Chapter 704: The Choices One Must Make When Truly at a High Position

Jiang Chen sat alone outside the ancient city for a long time, pondering everything that had happened before, contemplating all the information he had seen, heard, and observed.

He gathered it all together and performed analysis and summary.

If everything the Demon Empress Lilyan said is true, she has been balancing the three factions for all these years.

After cooperating with the Human Race to expel the Dragon Race, she actually had the ability to wipe out the Human Race at that time.

Even though, because of Antares's existence, she could not completely eradicate the Human Race, she could at least occupy most of the Human World.

By corralling the Human Race, she could at least prevent them from further development.

Antares would not intervene in this.

Antares once said it only ensures the Human Race does not die out completely, and is not responsible for anything else. But Demon Empress Lilyan did not act that way; instead she killed several high‑rank Demon Kings, even creating the illusion that there were still strong individuals among the Human Race.

This made the previously reckless Demon Kings tread carefully, ultimately leading to a relative balance between Abyss Demons and the Human Race.

The Human Race also began to develop a thousand years ago; although still weaker than Abyss Demons now, they are not much weaker.

Moreover, more than six hundred years ago, she discovered Jiang Yi, who came from beyond the heavens, and plotted his assassination.

She feared Jiang Yi would reach Divine Level and ultimately break the balance.

Balance… For all these years what she pursued was balance. By that logic, it was actually she who truly spared the Human Race, allowing them to survive and develop in this era.

It is indeed somewhat laughable, even inconceivable.

Yet the facts are just so.

Jiang Chen verified all these matters through Antares.

The enemy the Human Race despises most is actually the behind‑the‑scenes figure who gave them space to survive…

"It's truly ironic!"

Jiang Chen knows he cannot speak of this; even if he did, hardly anyone would believe it.

He finds that the position he stands on has changed, the things he sees have altered, and his way of thinking is different from before.

He once thought the Demon Worship Society was a great tumor within the Human Race; if not eradicated, the Human Race would face serious trouble.

Now it seems the Demon Worship Society is nothing, unable to affect the balance between the two sides, let alone touch the foundation of the Human Race.

The Demon Worship Society is like a stinky bug—smelly and dirty, and that's all.

In Demon Empress Lilyan's eyes it is just that, a toy that can be discarded at any time, so before cooperation even began, to show goodwill she abandoned the Demon Worship Society.

After viewing matters from a different height, Jiang Chen finds his heart has hardened.

He must make a choice: whether for the past hatred of the Human Race and the Demon's relentless death, or for the future peaceful life of the Human Race through cooperation with demons. This decision must be made, and only a few can decide. No need to tell many people; it's useless.

After pondering for a long while, Jiang Chen left the Ancient Battlefield, returned to the Human World, and went back to the White God Courtyard.

In the days that have passed, the Human World has already been pacified, returning to its former state.

The peace that accumulated over several hundred years, after a tense period, has once again reemerged.

After a few days of busy work, Li Xueru, Lao Hong and others also found themselves free. At this moment they, together with Yan Kuangsheng, were drinking tea in the courtyard.

As for the suicide incident half a day ago, it actually involved the Shenlong Empire only minimally. The nearly ten‑thousand suicides were mainly concentrated in other factions and nations.

After all, the last great purge had already eliminated a large number of Demon Worship Society members.

Jiang Chen had just returned when Li Xueru said, "Xiao Mo, we have already investigated; the people who committed suicide half a day ago were indeed members of the Demon Worship Society."

"They were hidden very deeply; even the last great purge missed them," Lao Hong added softly, "We didn't expect the Demon Worship Society to be so concealed; these people are 'dark ones', they rarely act, so we couldn't detect them."

Yan Kuangsheng chuckled, retorting at Lao Hong, "Just admit you're blind, what's with these 'dark ones' anyway?"

Lao Hong snorted twice, glared at Yan Kuangsheng, but this time unexpectedly he restrained himself and did not fire back.

Li Xueru said, "Xiao Mo, you rushed off—was there something else?"

Jiang Chen sat down, poured tea for the three and for himself, "I discussed some matters with Lilyan."

The three were startled simultaneously—who is Lilyan?

They had never heard that name.

That name does not seem to appear in the Human Race's historical records. Jiang Chen realized this and casually said, "Lilyan is the Demon Empress." The three were shocked; Lao Hong even spat out his tea, splashing Yan Kuangsheng's face, and he turned pale, "You met the Demon Empress?"

Jiang Chen nodded, "Yes, I even went to the Demon Emperor's Palace."

Even went to the Demon Emperor's Palace…

Jiang Chen's light remark gave the three a chilling feeling; venturing into the Abyss was already terrifying enough, let alone the Demon Emperor's Palace.

Moreover, after going there, he returned unharmed.

The three looked at each other, finally realizing that their disciple seemed to have reached a height they could not attain.

The only one in the Human Race qualified to converse as an equal with Antares is Jiang Chen. In the history of the Human Race, only Jiang Chen has both visited the Demon Emperor's Palace and walked away unscathed.

Li Xueru took a deep breath to steady himself, "What did you discuss with the Demon Empress?"

Jiang Chen said slowly, "The Demon Empress wants to cooperate with me…" He recounted the Demon Empress's proposal. However, Jiang Chen did not reveal his own thoughts, fearing they would affect Li Xueru and the others' judgment.

As he spoke, the three's expressions turned vivid and varied.

They seemed to be listening to a bizarre myth, unable to imagine that the Human Race's history could contain such a huge omission.

Jiang Chen knows that even without external interference, history inevitably has gaps.

Moreover, behind the entire Human Race, there exists such a behind‑the‑scenes figure.

After a long while, Li Xueru finally exhaled, "When I studied the history of the Human Race, I indeed felt something was off."

"A thousand years ago, the Human Race was not strong, being the weakest of the Three Races. Especially after expelling the Dragon Race, the Human Race had to face Abyss Demons alone, which was a hopeless fight."

"At that time, Abyss Demons had a chance to destroy us, but they did not."

"Historical records also mention several Demon Kings dying mysteriously, suggesting hidden strong individuals among the Human Race; we never expected it to be the Demon Empress…" Jiang Chen's words completely overturned the three's understanding of Human Race history. Because Antares exists, they all know that what Jiang Chen says must be correct.

Antares has been here for an unknown length of time, having witnessed all the rises and falls of the Human Race in this era.

History may err, Antares does not.

Lao Hong said, "So, does that mean the Demon Empress actually owes us the Human Race?"

Jiang Chen nodded, "Although she has her own purpose, in fact she does indeed benefit our Human Race," Li Xueru said. "According to her, the Abyss Demon's consciousness brings destruction, and she cannot openly stop other Abyss Demons. To maintain balance, she can only choose this method." "The fact also gives the Human Race time to develop and catch its breath, and her hands have never been stained with Human Race blood." "I think this cooperation is feasible."