Whoever Wants to Be Demon Lord Can Be Demon Lord, I Won't Be One Anyway

The void behind Ye Zheng suddenly tore open, and a figure slowly stepped out through the rift.

The newcomer wore a magnificent black robe, his hair tied in a high ponytail. His long ink-black hair nearly trailed to his ankles, while a trace of wicked charm showed through his cold, stern face.

The newcomer was Ye Tianshen, a Demon General of the Demon Realm's Third Legion!

An Immortal Emperor-level terrifying cultivation!

Even within the Demon Realm, Ye Tianshen was one of the foremost powerhouses!

When Ye Zheng saw him, he was overjoyed and hurriedly crawled to Ye Tianshen's feet with his twisted body.

"Lord Ye Tianshen!!!"

"You must uphold justice for me!"

"Not only has this man offended our Devil Race, he does not even hold you or the Demon Realm in his eyes!"

With his leader, Ye Tianshen, present, Ye Zheng's confidence immediately soared.

He was certain that the man before him was dead for sure!

Ye Tianshen did not immediately look at Ning Yechen. Instead, he first glanced at Ye Zheng beneath his feet, furrowed his brow, and rebuked him.

"Why are you here?"

"I don't recall permitting you to descend to the Human Realm without authorization."

"Uh... Please forgive me, Lord Ye Tianshen..."

Ye Zheng did not dare tell Ye Tianshen the truth—that he had been lured by a mysterious person into coming to the Human Realm to kill someone. He could only stammer before directly pleading guilty to Ye Tianshen.

Seeing Ye Zheng immediately confess, Ye Tianshen merely coldly said, "When you return to the Demon Realm, go receive your punishment yourself," and did not question him further.

Among the six realms, people from one realm frequently slipped into another without permission. It was nothing unusual.

The Demon Realm was no exception.

Ye Tianshen merely assumed that Ye Zheng and the others had run off to the Human Realm on their own to cause trouble.

He happened to be searching the Human Realm for traces of the Demon Lord when he sensed the aura of Demon Annihilation.

Out of curiosity, he had come to investigate, and just happened to hear Ning Yechen's remark.

Ye Tianshen was greatly angered that Ye Zheng's group had lost to someone from the Human Realm.

The reason he punished Ye Zheng was not merely because he had descended to the Human Realm without permission. More importantly, it was because he had lost!

The Demon Realm valued honor and dignity above all else. Losing a fight was equivalent to disgracing the Demon Realm!

That was what angered Ye Tianshen most.

Originally, he had not intended to interfere. Even if they lost and died, it would only mean that their strength was inferior to another's. There was nothing to say.

But Ning Yechen's final remark had been far too arrogant, so he could not help revealing himself.

He wanted to see exactly who dared to be so arrogant!

Not even the nine great immortal domains of the Immortal Realm would dare claim that the entire Demon Realm could not protect someone!

Ye Tianshen turned his gaze toward Ning Yechen. His expression froze, confusion appearing on his face. Then he slightly furrowed his brow and carefully examined him from head to toe. His eyes gradually widened, and his expression became increasingly complex...

It was an expression where delight and terror mingled across his face...

"Hmph. Long time no see, Ye Tianshen~"

Ning Yechen gave a disdainful smile and greeted Ye Tianshen.

Ye Zheng immediately became displeased. Struggling to his feet, he roared at Ning Yechen.

"Impudent! Who do you think you are, brat?!"

"You dare call Lord Ye Tianshen by name!"

"Don't try to act familiar with Lord Ye Tianshen!"

"You offended our Demon Realm. You are dead today, brat!"

"Right, Lord Ye Tianshen!"

With Ye Tianshen backing him, Ye Zheng was incomparably arrogant. After speaking, he even looked toward Ye Tianshen with admiration.

Yet unexpectedly, Ye Tianshen's face turned extremely grim. He seized Ye Zheng by the collar, his palm clamping down hard on his face, nearly crushing his skull!

Ye Tianshen leaned close to his face and stared at him with an almost murderous gaze as he said coldly.

"What the hell are you babbling about?!"

"Are you trying to get me killed?!"

"Do you know who is standing in front of you, you idiot?!"

