Chapter 8: The Demon Emperor

As soon as he stepped within a certain range, Di Tian immediately sensed the aura of the evil soul masters—bloodlust, hatred, resentful spirits, and more.

At this moment, within the Holy Spirit Cult, among the one Emperor, two Sovereigns, and four Kings, the two Sovereigns—Ghost Sovereign and Nether Sovereign—were both present.

Di Tian had not concealed his identity, so they naturally detected his presence.

The overwhelming force emanating from the approaching figure was as vast as an abyss and as oppressive as a prison. For a moment, they felt as if they were facing the Demon Emperor herself.

A flickering green and gray light, their four-word battle armor donned, the two powerful quasi-god-level Limit Douluos soared into the sky, standing in confrontation with Di Tian.

Di Tian remained fearless, but the same could not be said for the Titan Snow Demon King beside him. The collision of pressure between the two quasi-gods and Di Tian weighed heavily upon him, making even him feel a crushing force.

Ghost Sovereign scrutinized Di Tian, who had appeared together with the Titan Snow Demon King, and speculated:

"A soul beast capable of making the Titan Snow Demon King of the Extreme North show such reverence, and possessing such immense strength—could it be the Beast God, Di Tian, in person?"

Di Tian had no interest in engaging with Ghost Sovereign, the actual leader of the Holy Spirit Cult. His gaze remained fixed on the massive blood pool at the core of the area.

He parted his lips and spoke:

"I'm here. Won't you invite me in for a seat?"

As his voice spread out, the blood within the pool surged, converging to form a gateway that led deep into the blood pool's interior.

From start to finish, Di Tian did not communicate with the evil soul masters of the Holy Spirit Cult. With a calm and indifferent demeanor, he stepped directly into the depths of the blood pool.

Naturally, Titan could not maintain Di Tian's level of composure. He cautiously observed the ever-increasing number of evil soul masters, particularly wary of the two quasi-gods, Ghost Sovereign and Nether Sovereign. Taking half a step behind Di Tian, he too entered the blood pool's depths.

Ghost Sovereign and Nether Sovereign remained in place, momentarily dumbfounded—so much so that even their irritation at being ignored by Di Tian was momentarily forgotten.

"What's going on? Has Her Majesty the Demon Emperor known the Beast God Di Tian for a long time?"

"What's their relationship? Are they… involved?"

Faced with Ghost Sovereign's wildly speculative questioning, Nether Sovereign had no desire to answer, nor any interest in engaging.

Casting aside his confusion, he silently polished his gray-colored Nether Dirge Cross Sword.

He had joined the Holy Spirit Cult for one reason only—to become a god. Everything else was mere baggage, unworthy of concern.

Even if Di Tian and the Demon Emperor were involved, even if Di Tian and Ghost Sovereign were involved, Nether Sovereign would not care.

For the rest of his life, his sole purpose was to ascend to godhood.

As for Ghost Sovereign, the true mastermind behind the Holy Spirit Cult, his mind was spinning with countless thoughts.

Making the Demon Emperor their leader had been a calculated move, relying on her immense strength to slaughter the entire world and transform this plane into a kingdom of death.

Then, by using the means he had secretly added to the Demon Emperor's mind-controlling drugs, he would play the role of the mantis stalking the cicada, only to be caught by the oriole behind. He would seize the ultimate divine prize for himself.

But now, Di Tian's sudden appearance, coupled with his prior acquaintance with the Demon Emperor, had undoubtedly added unexpected variables to his carefully laid-out plans.

Regardless of what they were thinking, Di Tian had already reached his destination beneath the blood pool—where the Demon Emperor awaited.

—

In the dark chamber beneath the blood pool, there was a smaller pool filled with fresh red liquid. Unlike the outer pool, which reeked of bloodlust and resentment, the smaller pool within was brimming with the pure essence of life.

At its center, a pale-skinned woman dressed in black robes lay submerged, her white hair floating atop the surface of the blood.

