“Do you truly believe that once the three great royal clans eliminate the Blazing Violet Clan, they will spare us?” Medusa offered no explanation of Hei Mingba’s might; she merely analyzed the potential fallout of the situation.

“Your Majesty, rest assured. The Demon Kings of the Blue Feather Clan, the Nightmare Clan, and the Wolf Clan have all given us their assurances. As long as we assist them in confronting the Blazing Violet Clan in this battle, all past grievances will be utterly dismissed. They swore this oath in the name of the Demon Gods, so their promise is highly credible!” the Great Elder Suolun stated calmly.

“What? You intend to participate in the assault on the Blazing Violet Clan as well?” Hearing that Suolun and the others had struck a deal with the other three great royal clans behind her back, Medusa was instantly enraged.

“Your Majesty, although our relationship with the Blazing Violet Clan has been amicable over the years, time waits for no one now. We cannot afford not to make the correct choice. Moreover, Zhan Bulasi has already been slain by Hei Mingba, and the Blood Clan has collectively defected to the Werewolf Clan. It is not impossible that we will suffer the same fate as the Blood Clan—Hei Mingba cannot be trusted! Your Majesty, please awaken!” Suolun’s words remained as cool and detached as ever.

Seeing the indifferent expressions of the eight elders and recognizing that their decision was already final, Medusa spoke no more. She knew that nothing she said now would matter. They were convinced that she favored helping Hei Mingba purely out of personal preference. But how could they know that she herself had killed Zhan Bulasi? Hei Mingba’s own power had reached a level capable of instantly killing an ordinary Demon King; even if the three Demon Kings attacked together, they might not necessarily defeat him, let alone the fact that he had the newly ascended Demon King Yan Senxu and Ye Jingyu, whose strength was certainly no less than a Demon King’s, by his side.

With those two present, the power of the Blazing Violet Clan was already sufficient to contend with the three great royal clans, perhaps even surpass them. But if she told them this, would they believe her?

Medusa slowly sat down, refusing to look at the eight men again. Since they had made their choice, so be it. She could only hope that Hei Mingba would show her favor and leave the Silver Serpent Clan some path of retreat.

“Your Majesty, rest assured. After this matter concludes, you will still be our Majesty. However Your Majesty chooses to deal with us then, we will accept it willingly!” Seeing that Medusa had fallen silent, Suolun and the others assumed she had tacitly accepted their course of action. They bowed deeply to Medusa and filed out one by one.

But Medusa softly sighed to herself, How many of you will actually return alive?

Forget it, forget it. If you can betray me once, you can do it a second time. Why should I still worry about you?

With that thought, she simply closed her eyes and began circulating her power to regulate her internal energy.

Soon, in a gorge in the northwest of the Demon Realm, more than twenty thousand kilometers from the Blazing Violet Clan’s territory, Suolun, now clad in a silver robe, stood respectfully atop a mountain peak, gazing toward the northwest sky. At that moment, a streak of purple fire illuminated the entire expanse, immediately followed by the instantaneous appearance of a powerfully built man radiating an imposing aura directly before Suolun. The sheer magnitude of the pressure forced Suolun back repeatedly.

“Suolun, where is your Majesty? Why do I not see her?” Hei Mingba’s authoritative voice rang out, compelling Suolun to retreat further.

“Your Majesty Hei Mingba, our Majesty asked me to convey that she is indisposed and may be unable to assist you this time?” Suolun forced the words out while straining to maintain his stance.

“Oh? Indisposed?” A strange smile curled the corner of Hei Mingba’s mouth. He suddenly extended his right hand and lunged toward Suolun. Against Hei Mingba’s overwhelming pressure, Suolun lacked the strength even to evade, left only to watch the hand, perpetually shrouded in purple flames, reach out for him. In that instant, he finally recalled his Demon King’s assessment of Hei Mingba.

Just as Suolun believed his death was imminent, a blue figure materialized in front of him, meeting Hei Mingba’s grasp with a palm strike of its own.

With a sharp crack—like a single, crisp clap—the two palms collided. The impact caused no visible ripple, but the sharp-eyed Suolun clearly saw a thread of a crack flash across the void where the hands met, almost all of the two brutally powerful forces surging into that minuscule fissure.

Is this the true strength of a Demon King expert? Has their mastery over power reached this level?

Suolun was inwardly shocked, and Hei Mingba’s face equally betrayed a look of astonishment, an intense one at that.

“Yu Xuetian, why are you here?” Hei Mingba exclaimed in alarm.

“Heh heh, Hei Mingba, it has been a long time. Is it not permissible for me to come visit?” The Demon King of the Blue Feather Clan, Yu Xuetian, wore a light smile, appearing as if he were genuinely greeting an old friend.

Seeing Yu Xuetian’s faint smile, Hei Mingba seemed to realize something.

“You deliberately lured me here?” Hei Mingba exclaimed once more.

“Hahaha! As expected of an ancient demon who has lived for countless years; you grasp things instantly. Indeed, I lured you here on purpose. By now, my children have probably almost overrun your territory?” Yu Xuetian wore a triumphant smile, clearly finding it a significant accomplishment to startle someone of Hei Mingba’s stature.

“Despicable…” Hei Mingba cursed loudly and attempted to depart, but two figures suddenly flickered through the void.

“Hei Mingba, trying to leave? Do you think you can walk away today?” Krizmande also let out a cold sneer, and black flames erupted from his body. The power of those flames was in no way weaker than Hei Mingba’s Flame of Destruction.

Seeing the three Demon Kings arrayed before him, astonishment flickered across Hei Mingba’s face repeatedly. The more surprised he became, the more smug the three great Demon Kings grew.

“It seems you have calculated everything in advance?” Observing the three self-assured Demon Kings, Hei Mingba gradually regained his composure.

“Correct, Hei Mingba. We have calculated everything. Even if the three of us joining forces cannot kill you this time, we can certainly trap you. Following that, all forty-plus Ninth Rank Demon Lords from our four royal clans will be dispatched to annihilate your Blazing Violet Clan, which will be left undefended. Your Blazing Violet Clan is finished!” Augustus coldly stated, a flicker of rage crossing his face—clearly still incensed over his son’s death.

“Is that so?” The three great Demon Kings had expected Hei Mingba to become furious upon hearing this, perhaps attacking immediately. Instead, they were surprised to see Hei Mingba simply smile faintly, displaying the detached air of an outsider. Did he still possess some hidden trump card?

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