Chapter 342: The Demon Emperor's Successor

"Then, I now have a new question."

Inside the palace, Ren Yidao was no longer standing beneath the dais with his head tilted up; instead, he had been graciously granted a seat, sitting on a step just one level below Huang Huang.

Ren Yidao, having received such great favor, did not let his guard down and continued to suppress his own temperament.

"Now the question circles back again. Your Majesty Huang Huang, why do you need me to continue maintaining this misunderstanding?"

Regarding this question, Huang Huang did not take the initiative to answer.

Because although the youth before her eyes seemed to be posing a question, in his heart, he already had his own answer.

He already had his own conclusion.

And she, too, was somewhat curious to hear what the answer he had reached was like.

What kind of person are you?

"No one knows my name, and no one knows my personality."

"Although my strength is not considered poor, here in Demon Emperor City, it cannot be considered outstanding; it is simply not worth looking at."

No reputation, no strength, and no money.

What could you possibly want from me?

My body?

Ren Yidao smiled, not speaking the mockery in his heart, but instead said with certainty:

"Therefore, what you need is certainly not me as a person, but rather a significance, a title."

"Phoenix Divine Son."

Beyond his own self, this was the most intuitive identity Ren Yidao held for the people of Demon Emperor City.

Ren Yidao looked at the woman leaning sideways on her chair and said softly:

"So, you need a Phoenix Divine Son who is not you."

"Am I right?"

Huang Huang slightly raised her chin, her red lips parting slightly:

"Continue."

This man, it seems, is even more interesting than previously thought.

Perhaps, he could do more.

Not just act as a marionette.

If Ren Yidao were just an ordinary member of the Demon Race, no matter how excellent, he would never have caught Huang Huang's eye.

But he was not.

His ancestral bloodline with Blood Flame Ten Thousand Feet, while not enough to put him on equal footing with Huang Huang, at least gave him the qualification to hold a conversation.

Ren Yidao knew this was his chance to perform, so he became increasingly cautious, carefully weighing his words.

He pondered for a long while, his brows tightly locked, as if he felt his own thought was somewhat incredible, but in the end, he still said slowly:

"So..."

"You need a successor?"

Ren Yidao lit up.

Before his eyes, everything was bright as day.

Huang Huang's eyes widened, like two scorching fireballs erupting with blinding light in front of Ren Yidao.

Ren Yidao: "..."

Is this some kind of high-beam headlight?

Do you not know that using high beams on oncoming traffic gets you cursed at?

If it weren't for the fact that I can't beat you, I would definitely have a few words for you right now...

Before Ren Yidao's eyes could take any more, Huang Huang came to her senses and narrowed her eyes once again.

She stared at Ren Yidao, examining him closely, and asked as if she found it interesting:

"Then tell me more, why would I do that?"

She was very curious, just how much had this man who had just arrived here seen through from these details?

But this time, Ren Yidao learned his lesson.

He decisively shook his head and gave up:

"I don't know."

Huang Huang:?

Seeing the Demon Emperor looking somewhat bewildered, Ren Yidao smiled triumphantly.

Don't get it, do you?

This is the ultimate answer from Baidu Zhidao—I don't know!

He said:

"I am not a person of Demon Emperor City, nor am I even a member of the Demon Race from the Overseas Archipelago. I only just arrived here today; what do you expect me to guess?"

Ren Yidao said as a matter of course:

"Naturally, I wouldn't know why a vigorous Demon Emperor would need a successor."

"It couldn't be that because you are a woman, someone wants to arrange for you to select a male consort to leave behind an heir, and you need someone to shut other people's mouths?"

Ren Yidao did not think this was the real answer, so he said it in a mocking tone, attempting to ease the tense atmosphere.

But after he finished speaking, he discovered that the situation seemed a bit off.

Huang Huang fell silent.

She lowered her eyes, shook her head, and let out a soft sigh.

Eh?

Ren Yidao: "... Hmm?"

Huang Huang: "..."

After quietly observing Huang Huang's expression for a moment, Ren Yidao's face twitched, he swallowed his saliva, and silently adjusted his sitting posture.

Well-behaved · Dignified · Elegant. JPG

He sat up straight, eyes on his nose, nose on his mouth, and mouth on his Heart Star.

Don't dare move, don't dare move.

I was just making a joke, how did it seem to hit exactly on a reverse scale...

Eh? Come to think of it, dragons have reverse scales, what forbidden parts do phoenixes have?

Phoenix claws?

Thinking about it made me a bit hungry...

After a moment of silence, while Ren Yidao's thoughts had already begun to wander to "Which brand of pickled pepper phoenix claws is the tastiest?", Huang Huang finally reacted again.