As she opened her eyes, a flash of savage brutality flickered within them before quickly vanishing.

"Di Tian, why aren't you staying put in the Star Dou Forest? What brings you here? Are you here to reprimand me for associating with human evil soul masters?"

"No."

"I'm here to help you—and to invite you to help me."

Hearing this, the Demon Emperor was still puzzled, but Di Tian's next words made her expression change drastically.

"Shouldering the burden of the Blood River God-Slaying Array all alone must be exhausting, no?"

"The relentless invasion of resentful spirits' negative emotions, constantly agitating your fury for vengeance against the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, often driving you to the brink of mental instability, forcing you to rely on mind-suppressing drugs for control."

"The Blood River God-Slaying Array has stood here for many years, yet its existence has never been exposed. How did you find out about it?"

"You've come here… to steal my chance to become a god!"

A chilling coldness surged in the Demon Emperor's eyes, as if she were about to rise from the blood pool and strike at Di Tian in the very next moment.

"Yes, and no."

"Why be so agitated? This is your domain. Even if I intended to take it, that doesn't mean I would succeed."

"Besides, the Blood River God-Slaying Array isn't limited to granting godhood to just one person. If you wanted to claim it alone, those evil soul masters wouldn't be following you."

The churning blood pool gradually calmed, and the Demon Emperor let out a soft laugh.

"Hah~"

"So, you're here to join forces?"

There was mockery in her smile, but also a hint of joy.

"You've finally come to your senses—not stubbornly guarding that tiny Star Dou Forest, constantly on the defensive."

"Are you ready to risk everything for one final gamble?"

Yet the answer she received was still a shake of the head.

Under the Demon Emperor's furrowed gaze, Di Tian spoke in an unhurried tone.

"I told you, I'm here to help you—and to invite you to help me."

"As a gesture of sincerity, my first step will be to help you."

"And how will I help you? By unraveling your grand scheme of manipulation—where you think you're the hunter, yet are, in fact, the prey."

"You used the so-called Evil God's relic to devise the Blood River God-Slaying Array."

"You wrapped your scheme in the filth of the Holy Spirit Cult, slaughtering millions to forge an army of resentful spirits, fueling the formation of the Blood River God-Slaying Array."

"You then partnered with the Abyssal Plane, colluding with the tiger in its own den."

"Using the power of the Blood River God-Slaying Array, you opened a spatial passage in the Extreme North, summoning a massive invasion of abyssal creatures to clash with the human armies here."

"On the surface, the Abyssal Plane needs the lifeforms of the Douluo Continent, while your Holy Spirit Cult requires the lingering souls of the dead—each side benefiting, an apparent perfect partnership without conflicting interests."

"But in reality, your true aim is to use the Blood River God-Slaying Array to consume all the abyssal creatures and humans in the Extreme North, gathering the colossal energy required to ascend to godhood."

"Afterward, you would gradually devour both the Douluo and Abyssal Planes, establishing your own Divine Realm."

Though the Demon Emperor's expression remained cold, her heart was already in turmoil.

Her meticulously laid-out plan had been repeated back to her flawlessly, down to the last detail!

Facing the man before her, a chilling sensation crept through her—as if she had been laid bare before his gaze.

Of course, her surface expression remained indifferent as she coolly corrected him.

"One thing—my Divine Realm would include a place for soul beasts."

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the Titan Snow Demon King, who was still imprisoned and deprived of his senses.

"Though the plan takes place in the Extreme North, I never intended to exterminate soul beasts. The core region is elevated and should remain safe."

Di Tian nodded.

"That is precisely why I came to help you instead of to kill you."

The Demon Emperor did not explode in anger, nor did she scoff at Di Tian's arrogance. Instead, she adopted a posture of listening intently.

"So, Beast God, when you said I am merely a pawn in another's game—what did you mean?"

(End of Chapter)