Online: I Can See Health Bars Chapter 1344 - 599: Southbound (Part 2)

He was determined to fulfill his master’s final wish, to lead the Absolute Sect to victory, and to utterly annihilate all demons beneath the heavens! Eradicate every last one!! Not a single one left!!

...

In the heart of the Demon Capital lay Zhou City.

Bearing a name reminiscent of a vessel that sails the world’s oceans.

It might not be long before the name Tianyuan Town fades into the annals of history.

The Green Demon traced the markings on the pale wall with his fingers.

This place was once the site of the Foolish Underworld.

A particular figure materialized in his thoughts, unleashing a torrent of past recollections.

Following extensive reconstruction and refurbishment, the former grounds of the Foolish Underworld had been revitalized, bearing no resemblance to the desolate ruins of that fateful night.

It wasn't solely the Foolish Underworld; the entirety of Tianyuan Town had largely undergone its reconstruction.

The inherent strength and might of demons themselves, coupled with the direction of a commanding presence, ensured that the construction endeavors proceeded with remarkable smoothness.

However, the inhabitants now residing within Tianyuan Town were no longer humans, but demons.

Consequently, a majority of the structures were erected on a grander scale, better suited for demonic habitation, and Tianyuan Town’s footprint had expanded considerably, now encompassing a larger territory than before.

Tianyuan Town flourished, continuously drawing in demons who were attracted by its growing renown.

A peculiar sentiment stirred within the Green Demon.

The Tianyuan Town of today, surprisingly, bore a few striking resemblances to the old Tianyuan Town.

Both were ceaselessly absorbing outsiders to augment their own strength.

The crucial distinction lay in that the old Tianyuan Town drew in humans, whereas the current town attracted demons.

Powerful demons.

Untamed demons.

Demons congregating together.

Demons seeking refuge.

Demons revering the strong...

From all directions, demons with varied motivations found their way to this locale, converging here and infusing this brand-new town with an endless surge of vitality.

The Green Demon’s gaze drifted towards the magnificent hall in the distance.

"Lord Lan, even this outcome, you had foreseen it..."

The Green Demon harbored a profound fear of this individual, yet simultaneously, his heart swelled with anticipation for the future.

"My Lord Demon King! My Lord Demon King!"

His subordinates arrived in haste, their urgent reports interrupting the Green Demon’s moment of quiet contemplation.

"What is it?"

The Green Demon inquired, his voice laced with coldness.

"The humans in Human Circle No. 3, all of them, took their own lives last night."

"Is that so..."

The Green Demon’s brow furrowed.

He had, in fact, anticipated this very development.

The provisions and treatment allocated to Human Circle No. 3 were far from inadequate; indeed, they could be considered the most favorable among all the circles.

Yet, perhaps due to the excessively favorable treatment and the absence of sufficient external pressures, a pervasive depression had taken hold, leaving every individual with a pallid complexion, a dazed spirit, and an overwhelming sense of mournful empathy.

In the colorful terms used by the Shu Bird Demon, they were simply too well-fed, needing a few lashes to set them straight.

Nevertheless, recognizing the differing circumstances of the various human circles, the Green Demon had implemented distinct methods of confinement, and thus, he did not deviate from his established strategy.

The current outcome could be deemed as a judgment passed upon Human Circle No. 3.

As for Human Circle No. 1 and No. 2... their situations were also rather precarious.

Human Circle No. 1 had completely relinquished any form of resistance, appearing eager to please, docile and endearing, even capable of organizing various performances post-training, which had recently become one of the demons' favorite forms of entertainment.

Human Circle No. 2 resembled walking corpses, merely carrying out commands without thought or spirit, their bodies alone remaining alive.

These divergent outcomes were the direct result of differing strategies and environments of captivity.

But without question, none of these represented the ultimate objective he sought.

"Diao Deyi... you truly... have presented me with a formidable challenge..."

The Green Demon let out a sigh.

The concept of universal harmony, how incredibly difficult it was to attain.

Human Circle No. 1 represented what could be considered a relatively ideal scenario for coexistence between demons and humans.

But such an outcome, that individual... would surely not consent to it...

The Green Demon massaged his temples, a subconscious mimicry of a human gesture, a lingering remnant from his prolonged period of inhabiting human forms in the past.

In terms of sheer power, his advancement had been steady.

With the entire Demon Capital supplying him, his state of recovery was quite robust, already surpassing his condition on the night Tianyuan Town was annihilated.

Yet, it was still insufficient; to stand on equal footing with Lord Lan, his current strength was far from adequate.

However, as one of the rare Demon Kings within the Demon Capital, the resources allocated to them were all of the highest caliber.

Even if a more formidable demon were to arrive, Lord Lan had not granted them parity in status; it remained the prerogative of the few Demon Kings to assume the primary roles.

Strength could be augmented, and the Demon Capital was certainly not deficient in resources.

But loyalty was a far more elusive commodity.

He issued instructions to his subordinates to dismantle Human Circle No. 3, with the intention of redesigning its internal environment for new experimental purposes.

