Chapter 96: Saint Hall Master

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Saint Hall Master

Even with just a few words, Shen Yun could picture the scene from back then. They were a family that could have bridged two races, but they ultimately succumbed to their differences. If their daughter possessed truly astonishing talent and grew into a formidable powerhouse after experiencing magnificent adventures, that would naturally be a different story.

Besides, in Shen Yun’s view, different races didn’t necessarily have to live mixed together. In fact, that could easily exacerbate conflicts. Only by living in different places while maintaining mutual respect, closeness, and kindness could they forge lasting friendships.

Furthermore, the Demon King’s reason for targeting this particular race was somewhat intriguing. Alicia, after all, still possessed a willingness to trust humans. Had it been another race, they might not have thought to seek help from Violet.

"Interesting..." Shen Yun couldn’t help but murmur.

He couldn’t figure out the enemy’s mindset, but the more convoluted it was, the more it indicated that the enemy lacked sufficient strength. Not everyone was obsessed with battling imaginary foes in a one-man game of wits.

Elsewhere, after Alicia’s departure, the Demon King who had issued the death declaration was also preparing to set out. This was taking place within the Imperial Capital of the Ibi Empire.

As the sole empire on the continent, the Ibi Empire’s might was evident right from the Imperial Capital. Its area was practically dozens of times that of the Violet Royal Capital. It was filled with buildings hundreds of meters tall; at a glance, it wasn’t much different from a prosperous modern metropolis. It boasted tens of millions of people, nearly ten thousand Mages, and more than a dozen Saint Realm experts.

However, despite the empire’s immense power, its emperor, Barry Costello, and even the Great Saint serving as the Imperial Guardian, Maynard Jefferson, were currently standing respectfully below the dais. This was because the figure seated upon the throne, entirely wreathed in pitch-black power resembling the abyss, was the Demon King—

A voice that seemed to emanate from Hell echoed through the grand hall. "Hurry... Hurry, bestow the pleasure of death. Go quickly..."

"Shut up, Devor!" Another voice—suppressed yet calm—suddenly rang out. Astonishingly, it came from the very same figure on the throne.

"What is it, my dear Gabriel?" the ghost-like voice didn’t stop; it even carried a sense of Charm. "Do you not desire it? As long as you fulfill my wish, we can thoroughly merge. By then, you will be a true deity, the sole deity of this world!"

The name Gabriel was known by everyone in this world. Because that was the Saint Hall Master, the third Master of the Holy Hall since the death of the Ancestor of Holy Light.

"I really cannot understand what pleasure can possibly be derived from this foolish behavior!" Gabriel’s voice carried obvious anger. First issuing a death declaration and then giving the enemy an opportunity to prepare was, in his eyes, completely idiotic.

"You will understand. The allure of listening to their wails and reveling in their fear... On the day we completely merge, you will understand..."

Everyone present, including the thirty-year-old Emperor Bari, lowered their heads even further. When they had first witnessed the scene before them, they had also found it completely unbelievable. But this was reality. The Demon King’s soul had entered the Master of the Holy Hall’s body, and it was the Master of the Holy Hall who had actively sought the fusion.

They didn’t know what the outcome of a complete fusion would be, but they had already witnessed that immense strength. It was a power capable of easily defeating a Great Saint.

"Maynard!" Seated high upon the throne, Gabriel seemed to have lost his patience to continue conversing with the Demon King and shouted.

"This subordinate is here." As the Imperial Guardian, Maynard stepped forward with the utmost reverence, his eyes brimming with a certain fanaticism.

"What preparations have those lowly beastmen made?" Gabriel asked in a deep tone. Although he had been forced to use a method that brought pleasure to the Demon King’s remnant soul to pursue fusion, he was ultimately not a deity yet. He was nowhere near as powerful as the Demon King had once been. Furthermore, that beastman race might hold something he desperately craved.

"Your Supreme Majesty," Maynard said, prostrating himself entirely on the floor. "After being rejected by the Northern Alliance, they are still foolishly waiting for Alicia’s return."

"HAHAHA, HAHAHAHA!" Gabriel couldn’t help but burst into loud laughter.

In name, he had issued a death declaration, but in reality, he had ordered a Great Saint to keep a close watch on the beastmen’s movements. Even their attempt to seek reinforcements from Violet had been discovered. Alicia falling into the hands of the Paladins was entirely his arrangement. If he could interrogate Alicia and extract what he needed, or even learn the whereabouts of those several Great Saints in the north, it would be even more wonderful.

"What a dirty, despicable, and lowly scheme, my foolish Gabriel," the Demon King’s low muttering drifted out again. "I can feel the fear in your heart, your terror toward the enemy. Can you even be considered a Demon King like this? Can this still be considered pleasure? This is why you cannot possess my power..."

"Shut up!" Gabriel roared, his face turning an ashen blue. His voice made the entire imperial palace tremble.

He was indeed afraid. This fear had started ever since he heard that Vice Hall Master Bill had been easily captured in Violet, defeated with overwhelming power by a lowly existence calling himself a servant. That servant was at least a Half-Step Deity, the exact same realm Gabriel was currently in. That person was absolutely not from this world!

Gabriel wasn’t afraid of that level of strength. What terrified him was that someone capable of making a Half-Step Deity their servant had to be, at the very least, a true deity themselves. Even if they weren’t, there absolutely had to be a true deity backing them—an existence akin to the Demon King in his prime, or perhaps even the more powerful Lord of Holy Light.

"Has there been any movement... from that Prince in Violet?" Gabriel’s tone couldn’t help but carry a hint of caution.

The Otherworld! It had been mentioned in the secret tomes of the Holy Hall! That was the homeland of the beastmen and the Winged Race, a place boasting dozens of deities! Even if he completely digested the Demon King’s soul, he would still need several years to make a breakthrough.

"To answer Your Supreme Majesty," Maynard said softly, "according to the latest news from three days ago, that so-called Prince is still leisurely enjoying himself."

"Mhm." Gabriel relaxed slightly and stood up from the throne. "In that case, we depart. Maynard, you’ve done very well. Once I become a deity, I will impart the Secret Technique of devouring souls to you."

"This subordinate... this subordinate..." The white-bearded Maynard grew instantly agitated with excitement. "This subordinate will gladly suffer ten thousand deaths for you!"

He was very, very old. This was his chance to break through. To directly siphon insights and laws from another’s soul! What a magnificent, tempting Secret Technique!

Maynard followed behind Gabriel, and the two flew out of the imperial palace.

Meanwhile, the emperor whom they had completely ignored—Barry, who wasn’t even in the Saint Realm—finally collapsed weakly to the floor. His eyes were filled with profound helplessness.

This was because the Information about that item being with the cat tribe was something he had altered in the ancient texts using his authority as emperor.

It was the only form of struggle he could muster.