Chapter 99: A Lonely Monarch

"As long as you, my Lord, can merge with the Golden Dragon King bloodline within Tang Wulin, the Dragon God will return. Then, you will lead us to exterminate those despicable humans and create a divine realm belonging solely to our soul beast race. At that time..."

The more the Ten Thousand Demon King spoke, the more excited he became, as if he could already see that glorious moment unfolding before his eyes.

"Enough!"

"What I decide to do is not your concern!"

Gu Yue's voice rang out, cutting off the Ten Thousand Demon King's fervent speech.

At the same time, she extended her right hand, transforming it into a silver dragon claw, which she placed atop the Ten Thousand Demon King's head.

Though Gu Yue's aura seemed much weaker than his, the moment her silver dragon claw touched his head, the Ten Thousand Demon King's entire body trembled uncontrollably. A deep, primal fear gripped him—fear that came from the depths of his very bloodline, from the core of his soul.

Gu Yue looked down at the trembling Ten Thousand Demon King and said coolly,"I hope this does not happen again. If it does, you will not get off so easily."

"I have already stated that Tang Wulin must be allowed to grow normally, even to become the true Golden Dragon King."

"Only when that happens can I fully merge with him and bring back the Dragon God, thereby rebuilding the Divine Realm, restoring the soul beast race to its former glory, and exacting vengeance upon humanity and the gods."

"I do not wish to repeat myself. Do you understand?"

Though his mind was filled with terror, the Ten Thousand Demon King still forced himself to voice his lingering doubts, seeking confirmation.

"But my Lord, if we allow him to grow to his full potential, who will have control? Tang Wulin is, after all, a human!"

Gu Yue's gaze remained cold. "Who is absorbing the Golden Dragon King's bloodline—you or me?"

"Do you think you understand it better than I do? Do you think I would not know who will be in control after the fusion?"

"Tang Wulin has yet to fully develop. He has not completely absorbed the Golden Dragon King's power. If he is killed now, I will not be able to absorb his strength in its entirety, and as a result, I may never become the complete Dragon God."

The Ten Thousand Demon King lowered his head. "I was wrong, my Lord."

Gu Yue's response shattered the last bit of doubt in his heart.

Seeing his compliance, she nodded. "I will let it go this time, but from now on, none of you are to lay a hand on him. I have my own plans."

"I have already repeated myself once. If I have to do so a third time, the consequences will not be so simple."

"Go and relay this to Bi Ji and the others."

"If Bi Ji or Zi Ji manage to contact Di Tian, tell him this—if he dares to disobey, I will not show him any mercy either!"

Having issued her orders with undeniable authority, Gu Yue retracted her silver dragon claw, which reverted to a pristine, jade-like hand.

"Yes, my Lord!" The Ten Thousand Demon King bowed in submission and left without hesitation, as though he truly intended to carry out her orders.

Before departing, his gaze briefly flicked toward the hidden figure of Bear Lord, who had remained completely motionless throughout the exchange.

However, he said nothing.

After the Ten Thousand Demon King left, Gu Yue stood alone on the rocky ledge, gazing at the moonlit landscape. In that moment, she appeared utterly isolated—a true solitary monarch.

Lost in thought, she muttered to herself,"Is this fate? Am I destined to be unable to kill him? Is this the true calamity that I must face before the Dragon God can be reborn?"

"I should kill him. If I do, nothing will be able to stop me. No force will prevent the return of the Dragon God."

"But... I can't. I just can't do it!"

"It should be such a simple thing, yet I just can't bring myself to do it!"

She remained dazed for a long time before clenching her teeth, her voice seething with barely suppressed emotion.

"The day I finally muster the courage to kill you will be the day humanity is annihilated!"

With that declaration, she vanished into the night.

Meanwhile, the Ten Thousand Demon King had indeed found the other soul beasts.

Like Demon Spirit, Bi Ji, and Zi Ji—they had all secretly followed Gu Yue to the Star Luo Continent.

"Bi Ji, just as you and Di Tian predicted, our Lord has indeed fallen into the same emotional trap as the Auspicious Beast and Na'er before her. She has fallen for that human brat, Tang Wulin."

His expression was grim, filled with sorrow and despair, yet not completely devoid of hope.

Because Di Tian was still out there.

Having spent countless years alongside Di Tian, the Ten Thousand Demon King knew his leader's temperament well. Now that their Lord had lost her way, Di Tian—by comparison—was bound to be the better alternative.

When he officially inquired about Di Tian's actions over the past five years, Bi Ji did not immediately respond. Instead, she cast a distant gaze toward the direction where Gu Yue had disappeared.

"Sigh..."

Her sigh was not for Gu Yue, whose fate was already sealed, but for Bear Lord, who had yet to return.

"Bi Ji, Bear Lord won't be coming back," the Ten Thousand Demon King stated, his voice devoid of emotion.

Hearing this, Bi Ji could only withdraw her worries and focus on explaining Di Tian's actions over the past five years to the Ten Thousand Demon King and Demon Spirit.

Five years was a blink of an eye for a soul beast's long lifespan.

Yet within these mere five years, Di Tian had accomplished a series of astonishing feats that left both the Ten Thousand Demon King and Demon Spirit utterly shaken.

As they listened, their eyes reflected their growing shock.

A hundred-thousand-year soul beast... Four-word battle armor... God-tier mecha... The secret unification of the remaining terrestrial and marine soul beasts... The planned detonation of twelve-rank fixed soul-guided artillery at Shrek Academy... A three-year war preparation...

Compared to all that Di Tian had done, they suddenly realized how little they had contributed. Shame and guilt surged through them.

Still, there was one thing neither the Ten Thousand Demon King nor Demon Spirit brought up—Di Tian's theft of the Dragon God Core and Dragon God Soul from the Dragon Valley Micro-world.

After all, those were the relics of the dragon race—a matter between Di Tian, Gu Yue, and perhaps Zi Ji. It was not their place to comment.

At this moment, the Ten Thousand Demon King asked, "Should we immediately return to the Great Star Dou Forest to recuperate and await the coming war?"

His beastly eyes glowed with murderous intent, his fighting spirit reignited.

Bi Ji considered for a moment before answering,

"Ten Thousand Demon King, you and Demon Spirit should first head to the headquarters of the Blacksmith's Association in Heaven Dou City."

"The battle armor and mecha for the oceanic soul beasts are nearly complete—it's your turn now."

"Zi Ji and I will return later."

(End of Chapter)