At those words.
A hint of pride appeared on the leading Heavenly Demon Emperor's face, but he immediately lowered his gaze deferentially again.
"Compared to any individual race among the Myriad Races, the Heavenly Demon Race is indeed considerably stronger. But before you, Venerable, we are nothing more than ants, unworthy of such praise!"
The Heavenly Demon Race was powerful.
But that depended on whom they were compared to.
Before Qin Shujian, never mind a dozen Heavenly Demon Emperors—even a hundred or more would be utterly outmatched.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Markas!"
The leading Heavenly Demon Emperor answered with his head bowed.
Qin Shujian gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment, committing the name to memory.
"I have no intention of interfering with the Heavenly Demon Race. Since the Heavenly Dao Instinct brought you into existence, that proves there is a reason for your race to exist.
As long as you do nothing that breaks the rules, I will not interfere in the slightest."
Anything that breaks the rules!
Markas looked startled, then immediately asked another question.
"May I ask, Venerable, what are these rules?"
"I won't spell them out. Think them over yourself. In any case, just act according to your true nature."
Qin Shujian gave an ambiguous reply, then vanished from the Main Hall.
Less than a single breath had passed. Before Markas could even react, he was gone.
At once.
Every Heavenly Demon Emperor's face fell.
Qin Shujian had arrived without explanation, said things that made no sense, and left just as inexplicably.
Had anyone else dared speak to the Heavenly Demon Race that way, they would have torn them limb from limb long ago.
However.
They could do that to others, but not to the man who had just left.
Strictly speaking.
The Heavenly