Chapter 213 - 178: Playing Catch-up

The Jade Emperor’s face showed no change as he spoke softly.

"Both the Demon Master and the Demon Emperor are not ordinary individuals, their contingency plans may not be limited to just this one."

"I will be cautious."

Their conversation came to an end, and the Mysterious Person’s figure slowly faded away between Heaven and Earth.

The Jade Emperor sat quietly, his face devoid of joy or sorrow, his eyes deep and unfathomable, not revealing what he was thinking.

Before long, word of the Demon Emperor’s return began to spread throughout Luzhou in the North, and many monsters there had witnessed the fight between the Great Emperor Zhen Wu and the Demon Emperor that day.

For the Demon Clan, who had suffered greatly, the return of the Demon Emperor was undoubtedly an exciting event.

After all, during the Demon Emperor’s reign, it was the most glorious period for the Demon Clan, and they had been yearning for the life they once had for countless years.

An elderly monster squatted at the entrance of his tribe’s home, holding a smoking pipe, with tendrils of smoke leisurely drifting out from his mouth as he gazed at the sky, pondering something.

His aged face was full of mottled fur, which bore patterns resembling coins.

"Dad!" A strong and energetic voice called out from not far away.

The speaker was a young adult monster, seen wearing a leather skirt on his lower body and with his upper body exposed, his bulging muscles exuding great strength. He also bore strange patterns on his body that made one dizzy at a glance, seemingly containing mysterious powers.

Upon hearing the call, the elder turned his gaze from the distant horizons back, looking over at his unsatisfactory son and said in a deep voice, "What’s the matter, why the hurry and flurry?"

A flicker of displeasure danced in his eyes, followed by a rebuke, "You are now the leader of our clan, and everyone in the tribe must survive in this cruel world under your leadership. How can you react with such panic? What would the others think?"

The elder’s gaze was stern, piercing like a sharp Treasure Blade straight to the heart.

The muscular monster felt a chill in his heart under that gaze, instinctively touching his head and replying, "I understand, Dad, one should not wear one’s emotions on one’s face."

"Good that you remember those words. Now, tell me, what news has got you so flustered?" the elder said dispassionately.

"The Emperor has returned!" the younger monster uttered softly.

Upon hearing this, the old monster suddenly placed down his smoking pipe, stood up with a whoosh, and grabbed his son’s arm, demanding, "Is this true? Where did you hear such news?"

At this moment, his face was no longer calm and collected, but his gaze was intensely fixed on his child.

The younger monster, seeing his father’s reaction, couldn’t help but criticize internally. He had just been lecturing about not showing emotions, and now he had given himself away.

But he didn’t dare delay any longer, for his father’s family discipline was harsh; he quickly shared everything he knew.

The old monster then murmured to himself, "So that commotion yesterday was indeed the Emperor clashing with Zhen Wu, I thought the aura seemed familiar."

"Dad, with the Emperor’s return, can we return to the Demon Court now?" The younger monster’s face displayed excitement, and his eyes shimmered with hope as he looked at his father.

They were born warriors, yet they were forced to live on this barren land to conceal their presence, all for the sake of upholding their mission.

Now that the emperor they followed had returned, it was time for their sharpened sword to be drawn.

The mere thought of finally going to battle and slaughtering the enemy made him shiver with excitement.

Sometimes he felt that he was born to die on the battlefield; hunting, farming—he had no interest in these, he only craved bloodshed.

Had it not been for the bonds of kinship and duty, perhaps this most outstanding monster of the Money Leopard Clan would have become a beast that knew only slaughter.

The elder glanced at his son, understanding his thoughts completely—it was their clan’s destiny.

They were born as warriors, and only through ceaseless combat could they fulfill their true nature. They had already suppressed it for far too long for the sake of their emperor.

Still, he shook his head and said, "The time is not yet right. Do not forget the emperor’s intentions. We can only set out once the Demon Master brings the decree. Otherwise, we must stay our hand no matter what."

"We are destined to fight for the rise of the Demon Court. Avoid needless sacrifices, and put away your belligerent heart for now," the elder’s distant voice cast a hint of disappointment across his son’s face.

This blade within him was meant to drink blood on the battlefield; what was the point of guarding this barren land?

"However, you can start training the warriors. Since the emperor’s silhouette has begun to appear within the Three Realms, the time to re-establish the Demon Court will not be too distant. When that moment comes, we must show all living beings of the Three Realms just how sharp the blades of our clan are in the emperor’s hand," a sharp glint flashed in the elder’s eyes.

His air grew more imposing, a fierce aura born from mountains of corpses and seas of blood enveloped him.

Looking at his somewhat unfamiliar old father, the monster felt a surge of excitement; this was his father’s true face.

There was a time when the name Qian Lu made all living beings in the Three Realms tremble. As the most powerful Great General of the Demon Court, his appearance often meant endless slaughter.

After the destruction of the Demon Court, this once sharpest and most bloodthirsty blade of the court vanished without a trace, and no one knew his whereabouts. Along with him, disappeared the Money Leopard Clan.

The Heavenly Court had once spread a bounty throughout Luzhou in the North to find him, but all attempts were in vain. Later, rumors circulated that Qian Lu, due to excessive slaughter, had already perished in that great battle.

Who could have imagined that this bloodiest Great General of the Demon Court would now present himself in this form, idly passing each day at the tribe’s gate with a tobacco pipe in hand.

Should travelers or merchants pass by, he would greet them with a smile and discuss events of yore that took place in Luzhou in the North.

But now, he was like an unsheathed Treasure Blade, emitting a chilling presence from head to toe.

"Rest assured, father, I will be prepared," the adult monster said with great pleasure as he left.

Before long, the tribe echoed with his commanding voice, urging the others to commence their training.

Qian Lu’s lips curved into a smile upon hearing these sounds. It had been so many years that the monsters of Luzhou in the North had forgotten the formidable nature of their clan. It was time to remind all living beings of the Three Realms of the fear they once knew.

The old man lifted his head towards the clear sky, his face glowing with excitement, and murmured, "Your Majesty, please don’t let your servant wait too long."

Meanwhile, in the deepest part of Luzhou in the North, within a Cave Heaven, the Demon Kings and the Demon Master gathered once again.