"Green Demon!"

The Shu Bird Demon abruptly descended from the heavens, catching the Green Demon entirely off guard.

"What is going on?"

Under ordinary circumstances, the Shu Bird Demon wouldn't typically fly within the confines of the city.

"Lord Lan has issued a summons, requesting our presence. It might be connected to some whispers I've overheard."

The Green Demon appeared taken aback.

"What whispers are you referring to?"

"I've heard that the imperial capital of the human dynasty has dispatched an expeditionary force, marching southward, with us as a potential target!"

Upon hearing this news, the Green Demon's countenance shifted dramatically as he swiftly mounted the Shu Bird Demon.

"Let's depart at once! We must see Lord Lan!"

If their suspicion were true, this would undoubtedly escalate into a prolonged and arduous conflict!

He pondered whether Diao Deyi was still present in Sunset City, harboring a hope that he had already journeyed sufficiently far from Tianyuan Town to evade entanglement in the impending battle.

A somber expression settled upon the Green Demon's face.

He contemplated dispatching a subordinate to Sunset City to relay a warning to Diao Deyi, advising him to put as much distance as possible between himself and Tianyuan Town.

In the distance ahead, the Blood Sea Demon and the Heart Burning Demon were already discernible, awaiting their arrival outside the grand hall.

It was only then that the Green Demon recalled that today was designated for Lord Lan to once again probe the world's boundaries, though uncertainty lingered regarding any potential breakthroughs.

Dismounting from the Shu Bird Demon...

"Green Demon! Shu Bird Demon!"

The two demons positioned below promptly approached.

Observing their troubled visages, it became apparent that he was the least informed regarding the latest developments.

Lately, his focus had been solely consumed by the meticulous study of human settlements, with the remainder of his time dedicated to personal cultivation and strengthening, leading to a neglect of crucial information gathering.

As the Green Demon mulled over these thoughts, a voice emanated from within the great hall.

"The four of you, enter."

Complying with the directive, the quartet proceeded into the grand hall.

Gazing upon Lord Lan, who occupied the elevated throne, the four bowed in unison to offer their respects.

"Greetings, Lord Lan!"

Within the demon hierarchy, only the Four Demons held the privilege of addressing him as Lord Lan; all others were obligated to use the title Lord Demon Emperor.

Lord Lan appeared to be in exceptionally high spirits on this particular day.

Despite a subtle trace of exhaustion, his demeanor radiated an undeniable buoyancy.

This was due to his recent success.

Lord Lan had successfully orchestrated the passage of five demons, whose essences had been subtly altered, through the world's barrier and into the adjacent realm.

These five chosen demons were intended to serve as a vanguard, tasked with scouting the unfamiliar territory and gathering vital intelligence for his benefit.

Should the endeavor proceed favorably, he anticipated leading the entirety of the demon army into that foreign world in the near future!

It is better to guide the flow than to attempt to dam it; what is wrong cannot be made right!

With the heavens in turmoil and both internal and external pressures mounting, why not seek to expand our dominion?

Recalling his formerly cherished companion, Lord Lan was overcome with a profound sense of regret.

To unite the world against the decree of heaven and the natural order of humanity is to defy common sense!

Why persist in such obstinacy?

Not every soul merits salvation!

"You four have likely already caught wind of the rumors, have you not?"

The Four Demons exchanged knowing glances, and eventually, the Shu Bird Demon tentatively inquired, "Is Lord Lan referring to the circulating rumors about the Great Xia Dynasty mobilizing its forces for an expedition?"

The Blood Sea Demon interjected, elaborating, "I've heard they are advancing south, potentially with us as their objective!"

"There is no cause for concern."

Lord Lan offered a slight smile; his primary objective in summoning them was to assuage the Four Demons' anxieties and preclude any widespread panic.

Surveying the four assembled demons below, each meticulously chosen by him, he felt assured of their capability to make a significant impact in the nascent world.

"As long as that old codger isn't personally leading the expedition, there's no need for undue alarm."

The Four Demons were well aware of the identity of the 'old codger' mentioned in the hushed whispers.

"However..."

Just as the Shu Bird Demon began to voice a hesitation, Lord Lan raised a hand, signaling for quiet.

"Rest assured, were he personally commanding the expedition, the response emanating from the capital would be far more pronounced than your current perception. At this juncture, it is merely that ancient fellow conducting a probing action, nothing more."

"...Understood."

The Four Demons ceased their inquiries.

Placeing their trust in Lord Lan's unshakeable confidence, they felt no further need to press the matter.

Following this, the customary exchange of situation reports commenced.

Even with the contingent from the human imperial capital advancing southward, the Four Great Demon Kings experienced no palpable sense of urgency.

After all, they were under the protection of Lord Lan.

Should the very heavens crumble, Lord Lan would shoulder the burden.

His presence served as a formidable bulwark, bestowing immense reassurance.

Optimistically, the human forces might not even be directing their campaign toward their Demon Capital.

...