After Lilith left, a brief silence fell over the temple.
The white-robed god stood by the window, watching Lilith’s receding figure until she disappeared into the sea of clouds. Only then did he slowly turn around to look at the God King.
The God King sat at his desk, his fingers lightly tapping the surface. His eyes were deep, lost in thought.
“Your Majesty.”
The white-robed god spoke, his voice breaking the silence.
The God King looked up.
“Hmm?”
The white-robed god hesitated for a moment before asking the question that had been troubling him for a long time.
“Your Majesty, I have always had a question.”
He paused, organizing his thoughts.
“The demon race has always been suppressed by our god race, so why has their strength been growing steadily? They have even begun to vaguely surpass those of us who are not Primordial Gods.”
He had pondered this for a long time.
Ever since Orosius wreaked havoc in the God Realm, he had been thinking about it. Orosius’s strength had already surpassed that of the God King. And Lilith was even capable of killing Orosius.
When did the demon race become so powerful?
The God King remained silent for a moment.
He leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling, his gaze somewhat unfocused as if he were recalling events from long ago.
“That question... is indeed worth discussing.”
He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of weariness from the ages.
“I have lived for countless years—so long that even I can no longer remember clearly.”
He paused and continued:
“But I remember that in my prime, the demon race was something that could be extinguished with a flick of a finger, hardly worth a second thought.”
The white-robed god nodded.
He had heard of this.
In the oldest records of the God Realm, the demon race was indeed very weak—so weak that the god race didn't even bother to govern them.
“But later, everything changed.”
The God King’s expression turned solemn.
“The turning point for everything originated from a single demon.”
“A demon who... after slaughtering countless of his own kin, ascended to the throne representing power and authority.”
The white-robed god’s pupils constricted.
“The first Demon King?”
“Yes,” the God King nodded. “The first Demon King.”
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside.
Outside, the sea of clouds churned, and sunlight spilled through the layers, dyeing the entire God Realm golden.
It was beautiful and serene.
But the God King’s tone carried a hint of weight.
“At that time, his strength was only at Rank 9.”
“Rank 9?” The white-robed god was stunned. “That weak?”
“Yes, very weak,” the God King said. “Weak enough that the God Realm didn't even take him seriously. Everyone thought, what kind of waves could a Rank 9 demon possibly make?”
He paused and continued:
“But then one day, that first Demon King launched a large-scale war.”
“He led the demon race, invading one plane after another. Wherever he went, lives were devastated and blood flowed like rivers.”
“The God Realm finally noticed him and dispatched a god to strike him down.”
The white-robed god held his breath.
“And then?”
“And then?” The God King smiled, though it held a touch of irony. “That god killed the Demon King with absolute power and then left.”
“It was that simple?”
“It was that simple,” the God King nodded. “At the time, everyone thought that once the Demon King was dead, the demon race was finished. But...”
He turned around and looked at the white-robed god.
“But the Demon King’s power and authority were inherited by his descendant.”
The white-robed god’s pupils shrank.
“Inherited?”
“Yes, inherited,” the God King said slowly. “After inheriting that authority and power, that originally weak descendant of the Demon King actually possessed power nearly identical to what the Demon King had when he was alive.”
“Furthermore, he could continue to grow on top of that foundation.”
The God King paused, emphasizing each word:
“And that is the defiance of the natural order inherent to the Demon King.”
The white-robed god sucked in a breath of cold air.
“Inheriting power... and still being able to grow?”
“Yes,” the God King nodded. “That is the most terrifying thing about the Demon King’s Authority. It isn't a simple legacy; it is... a continuous stacking.”
“After each Demon King dies, his power is passed to the next. The next Demon King, using that inherited power as a foundation, continues to cultivate and grow stronger. Then, after he dies, the power is passed to the next again...”
“Through this cycle, generation after generation, the Demon King’s power snowballs, growing larger and larger.”
The white-robed god was dumbfounded.
“How... how is that possible?”
“But that is the reality,” the God King sighed. “At the time, the God Realm also found it inconceivable, but the arrogant god race didn't care. They felt that no matter how strong a Demon King became, he was still just an ant that couldn't cause any real trouble.”
He paused, his tone becoming heavy.
“But we were all wrong.”
“Terribly wrong.”
“After going through inheritance time and time again, the Demon King’s strength became increasingly formidable. By the time the God Realm finally took it seriously, it was too late.”