She let out a long breath and sighed:

"That's right."

She said:

"Every generation of Demon Emperor needs to establish their own successor and hand them over to the State Preceptor to cultivate; this is a rule that was set from the very beginning when the Demon Race founded the Demon Country."

"This rule exists to prevent the Demon Country from falling into chaos after a certain Demon Emperor dies suddenly, and also to prevent a certain Demon Emperor from sitting on the throne forever, unwilling to step down."

Ren Yidao narrowed his eyes, understanding the meaning.

A mechanism to prevent trouble before it happens.

This successor of the Demon Country is both an emergency measure for necessary moments and a restraint to keep the Demon Emperor in check.

So, although named the Demon Nation Crown Prince, in reality... they are just a spare part for the Demon Emperor.

And the mentioned State Preceptor must be the other means to balance the Demon Emperor and prevent them from having sole power.

This Demon Nation Crown Prince position is not easy to hold.

"And I, having succeeded as Demon Emperor for over a millennium, have yet to establish a successor."

"Within Demon Emperor City, many people have already expressed their dissatisfaction with this, both openly and secretly."

"Some of them even intend to impeach me, it's truly..."

"Heh."

Huang Huang shook her head, no joy or anger visible on her face, but Ren Yidao still read a faint mockery in her eyes.

Is she mocking them for overestimating their own capabilities?

Or does she feel their actions are laughable and beyond their station?

Ren Yidao was not sure, nor did he intend to ask, so he silently maintained his silence.

Huang Huang seemed satisfied with Ren Yidao's tact and spoke straightforwardly:

"You guessed correctly, I do indeed need your title as the Phoenix Divine Son."

Her burning gaze stared at Ren Yidao's chest, seemingly seeing through the essence contained within.

"Regardless of whether you are truly of Phoenix bloodline, that is not important."

"Even... regardless of whether you are a spy sent by the Human Race, that is not important."

Yes, it really is not important.

To Huang Huang, it did not matter what Ren Yidao's background was, or what purpose he held.

Within this Demon Emperor City, she is Heaven.

And no one can flip Heaven.

"Uh..."

Ren Yidao felt somewhat unnatural under her scorching gaze, but he still insisted:

"I am truly not a spy sent by the Human Race; no one instructed me to come."

This is the truth.

No matter who comes to conduct a lie detector test, this sentence is true.

Human Race spy sent by others (×)

Demon Race spy who came voluntarily (√)

Huhu, I am not someone who can be easily defined.

"Heh."

Huang Huang looked at Ren Yidao's sincere appearance but did not trust him lightly, only saying faintly:

"Perhaps."

She could sense that there were no lies in Ren Yidao's words, but she also could not sense much sincerity.

However, this was also normal.

After all, Ren Yidao was forced to cooperate with Huang Huang; it was good enough that he held no resentment in his heart.

From beginning to end, Huang Huang never asked if Ren Yidao was willing, and he did not bring up such an idiotic question either.

He had no right to refuse at all.

That Huang Huang listened to him talk at length and analyze back and forth earlier was, in the final analysis, because she wanted to listen.

But if she did not want to listen, then he should just honestly shut his mouth.

The wood is already carved into a boat; since this matter has been decided, Ren Yidao can only let things take their course.

After pondering for a while, Ren Yidao suddenly asked:

"So, my public identity is the prince of the Demon Country... hmm, the crown prince?"

"Hmm, that's right."

Ren Yidao nodded, then asked:

"What can this crown prince identity bring me?"

"Within this Demon Country, below me and above others, status, power, wealth... you can ask the Demon Nation State Preceptor about these later."

Ren Yidao nodded and asked about another term he cared about:

"Is this Demon Nation State Preceptor a friend or a foe?"

"To you, neither friend nor foe."

And to you?

This question flashed through Ren Yidao's mind, and in the end, he nodded silently.

Does this question even need asking?

Although this Demon Nation State Preceptor is written as "State Preceptor," it is actually read as "Demon Emperor Restrictor"; it might as well have the word "check-and-balance" written on its face.

"Then what do I need to do?"

There is no such thing as a free lunch in Heaven and Earth; rights and obligations are always bound together.

Huang Huang frowned slightly, thought for a long while, and finally shook her head slightly:

"You don't need to do anything right now; just be yourself."

Oh ho.

That means there might be new tasks in the future.

That's fine too.

It's better than having to pay nothing at all; at least it can make him feel more at ease.

As if she hadn't spoken so much with someone in a long time, Huang Huang's expression was a bit weary, and she covered her mouth to let out a big yawn.

