"It is the honor of the West to serve the Monarch."
He accepted the "job."
Jie Yin looked at his junior brother. A trace of sorrow flashed through his eyes, but in the end, he too lowered his head and tacitly accepted everything.
"Very good."
Dark Night Monarch's voice carried satisfaction.
"I have no interest whatsoever in Xiqi's campaign against Shang, nor in who becomes the Human Emperor."
"I have only one goal."
He paused, and an almost imperceptible aura locked onto everyone present.
"Jie Teachings. Qin Mu."
"I need you to become my blades—to test him, pressure him, and force every last trump card out of him."
"That Qin Mu... is very wrong." For the first time, Dark Night Monarch's voice carried a hint of gravity. "He bears no trace of this era's Heavenly Dao, nor does he resemble some ancient monster that survived from a past era. He seems to have... appeared out of nowhere."
"He is a massive variable. I need to know exactly what he is."
So Qin Mu was the target!
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti exchanged a glance, understanding dawning on them.
For an Epoch Monarch to treat Qin Mu with such seriousness, Qin Mu's terror was likely far beyond anything they had imagined.
"Since you are obedient dogs, you naturally deserve rewards."
Dark Night Monarch flicked a finger, and a rice-grain-sized sphere of energy, deeper than the night itself, flew straight toward Guangchengzi, who lay sprawled on the ground.
"Swallow it."
The cold command allowed no refusal.
"It can help you completely fuse the Heavenly Demon power within your body, turning that power into something truly your own. Consider it... a bone for the new dog."
Guangchengzi looked at the energy sphere radiating a terrifying aura and was scared out of his wits.