An Unstoppable Rise

As the morning exercises continued, the streets grew livelier. A golden glow crept across the sky: Solar Star Lord had clocked in. In the light, Haitian City seemed bathed in flame. The little demons who had survived the ordeal seemed reborn from the ashes, ready to greet their new lives with hope. Their intermittent shouts carried one familiar name across the city.

Dong Re, a Great Demon of legend.

"Your Majesty, what happened at Lanxiang was my failure. But some of our people should still be there. I refuse to believe they all went wrong. Dong Re must have used some other means. I handpicked those spies myself." The old demon lowered his voice, but it still trembled. How had things turned out like this? Because of a few lyrics and slogans?

The Snake Demon glanced down the distant street and narrowed his eyes, his heart sinking. Lyrics and slogans? Did he really think it was that simple? This was no simple training. It was a transformation on every front, material and spiritual alike.

"You underestimate Dong Re. Loyalty is the one thing little demons lack most. It comes from the world they live in: Demon Kings fight, and the ruler's banner changes overnight. But Haitian is different. Life here is more stable, and Dong Re's influence and all the rumors have quietly magnified his mystique."

The Snake Demon spoke evenly. What a formidable figure.

The old demon did not quite understand, and Fine Ghost only half understood. Both looked to Nie Xiaoqian. Qin Fen shook his head speechlessly; he understood what the scholar meant.

"That contrast lets the little demons feel safe here. They have food and drink to spare, things they've never seen before. Did your old king ever give you all matching clothes?" Nie Xiaoqian spun toward