"Stop the pursuit," Mo Luo Aotian said, tucking the Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission artifact back into the pouch at his waist. "The Blazing Flame Legion has succeeded. Let's retreat immediately."

"Succeeded?" Mo Luo Tianfeng gasped. "They killed Jiuyao Chongyang."

Mo Luo Zhanlong and Mo Luo Zhanchong couldn't help but reveal expressions of joy.

"Jiuyao Chongyang isn't so easy to deal with," Mo Luo Aotian replied, his face heavy with displeasure. "Although they failed to kill him, they managed to abduct the Crown Prince and Princess of the Demon Dragon Royal Family."

"They abducted the Princess and the Prince!" Mo Luo Tianfeng paused briefly, then realization dawned. "Excellent. As expected of Mo Luo Yinfeng—this move is even more decisive than killing the Demon Dragon Emperor."

"Indeed." A trace of grim satisfaction touched Mo Luo Aotian's dark countenance. "The Demon Dragon Royal Family's Achilles' heel is the scarcity of its direct lineage. This generation is left with only Crown Prince Shenxu and Princess Shenyin. Now that both are in the hands of my Demon Sealing Empire, even the supremely powerful Jiuyao Chongyang will be constrained by countless considerations and forced to dance to our tune."

"It's not entirely impossible that we could force Jiuyao Chongyang to defect from the Holy Word Alliance," Mo Luo Zhanlong mused. "Otherwise, if we simply killed the Prince and Princess, leaving the Demon Dragon Royal Family without heirs, the entire Demon Dragon Empire would surely fracture."

Of course, by this point, Mo Luo Aotian and the others understood that the Aotian Legion had been nothing more than a visible decoy all along, meant to attract the Demon Dragon Royal Family's Celestial Demon Warriors, while the Blazing Flame Legion was the true trump card in this operation.

Although they felt deeply resentful about being manipulated like pawns, since the Blazing Flame Legion had completed their objective, the defeat of the Aotian Legion was inconsequential. At the very least, they had successfully tied down the Demon Dragon Royal Family's Celestial Demon Warriors—that was enough!

It was simply that the primary credit for this entire operation would be attributed to the Blazing Flame Legion, which left Mo Luo Aotian feeling intensely sour.

"Mo Luo Yinfeng! Don't get smug," Mo Luo Aotian ground out through clenched teeth. "I will settle this score with you someday!"

The main generals of the Aotian Legion standing behind him understood perfectly the bitterness consuming Mo Luo Aotian. To be used as a pawn, suffer losses in men and materiel, and end up with no credit whatsoever—if Mo Luo Yinfeng hadn't succeeded with the ambush, the Aotian Legion might have enjoyed a smoother path upon returning home!

Carrying their resentment and indignation, Mo Luo Aotian and his retinue turned and departed the woods!

Seven nights later, under the deepest part of the night, we finally returned to Demon Dragon City!

The oppressive darkness obscured the appearance of the ancient imperial capital, yet even so, I could sense the imperial dominance radiating from the towering palace gates and the thick surrounding walls. This was the palace where the Emperor resided.

However, in the gloom of the night, that was all I could perceive, which left me with a slight sense of regret. Having this rare opportunity to enter the palace, yet failing to see what it truly looked like.

Of course, that thought flickered away instantly. With Shenyin having been abducted, the few of us were already consumed by anxiety, leaving no space in our minds to dwell on architecture.

Outside the main gate, a contingent of guards in polished armor was already waiting. Upon seeing us, they quickly approached. "Marshal, you've returned?" The leader was powerfully built, with chiseled, sharp features that immediately suggested a sturdy, brave, and resolute warrior. After executing a perfect knight's salute, he instinctively looked towards me.

"General Ming, how is the Emperor's condition?" Yueyao asked worriedly.

"His Majesty's health is no longer in danger. He is currently in the Quiet Heart Hall. Hurry, go now."

"Understood." Yueyao nodded slightly.