"Y-Yes, it is you, Lord Ye Tianshen..."

Although his skull felt as though it were about to crack from the pain, Ye Zheng still endured it without daring to make a sound. Deeply confused, he answered.

"I'm not talking about myself, moron!"

Furious, Ye Tianshen viciously slammed Ye Zheng headfirst into the ground, making the entire earth quake with a thunderous boom!

After that blow, Ye Zheng was already barely clinging to life...

Even now, Ye Zheng still did not understand why Ye Tianshen was punishing him so furiously.

He had never seen his lord wear such a terrified expression before...

Lord Ye Tianshen seemed to be very afraid of the man before him...?!

Even the black-robed man who had survived by sheer luck wore a stunned expression.

Lord Ye Tianshen, who had dominated the Demon Realm, was actually afraid of that man before him?!

Ye Tianshen released Ye Zheng and flung him aside. Then, with his left hand pressed to his right chest, he respectfully bowed to Ning Yechen and elegantly greeted him.

"Ye Tianshen pays his respects to Lord Demon Lord!"

Ye Tianshen was filled with self-reproach and shame.

He could hardly believe that he had failed to recognize Lord Demon Lord at first glance!

He had even spoken disrespectfully to Lord Demon Lord!

And his subordinate seemed to have even attacked Lord Demon Lord!

It was simply the disgrace of a Demon General of the First Legion!

Ye Zheng and the black-robed man were utterly shocked as they stared blankly at Ning Yechen.

This man before them was Lord Demon Lord, who had vanished from the Demon Realm over a hundred years ago?!

There could be no mistake!

In the entire Demon Realm, only that great lord was worthy of making the mighty Lord Ye Tianshen bow and scrape like this!

After recovering their senses, Ye Zheng and the black-robed man hurriedly fell to their knees, kowtowed repeatedly, and trembled as they said.

"W-We pay our respects to Lord Demon Lord...!"

At that moment, Ye Zheng and the black-robed man were ashen-hearted, filled with regret.

They had actually attacked Lord Demon Lord...!

In the Demon Realm, that was a crime absolutely beyond forgiveness!

Ning Yechen waved a hand, his face full of disgust.

"Don't call me that. I'm no longer the Demon Lord."

"Lord Demon Lord! You are still the one and only Demon Lord of our Demon Realm!"

"We have all been searching for you, waiting for your return to the Demon Realm!"

"The Demon Realm cannot be without you!"

"Please return with me!"

Ye Tianshen raised his head and looked at Ning Yechen with an eager expression as he pleaded.

To find traces of Ning Yechen, they had searched for nearly over a hundred years!

All so they could welcome back their great Lord Demon Lord!

"After I left, didn't a new Demon Lord take the throne?"

Hearing that Ye Tianshen and the others had been searching for him all this time, Ning Yechen asked in confusion.

The Demon Realm had always revered the strong. Countless people sought to contend for the position of Demon Lord.

Even he himself had fought his way upward, defeating everyone until he ascended to the position of Demon Realm Supreme.

By all reason, after he left, there should have been no shortage of people coveting the position of Demon Lord.

Ye Tianshen nodded, his expression icy and solemn as he replied.

"After you left, there were indeed schemers who attempted to ascend to the position of Demon Lord."

"We have already eliminated many such schemers!"

"They were utterly unworthy of laying a finger on your position, Lord Demon Lord!"

Ning Yechen: "..."

Ning Yechen was speechless.

Did that not mean the Demon Realm had gone an entire hundred years without a Demon Lord after he left...

He had thought someone had long since taken over his position...

He had already prepared himself to retire peacefully and enjoy the rest of his life...

"Lord Demon Lord, we have all been waiting for your return!"

"Please, you must return to the Demon Realm with me!"

Ye Tianshen once again pleaded with Ning Yechen.

Ning Yechen still waved him off with great distaste and refused without hesitation.

"No."

"Any one of you can be the Demon Lord."

"Whoever wants to be Demon Lord can be Demon Lord. I won't be one anyway."

"W-Why...?"

Ye Tianshen asked in extreme confusion.

A hopeful smile appeared on Ning Yechen's face as he said calmly.

"Because I have something more important to do now!"