♂
After watching everyone flee, the Demon Venerable took several steps back and collapsed dejectedly onto the crystal throne. Then, as if the strength in his hand had vanished in an instant, he could no longer hold his sword steady. With a clang, it fell to the floor. His own scarlet eyes now held a trace of dimness and pity. In the end, he actually clutched his head and began groaning in agony. I didn't know whether I had heard wrong, but it seemed to be accompanied by the sound of sobbing.
"Father..." Jing Xiaoman's eyes showed pity, but she neither went over to help him up nor offered the slightest comfort. In truth, she didn't like this madman curled up on the throne either. She simply had no choice. If she wanted to obtain the throne, she couldn't avoid this old madman.
I stood motionless where I was, waiting for the Demon Venerable to recover. After quite a while, a cold laugh indeed came from beneath his head, which was buried between his knees. He slowly stood up and stared at me through narrowed eyes. "So this is the Spirit-Absorbing Method... Heh heh... Do you think that using innate demonic energy can completely eliminate its effects? No... The third layer can, but what will you do when you have to use the fourth layer? You still won't be able to avoid falling into madness like me!"
I listened in silence, then said, "Perhaps. But it's still better than your current state."
"Heh heh... Is that so..." The Demon Venerable laughed coldly, then said, "Become my son-in-law, and everything in the Demon God Realm will be yours in the future..."
"Thank you for your favor, Demon Venerable, but I have no interest in the Demon God Realm." I spoke expressionlessly.