She glanced sideways at Ren Yidao, crossed her legs with some impatience, and asked indifferently:

"Is there anything else you want to ask?"

Ren Yidao watched those fair jade feet exchange positions before his eyes, his mouth twitched, and he understood Huang Huang's body language.

Lord Demon Emperor is sleepy.

If he doesn't let her rest now, he's afraid she'll get a little temper.

But would I, Ren, let you rest so easily?

Ren Yidao straightened his waist, sat up straight, stared at Huang Huang earnestly, and said in a deep voice:

"There is one more very important matter."

Seeing Ren Yidao so serious, Huang Huang suppressed her impatience, wanting to see what exactly he wanted to ask.

The youth took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and said solemnly:

"How... should I address you?"

Huang Huang: "Hmm?"

What did you say?

You prepared such a big scene, and in the end, you just ask this?

Huang Huang was speechless, but Ren Yidao kept pressing.

"Look, you are the Demon Emperor, I am the crown prince; in terms of seniority, you are a generation above me."

"Imperial Uncle? Or Imperial Aunt? Or perhaps..."

Ren Yidao blinked, hunched his head, moved his lips, and asked tentatively:

"... Mom, Mommy?"

Huang Huang:?

After saying it, Ren Yidao felt it wasn't right and corrected himself:

"Oh, no, it should be Empress Mother?"

Then, he looked at the stunned Huang Huang with a strange, lingering gaze.

Yie!

The play you're running, woman, is actually quite perverted!

Huang Huang:???

"You!!?"

Her face twitched, she clenched her pink fists tightly, trying to endure it.

But in the end, she couldn't stand this bottomless guy and roared uncontrollably:

"Give me..."

With a wave of her hand, she stirred up a violent gale throughout the entire palace, blowing Ren Yidao directly out of the hall.

"Get out!!!"

The blown-away Ren Yidao landed heavily, stumbled two steps, and almost turned into a rolling Gourd.

But even in such a disheveled state, Ren Yidao still persistently asked:

"Don't run!"

"What exactly should I call you?"

"This is very important to me!"

He rushed to the tightly closed hall doors and pounded on them hard:

"Open the door!"

"Don't hide inside and stay silent! I know you're home!"

"Open the door!"

At this moment, Ren Yidao was acting bold and reckless, yet he wasn't the least bit worried about touching any reverse scale.

Even if he did, it wouldn't matter.

Heh.

Anyway, Huang Huang still needs to use me as her successor, so she definitely won't do anything to me.

Were you trying to scare me earlier?

Huhu, I walk the world of martial arts, and my specialty is holding a grudge for every slight; I never take a loss.

I may not be able to beat you, but you won't have an easy time now either!

"Open the door—"

"Yo, you're still here?"

When Ren Yidao walked out of the Demon Emperor Palace, he saw an unexpected figure at the entrance; Mo Qi had actually been waiting outside the whole time and hadn't left.

At this time, he had already returned to his sturdy wolf-headed human form, standing to the side like an iron tower; seeing Ren Yidao come out, he respectfully lowered his head and bowed:

"Your Highness."

While bowing, Mo Qi's gaze swept across Ren Yidao's waist, and as expected, he did not see the Demon Emperor Order that had been tucked there before.

Was it really taken back?

Mo Qi sighed inwardly, feeling it was a waste for Ren Yidao to have squandered such a precious opportunity on such a trivial matter.

It was for the best that it was taken back; it would save a lot of trouble.

Ren Yidao didn't care about Mo Qi's little thoughts, and seeing him there, he smiled and said:

"Since you're here, help me point the way. I need to go find Cang Lan and the others; which way should I go?"

Mo Qi's brows twitched, and he asked:

"Does Your Highness wish to go to the residence of the Moon Sacrifice?"

"I suppose so?"

"...... Allow me to lead the way for you."

"Is that convenient?"

Although Ren Yidao wasn't clear on the grudges between the Black Moon Dog Clan and the Silver Moon Wolf Clan, he could still pick up on some clues from the tension he felt when he met Cang Lan.

It wasn't just a personal grudge; it was more about the enmity accumulated by their ancestors.

This hatred was not something that could be easily resolved.

Mo Qi was silent, then shook his head and said:

"It is no trouble."

"Alright, then I'll trouble you to lead the way."

Mo Qi nodded silently and turned to set off.

Then, he heard a demonic whisper coming from behind him.

"Alright, it's time for you to change back, isn't it?"

The whisper of the great villain Ren was filled with thick malice, making Mo Qi's body feel a chill.

"......"

"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you going to change or not? If you don't..."

Inhale—

Exhale—

Mo Qi took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and said with grievance:

"...... I'll change."

Can't I just fucking change!!?