“The demon race had already given birth to an existence capable of rivaling a God King.”
The white-robed god’s throat felt dry.
“The former Demon King?”
“Yes,” the God King nodded. “The former Demon King. His strength had already surpassed mine. If he hadn't mysteriously fallen later on, the balance between the God Realm and the Demon Realm would have likely been broken long ago.”
He walked to the table, picked up a cup of tea, and took a sip.
The tea had gone cold, but he didn't care.
“When I encountered Orosius, I even thought he was the current Demon King.”
The God King set down the teacup, his gaze complex.
“After all, he was so strong and wielded such a bizarre sword. But to my surprise, the current Demon King was someone else entirely.”
He looked at the white-robed god.
“And she’s a woman, at that.”
The white-robed god remained silent for a moment before asking:
“Your Majesty, what do you think... of this new Demon King?”
The God King thought for a moment and said slowly:
“Very strong.”
“Stronger than Orosius?”
“Much stronger,” the God King nodded. “While Orosius was powerful, his strength was built upon the World-Devouring Sword. Without that sword, he wouldn't even be your match; he might have fallen to your guaranteed-hit spear long ago.”
“But Lilith is different.”
The God King paused and continued:
“Her strength is her own. I can feel a terrifying power contained within her body.”
The white-robed god gasped.
“Stronger even than the former Demon King?”
“Yes,” the God King nodded. “And it seems she hasn't fully mastered that power yet. If she ever does...”
He didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
If Lilith ever fully mastered the Demon King’s power, her strength would likely reach an unprecedented height.
The white-robed god was silent for a long time before finally speaking:
“Your Majesty, then what... should we do?”
The God King glanced at him and asked in return:
“What do you think?”
The white-robed god thought it over and said:
“Cooperate.”
“Oh?”
“Although Lilith is strong, she doesn't seem to have any intention of invading the God Realm,” the white-robed god analyzed. “She only came here to investigate the origins of the World-Devouring Sword. Moreover, by killing Orosius, she helped us resolve a major problem.”
“Therefore, rather than making an enemy of her, it is better to cooperate.”
The God King nodded.
“My thoughts exactly.”
He walked to the window and looked out.
Outside, the sea of clouds churned, and the sunlight was brilliant.
“The God Realm and the Demon Realm have been at peace for too long. So long that... we have all forgotten what war looks like.”
He paused and continued:
“But peace will not last forever. The demon race is growing stronger, while the god race is standing still. If this continues, the balance will be broken one day.”
“When that time comes, war will be inevitable.”
The white-robed god’s expression was grave.
“Does Your Majesty mean...”
“I mean,” the God King turned around and looked at the white-robed god, “rather than waiting for war to break out, it is better to start preparing now.”
“Preparing?”
“Yes,” the God King nodded. “Strengthen the God Realm’s defenses, improve the strength of the god race, and at the same time... establish a connection with the demon race.”
He paused and added:
“Lilith is a good point of contact. Although she is the Demon King, she doesn't seem warlike. If we can establish a peaceful relationship with the Demon Realm through her, it will be a good thing for the God Realm.”
The white-robed god thought about it and nodded.
“I understand.”
The God King patted him on the shoulder.
“I’m leaving this matter to you. You have had contact with her and understand her relatively well. From now on, you will be responsible for the communication between the God Realm and the Demon Realm.”
The white-robed god: “...”
His lip twitched.
“Your Majesty, this...”
“What, unwilling?”
“It’s not that I’m unwilling, it’s just...” The white-robed god gave a bitter smile. “Her Majesty the Demon King’s personality is a bit... unpredictable.”
The God King laughed.
“That’s exactly why I’m giving it to you.”
The white-robed god: “...”
“Fine,” he sighed. “I’ll do my best.”
The God King nodded with satisfaction.
“Then it’s settled. Go rest and heal your wounds. Once you’ve recovered, go find her.”
The white-robed god bowed and turned to leave.
The God King was left alone in the Great Hall.
He walked to the window and gazed at the sea of clouds, his eyes deep.
“Demon King... Lilith...”
He murmured to himself.
“I hope you really are as peaceful as you appear on the surface.”
“Otherwise...”
He sighed and didn't finish the thought.
Outside, the sea of clouds churned, and the sunlight remained brilliant.
But in the God King’s heart, a shadow had been cast.
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