Soul Land 5: The Rebirth of Tang San

Chapter 264: The Peacock Great Demon King and Su Qin

"However, according to our judgment, both sides have suffered severe injuries this time. Plus, the Peacock Demon clan has finally managed to withstand the first wave. The coming period should be fairly stable. But this conflicts with our planning. In the future, whenever the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor comes again, if the Peacock clan cannot hold up, our years of planning..."

At this point, Zhang Haoxuan couldn't help but sigh.

Tang San said, "What can we do about it? It’s not like we can control what they do. It all depends on how long the Peacock Great Demon King can hold on, and we really don’t know how badly he’s injured."

Zhang Haoxuan nodded. "Now, we can only take things one step at a time. I am more optimistic about your future than the organization's original plan. If you can reach godhood in the future, then you will bring true hope to humanity. You are the first person I believe has the potential to become a Great Demon King. Even more likely than Mei Gongzi."

Tang San smiled. "Actually, if we’re talking about becoming a Great Demon King, sister Mei will definitely get there faster than me."

"Oh? You think so highly of her?" Zhang Haoxuan asked in surprise.

"I do. She has great talent, and surely, she will also have great luck."

Zhang Haoxuan’s eyes narrowed. "Listen here, you'd better limit your contact with her for now. That goes for your other identity as well."

"Uh-huh." Tang San noncommittally agreed, but how could he just ignore Mei Gongzi?

***

At the city lord's mansion.

Within the dim and silent chamber, the Peacock Great Demon King sat cross-legged, his complexion pale. The aura around him was clearly unstable, even decaying. Nearly half of his peacock blue hair had turned white, a lifeless shade of white.

He let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.

His dull eyes carried a hint of mockery, much like how he had looked at the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor before.

"Looks like I've managed to hold on, haven't I? Do you think you've won? You will always be the loser, always. That will never change."

Muttering to himself, he stood up and walked to the wall, pressing his right hand against it.

The wall silently opened, revealing a passage. The Peacock Great Demon King walked into the passage, his steps slightly unsteady.

***

On the Pegasus chariot.

The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor slowly opened his eyes, and the moment he awoke from his meditation, he was unable to hold back a mouthful of fresh blood. The blood sprayed out, turning into sparkling points of light that dissipated into the air.

For someone of his cultivation level to be unable to control his injuries showed the severity of the damage.

The Peacock Great Demon King's use of the Peacock Demon clan’s supreme bloodline ability, Star Shift, had caused him to take horrendous damage, almost shaking his foundation.

Lin Ximo, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, squinted as he looked through the chariot’s window into the distance. His gaze was filled with contemplation.

The Peacock Great Demon King's decision to burn through his ancestral fortune in a desperate fight was within his expectations. Given the Peacock Demon clan's foundation, he hadn't really expected to annihilate the entire clan. That was just wishful thinking. However, his plan did include inflicting serious damage and eradicating the Peacock Great Demon King, his greatest adversary since many years back. While the clan still had some Great Demon Kings, those not of the direct Demon Emperor bloodline were not a concern to him. It wouldn't take long for him to retake Kali City and her.

But to his surprise, the Peacock Great Demon King's strength was far greater than he had imagined. Although he had not reached the level of a Demon Emperor, he was at the absolute pinnacle among Great Demon Kings. Moreover, by leveraging the power of his ancestral fortune, he had caused Lin Ximo injuries far more severe than the latter had anticipated.

And then... what’s the deal with that so-called Sea God who appeared from the Endless Blue Sea? He clearly is at the Demon Emperor level. Even though it was just a projection and not his true body, this is still tremendous news.

The Ancestral Court had explored the Endless Blue Sea, with several Demon Emperors conducting the explorations. The Endless Blue Sea was boundless and it was home to many sea clans, among which there were no few powerful beings. However, no presence at the Demon Emperor level had ever been detected. Moreover, the ocean was not a suitable habitat for most demon and nymph species—especially nymphs, who had a strong aversion to the sea. Thus, the demon races had no plans to venture into the ocean, especially since the land resources of the Daemon Continent were massive enough as they were.

