"It is the honor of us in the Western Lands to serve Your Majesty."
He accepted the "job."
Jieyin looked at his Junior Brother, a trace of sorrow flashing through his eyes. In the end, however, he lowered his head as well, silently accepting it all.
"Very good."
Satisfaction laced the Dark Night Monarch's voice.
"This Seat has no interest whatsoever in Western Qi's campaign against Shang, nor in who becomes the Human Emperor."
"This Seat has only one goal."
He paused, and a faint, imperceptible aura locked onto everyone present.
"The Sect of Interception. Qin Mu."
"This Seat needs you to become This Seat's blades—to probe him, pressure him, and force every last trump card he has into the open."
"That Qin Mu... there is something very wrong with him." For the first time, a trace of gravity entered the Dark Night Monarch's voice. "He bears none of this era's Heavenly Dao aura, nor does he seem like some old monster who survived from a previous era. He seems to have... appeared out of nowhere."
"He is an enormous variable. This Seat needs to know exactly what he is."
So Qin Mu was the target!
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, understanding dawning on them.
For a ruler of an era to treat Qin Mu with such seriousness, Qin Mu's terror was likely even greater than they had imagined.
"Since obedient dogs deserve rewards, they should naturally be rewarded."
With a flick of his finger, the Dark Night Monarch sent a rice-grain-sized sphere of energy, deeper than the night itself, flying straight toward Guangchengzi, who lay sprawled on the ground.
"Swallow it."
The icy voice brooked no refusal.
"It will help you completely fuse the Heavenly Demon power within you, making that power truly your own. Consider it... a