207: The enemy of the devil

After Zhonglou finished recounting his experience of how he became a "Devil General," the atmosphere below the city wall became even more subtle.

If his previous accounts of struggling in the sea of blood had given everyone a shock at the primitive form of life, then now, his story of how he directly replaced his enemy's position and took over everything they had through a bloody battle, sent a chill from the bottom of their hearts, especially for those in high positions.

The Law of the Demon Realm was so stark, so unadorned.

The victor possessed everything.

The loser had nothing, and even their very existence would become part of the victor.

What a cruel, yet incredibly efficient way of resource integration!

Xu Weixiong stood in Tingfeng Courtyard, her calm starry eyes flickering with thoughtful light.

"So that's it, is this the Demon Realm's method of 'merger'?"

She murmured softly.

In her opinion, Zhonglou's actions were essentially no different from when she led the Northern Liang Iron Cavalry to annex those disobedient Li Yang aristocratic families.

It was just that the Demon Realm's method was more direct, more thorough.

"It seems my husband has not only subdued a powerful enforcer, but also a formidable figure who deeply understands the 'Law of the Jungle'."

A playful smile curved Xu Weixiong's lips, "Now, this game of the world is getting more and more interesting."

She began to consider how to use Zhonglou, this "chess piece," in her future plans.

On the other side, the Academy's Master sighed softly.

"Using killing to stop killing, and war to sustain war. This path is viable, but... it is also the easiest to get lost in endless slaughter."

He glanced at Ning Que, who was listening intently beside him.

"Ning Que, remember this. Power is a double-edged sword. It can give you everything, and it can also make you lose everything. The key lies in whether the person using it still holds that reverence for life in their heart."

"Yes, Teacher."

Ning Que replied respectfully, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards Chang'an City once more.

Reverence for life?

He looked at His Majesty the Emperor, who was receiving the Devil Head's prostration, and wondered in his heart, when a person's power is so great that they can disregard gods and devils, what more do they need to revere?

Above the city wall, Li Chengqian was fully aware of the psychological activities of the crowd below.

This was precisely the effect he wanted.

He wanted everyone to understand that he, Li Chengqian, could not only control people, but also control devils!

He wanted everyone to feel a reverence for him, originating from the depths of their Souls!

"A Devil General, I presume, still can't satisfy your appetite, can it?"

Li Chengqian asked Zhonglou indifferently.

Hearing this, Zhonglou grinned, his smile filled with endless arrogance and confidence.

"Your Majesty the Emperor is insightful. How could a mere Devil General be my end point?"

"After devouring the memories of the first Devil General, I gained a clear understanding of the power divisions in the Demon Realm."

"Above Devil Generals are 'Devil Kings' who dominate a region. Above Devil Kings are the supreme 'Devil Emperors' who rule the entire Demon Realm!"

"My goal, from the very beginning, has only been one."

Zhonglou extended a finger, pointing distantly at the sky.

"That is, to stand at the highest place and see what difference the scenery there holds!"

These words were utterly domineering, filled with an Aura of peerless ambition.

Below, Cheng Yaojin listened with his blood boiling, wishing he could grab his axe right now and follow him to achieve a great feat.

"Good lad! Gutsy! I, Lao Cheng, like men like that!"

"Zhijie, watch your words."

Qin Qiong reminded him softly from the side.

Although he was also moved by Zhonglou's heroism, he knew even more clearly that at this moment, they were merely spectators.

The true protagonist was His Majesty the Emperor, unfathomable, on the city wall.

"Hehe, I couldn't help it for a moment, couldn't help it for a moment."

Cheng Yaojin scratched his head, but his eyes remained fixed on Zhonglou, full of admiration.

"Once I had a goal, my actions became simple and pure."

Zhonglou continued.

"That is, to battle!"

"To battle without end!"

"I led my newly subdued subordinates and began to expand in all directions. I never engaged in any schemes or tricks, nor did I ever accept any surrenders."

"My rule was simple: any enemy of mine would either be devoured by me, or they would devour me!"

"I challenged one Devil General after another who was stronger than me, devoured their power, and took over their territories and subordinates. My strength expanded rapidly, like a snowball."

"My reputation also spread quickly across that chaotic land."

"They called me 'Blood Butcher,' they called me 'Devourer,' they called me 'the madman who crawled out of the sea of blood.'"

"Countless members of the Demon Race were intimidated by my fierce reputation and fled in terror. And countless other equally unruly Devil Heads were attracted by my power and came to pledge their allegiance."

"My forces, in just a few hundred years, expanded to a point that even those high and mighty Devil Kings could not ignore."

"Finally, I met my first 'Devil King' level enemy."

At this point, Zhonglou's tone paused slightly, a trace of Battle Intent flashing in his eyes.

"That was an old Devil King who had ruled tens of thousands of miles around. It was said that his Bloodline could be traced back to a powerful ancient Demon God."

"Under him, there were eighteen powerful Devil Generals, and an army of millions of the Demon Race."

"He warned me to stop expanding and to swear allegiance to him, becoming his nineteenth Devil General."

"Of course, I refused."

A sneer of disdain appeared on Zhonglou's face.

"For me, Zhonglou, to kneel before someone else? Besides you, Your Majesty the Emperor, there is no one in heaven or on earth who has that right!"

These words were both a statement of fact and a well-placed flattery.

Li Chengqian felt comfortable in his heart upon hearing them, but his expression remained unchanged.

"And then? Did you win?"

He asked.

"Of course."

Zhonglou's answer was self-evident.

"That battle lasted for a full ten years."

"I led my army, composed of countless desperate individuals, and engaged his million-strong army in a decisive battle on the 'Plain of Skeletons' in the Demon Realm."

"It was a true meat grinder."

"Every day, thousands of the Demon Race turned to ashes on the battlefield. The entire Plain of Skeletons was stained dark red."

"My subordinates suffered heavy casualties. But not one of them retreated half a step!"

"Because they knew that by following me, as long as they survived, they would get everything they wanted! Power, status, glory!"

"And that Devil King's army, though vast in number, had not experienced such a brutal war in too long. They were afraid."

"Finally, after exhausting all his armies, he and I engaged in a final duel."

"He was indeed very strong; that Bloodline from an ancient Demon God gave him many strange and powerful Divine Abilities."

"But his Battle Intent was too weak."

"I, with a single punch, utterly shattered his head."

"In front of all the surviving members of the Demon Race, I devoured his Demonic Core, bathed in his Demonic Blood, and ascended to my first... throne!"