In my mind, a Hall should have been vast and sumptuously decorated, but the Quiet Heart Hall before me was unexpectedly modest, almost identical to the council hall of the Yun family.

On the high seat in the center sat a middle-aged man clad in a golden robe and wearing a star-shaped crown. His bearing was as sturdy and grounded as a mountain, and the resemblance to Shenyin made me instantly recognize him as the current Demon Dragon Emperor, Jiuyao Chongyang. Perhaps due to the kidnapping of Shenyin and Shenxu, his expression was veiled, sharp, and murderous—like a wounded lioness momentarily suppressed.

Standing on either side of him were a man and a woman!

Hmph! It was Jiuyao Zhutian. He was clad in Celestial Demon Battle Armor, a Frost-Condensing Greatsword strapped to his back, his expression severe. He merely offered me a slight nod upon seeing me enter.

The other was a beautiful woman, about thirty, with azure hair, blue eyes, and delicate features, her demeanor calm. If I guessed correctly, this must be the Divine Matriarch, Jiuyao Zhuyue. I had imagined the Divine Matriarch as an old woman, yet her appearance was so youthful. However, people in the Mafa World were masters of preservation, especially those who had reached Celestial Demon Rank One, making it exceedingly difficult to judge a person's true age by their appearance!

Seeing me enter, the Divine Matriarch also offered a slight smile.

"Your subordinates pay respects to Your Majesty!" Yueyao, Jidu, and Luohou executed the standard courtly obeisance between subject and ruler. I followed suit. While I was in Yuncheng, Jin Yaohong had taught me many things, and this courtly bow was one of them. Though it lacked the exaggerated prostrations of ancient times, it was exceedingly formal and could not be slighted in the slightest!

"Rise," Jiuyao Chongyang said sternly. "You have finally returned." As he spoke, Jiuyao Chongyang instinctively looked towards me. "You are Xingchen."

"Yes!" I quickly replied.

"Good. Truly cast in the same mold as Shenyin," Jiuyao Chongyang’s eyes flashed with a surge of happy excitement. "I had expected to meet you at least a year from now and hold your investiture ceremony as a King." Jiuyao Chongyang sighed heavily here. "I never thought you would achieve the rank of Celestial Demon Warrior in less than a year, and now I cannot even hold a grand King investiture ceremony for you."

"..." For a moment, I stood stunned before reality settled in. "The King investiture ceremony is a minor matter; rescuing His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Princess is the urgent concern."

"Indeed," Yueyao quickly added. "Your Majesty, Celestial Master, have you conceived of a viable plan?"

"It is better if you explain the situation to them," Jiuyao Chongyang gestured toward Jiuyao Zhuyue at his side.

"The situation is a complete mess," Jiuyao Zhuyue stated. "After abducting the Prince and Princess, the envoy from the Demon Sealing Empire delivered their ultimatum the very next day. They demand our Iron Wolf Legion withdraw from the Mispix Defense Line and immediately sever ties with the Holy Word Alliance. Otherwise..." Even without her finishing the sentence, we could guess the consequences.

"What? Sever ties with the Holy Word Alliance?" Yueyao exclaimed in shock. "What was Your Majesty's reply?"

"I have already issued the order for the Iron Wolf Legion to temporarily withdraw from the Mispix Defense Line," Jiuyao Chongyang said wearily. "However, I have not yet given a formal reply regarding the Holy Word Alliance."

"Damn it, they've struck at our vital point," Jidu clenched his jaw. "I fear Cangyue and Biqi are already suspicious of us."

"Not just Cangyue and Biqi," Jiuyao Zhuyue continued. "Even the Holy Word Church is wary of us, afraid that we might defect at a critical moment. Currently, armies are stationed around the Mississippi, Red Sea, and Blue Sea areas. If we clearly state our intention to leave the Holy Word Alliance, it's likely that the troops from those two nations and the experts of the Church will descend upon us immediately."