observing him, feeling a slight urge to test him.

At this moment, Gonggong's crystal skull suddenly moved closer to the Demon Emperor, his expression a subtle, unreadable smirk. "Oh?" he said. "Planning to attack me while they're gone?"

The Demon Emperor's heart tightened. For a moment, he had almost given in to the temptation to attack Gonggong. He could tell that Gonggong was still in the process of recovering; otherwise, Zu An and his group wouldn't have been able to escape at all. But Gonggong's composure made him feel both surprised and uncertain. It was the typical mindset of desiring a chance yet fearing its consequences.