The Old Emperor's Unique Idea

"What did Lu Master call that God of the Sea's behavior again?"

Xiong Jun poked Scarlet King beside him as he looked toward where the God of the Sea's phantom had vanished.

"Showing off. Yes, showing off."

Scarlet King searched his memories carefully with all three of his brains and finally found the right term to describe it.

"Lu Master also said that people who show off get struck by lightning and are likely to get beaten up."

"No wonder my paws were itching. I wanted to slap him with one claw."

Xiong Jun muttered as he stared at his claws.

"Enough of that. Have all the formation pillars been set up?"

Scarlet King laughed and scolded him. Being fire-attributed, he was naturally at odds with the God of the Sea, and he had wanted to burn him to death as well.

"More or less. Just a few left. We'll have them set up tomorrow."

Though Xiong Jun said so, there was none of the relief of nearing the end in his tone.

He was beginning to suspect that something had latched onto him. Most of the sentient metal veins discovered in the Star Dou Great Forest had been found by him, and every one had been encountered while he was planting pillars. Their master had really been right.

Scarlet King thought of that too, and the curve of his lips grew wider.

"You're still laughing? If we run into one again tomorrow, I'll recommend to our master that you go guard that place."

Xiong Jun said irritably.

"They can't do without me here for now. There's no way I'm leaving."

Scarlet King shook his heads without the slightest fear. He knew how important fire was, after all.

Xiong Jun thought about it and realized that was true. His mood darkened further, and he casually found a roadside stone to sit on.

"Hm?"

Xiong Jun felt something stir beneath his butt. He stood up and turned to look at the stone.

"So heavy~"

A faint thought drifted out from the stone.

"Bastard!"

Xiong Jun's aura erupted. He raised his hand, intending to bring down a palm strike, but after hesitating for a moment, he ultimately lowered it and headed toward the Lake of Life with a dark expression.

"Hahahaha! I'm dying! Xiong Jun, it had to be you!"

All three of Scarlet King's heads burst into laughter at once. Their earlier guess had come true.

No, he had to share this with the other demons.

Sure enough, the demons all broke into laughter. Xiong Jun's luck was truly unmatched.

"The God of the Sea has already reached that Shrek Academy, and it seems he intends to gather the strength of the entire continent to destroy us."

Three-Eyed Golden Lion lounged in the sunlight and casually revealed the scene she had obtained through another divination.

"It's time to gather the Soul Beasts' strength. The forces in the other Soul Beast settlements need to be strengthened as well."

Gu Yuena opened her eyes and swept her gaze across the demons.

"Xiong Jun, go to the Far North Land. Zi Ji, go to Fiend Forest. Di Tian, search the other settlements for any Soul Beasts that were missed."

Gu Yuena assigned the tasks calmly and unhurriedly. Her strength had nearly fully recovered. With her guarding the Star Dou Great Forest, it would remain safe and sound. Even if Tang San arrived, she could still fight him.

"As you command, my master!"

The three demons accepted their orders. Xiong Jun, in particular, was overjoyed, beaming from ear to ear.

This was no longer the Star Dou Great Forest. There was no way he would still run into those creatures, right?

The other demons all saw why Xiong Jun was so happy and laughed. His luck truly was bizarre.

"My master, a human Titled Douluo has entered the Star Dou Great Forest."

Ten Thousand Demons King's tone carried confusion. Anyone who still dared to enter the Star Dou Great Forest at a time like this had to be an idiot.

A flash of silver light passed through Gu Yuena's eyes, and a human figure appeared before the demons.

Kong Deming stared at the Soul Beasts before him in terror. Every one of them radiated a frightening aura. Kong Deming even felt that he could not defeat any one of them.

"Lu Wu sent me!"

Kong Deming did not delay. He immediately shouted Lu Wu's name, terrified that they would simply kill him on the spot.

"Lu Master?"

The demons were confused, but none showed any suspicion. Only they knew Lu Master's name. Since this human knew it, he must have already met Lu Master.

"Human, what instructions did Lu Master send you with?"

Gu Yuena's tone held a trace of surprise. Lu Master had not appeared for some time, yet they had not dared to search for him. She had not expected him to have gone to the human world.

"Lu Master wants you to help our Sun Moon Empire transform into Demon-Humans and join the Demon Race."

After giving it some thought, Kong Deming had also understood Lu Wu's intentions. If most of the blood in their veins came from Soul Beasts, could they still be considered human? But the Sun Moon Empire had no choice. Since the human side had no place for them, they would join the Demon Race. Besides, judging by that day's display, the Soul Beasts might truly win.

"Demon-Humans?"

Gu Yuena lowered her head and murmured.

Lu Wu had told her about this before, though it had been intended for after defeating humanity: to divide humans and hasten their integration into the Demon Race through conflict.

"What bloodline do you want?"

Gu Yuena was in an excellent mood. Even if he wanted hers, it would not be impossible.

"As you see fit."

Kong Deming bowed slightly, but the old emperor's reaction at the time surfaced in his mind.

"Elder Kong, is it true? The Soul Beasts are willing to accept us?"

The old emperor coughed up a pool of black blood in his excitement before finally asking.

"That's right. Judging by that one's intentions, he wants us to mix with Soul Beast bloodlines, which would barely make us part of the Demon Race."

Kong Deming looked at the old emperor's aged face and sighed softly. The man was truly dying.

"Heaven will not destroy the Sun Moon Empire! Heaven will not destroy the Sun Moon Empire!"

The old emperor laughed loudly. His once-exhausted body now seemed filled with vitality.

"God of the Sea, fuck the God of the Sea! You shamelessly interfere with the continent. I'm not sticking with you humans anymore."

In his excitement, the old emperor blurted out a curse.

He truly had not expected there to be such a solution. It was simply a gift from heaven.

"Elder Kong, do you know? This matter is actually much like the methods I used when I was emperor. You only need to look at it from another perspective to accept it."

Kong Deming looked at the old emperor in confusion, not quite understanding what he meant.

"According to that one, he is a being from beyond this world—the Demon Ancestor."

The old emperor looked at Kong Deming with a smile in his eyes.

"That is indeed the case."

Kong Deming recalled the circumstances at the time and nodded.

"Then isn't his status comparable to that of an emperor? Doesn't the way he views us and the Soul Beasts resemble how I looked down from the dragon throne at my ministers?"

Kong Deming fell into thought, seemingly beginning to understand the old emperor's meaning.

Seeing that Kong Deming had gained some insight, the old emperor clapped his hands and laughed.

"The Soul Beasts are like the native faction of our Sun Moon Empire, while the Demon-Humans are like the surrendering faction that has joined the Sun Moon Empire."

"There are many factions within the native faction. It does not matter to me if they slaughter one another. Likewise, survival of the fittest among the Soul Beasts means the same to that one."

"But when the surrendering faction appears, the native faction will unite again, and the two sides will oppose one another."

"Yet that is precisely what I, as emperor, am pleased to see. After all, when those beneath me unite, I have to consider whether my throne is still secure."

"As emperor, I naturally have those I favor and those I keep at a distance. The Soul Beasts are favored, while the Demon-Humans are kept distant."

"But sometimes, to appease the surrendering faction, I would promote them and draw them somewhat closer."

"Of course, with that one's power, perhaps he does not care about such matters."

"Tell me, isn't that one much like an emperor such as myself?"

The old emperor smiled until his eyes narrowed, like a cunning old fox.