The emergence of this Sea God would undeniably shatter the Ancestral Court's assessment of the Endless Blue Sea. The existence of a Demon Emperor changed everything. Moreover, it seemed to have a connection to Kali City. This matter had to be reported to the Ancestral Court. If a Demon Emperor had appeared in the Endless Blue Sea, then action would have to be taken. This could also be the best opportunity for Lin Ximo to continue exerting pressure on Kali City in the next step.

Wang Qing, you wait for me. I will return.

Lin Ximo was acutely aware that even though he had been severely injured this time, the Peacock Great Demon King would only be worse off. After all, he had burnt his own Peacock Golden Crown. This meant that he would never be able to become a Demon Emperor; there was not even a sliver of chance left. Burning his essence was equivalent to burning his lifespan. Even if he didn't die right now, his cultivation would indeed decline, and in any case, there would be a significant loss in lifespan. The same old destiny of not living past a hundred years was undoubtedly awaiting this Peacock Great Demon King.

Lin Ximo's mood improved significantly. Now, he needed to consider how to proceed once he returned to the Ancestral Court to secure even more advantages for himself.

***

Kali City, Kali Square.

Dawn had broken, and Mei Gongzi's Milk Tea Shop would usually be open for business at this hour. But today was an exception; the shop was firmly closed, and the window for selling milk tea remained shut.

Su Qin silently gazed at the man before her, her expression complex.

The pallid Peacock Great Demon King was leaning weakly against the wall.

"He's been here looking for you, hasn't he?"

Su Qin silently nodded. "Mm-hmm."

"Do you still hate him?" the Peacock Great Demon King sighed lightly, asking again.

"What do you think?" Su Qin looked at him, her gaze turning colder.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that," the Peacock Great Demon King apologized.

Su Qin shook her head. "He's still arrogant and forever self-centered. His way of thinking is always the right one. It was my mistake to have trusted him back then."

The Peacock Great Demon King sighed softly. "When you made your choice back then... even if you had your own goals in mind, I wish...oh, how I wish you’d chosen me regardless...."

Su Qin said, "Everyone around you thinks you're a brilliant Great Demon King, but little do they know you're a fool through and through. You're the silliest of all the demons I've ever met."

The Peacock Great Demon King laughed. "Yes! You're not wrong; I am the silliest one. When I was young, my father always called me rebellious because whatever he told me to do, I would do the opposite. Despite having the best talent among my kin, I refused to cultivate it—no, I deliberately wasted it. The more he hit me and scolded me, the more I acted out. I used to think, why should you dictate my life? Why should I do something just because you told me to? Just because you gave birth to me? Does being born to you grant you the right to control everything about me, to arrange everything in my life? I was so rebellious back then that I dare not recall it now. I really did many foolish things.

"Until one day, when I met you, I realized I was also at fault. You're right; Lin Ximo is particularly self-centered, but how many among the demon races aren't? I'm just as self-centered. I always thought I was right. But at that moment, for the first time, I recognized my mistake. The first time I saw you, I thought, 'So this is what beauty is.' I had an idea of beauty for the first time in my heart. But when I tried to pursue you, Lin Ximo beat me almost to death.

"Back then, I almost never cultivated at all, I just relied on the natural growth of my bloodline power. How could I be a match for him? Of course he beat me up. It was then that I first realized the truth in my father's words, that strength is the foundation of everything.

"For the first time in my life, I knew I needed strength. So, I began to work hard. No one knows this, but you are the only reason I ended up becoming my father's successor, becoming the Peacock Great Demon King. In reality, this isn't what I wanted at all. If it hadn't been for that bastard Lin Ximo, and if you had simply been with me from the start, I might still be the same spoiled brat."