Chapter 127: The Choice of the Demons

Demons who have cultivated for many years are well-versed in the lore of the world, and they have all heard legends of the "Heavenly Intent to Kill." Simply put, it is when the heavens and earth require the new to replace the old—a process as natural as breathing, cyclical and conforming to the laws of nature. Thus, an intent to kill arises to prune away that which can no longer adapt to the current era.

This time, the intent to kill had manifested precisely at the onset of the Dragon Lord’s ascension. While others might have been uncertain before, they were now certain. The moment the Dragon Lord leaked his aura, it wasn't just the Crocodile Demon who saw the profound and heavy karmic debt he carried; any demon with a slightly higher cultivation level and a clear spirit could see it clearly.

Several demons even began to consider leaving; they did not want to stay a moment longer. Once caught in such an intent to kill, one's destiny becomes entangled, and survival is a near-impossible feat.

After a long silence, the Dragon Lord’s tightly shut eyes suddenly snapped open. A strange red light flashed within them. He looked down at the demons, each wearing a different expression, and curled the left corner of his mouth into a sneer. "I am unharmed," he said, his voice devoid of genuine mirth. "Just now, a few fleas damaged my property. Tell me, what should be done?"

The assembled demons were startled by the Dragon Lord’s appearance. He looked as if he were possessed; it was undeniably abnormal. While the Dragon Lord had always been gloomy, he had now transformed into something truly sinister—not merely an ordinary malevolent entity, but something that even practitioners of the Dao would recognize as a demonic blight.

A strange, evil aura permeated the air. The Crocodile Demon stole a glance at the Dragon Lord, a thought crystallizing in his mind: This black dragon is finished. His fortune is nearly exhausted, and he has been afflicted by a great evil. His character is lost, and he can no longer think with a rational mind.

He must not be provoked now, or he might kill. One must indulge him. Having lost all normal sense of right and wrong, he is acting on pure whim. Having made up his mind, the Crocodile Demon stepped forward, offered a respectful bow, and said, "Reporting to the Dragon Lord, for those who damage your affairs, there is only one word: 'Kill.' I am willing to lead my own troops to capture these fleas, skin them, refine their spirits, and roast their souls over the fires of the Nine Netherworlds to vent the Dragon Lord’s hatred."

"Hahaha!" The Dragon Lord roared with laughter. He found the Crocodile Demon’s words immensely satisfying. With a ferocious expression, he added, "Good! Crocodile, you are truly my loyal subordinate. If I do not kill them, I cannot vent the hatred in my heart!"

"Does anyone else have other ideas?" the Dragon Lord asked, surveying the demons below.

Many demon generals were shocked by the Crocodile Demon’s sudden change in attitude. The entire Dongting Lake knew that the Crocodile Demon had never been submissive to the Dragon Lord.

Not just Dongting Lake, but the entire Southern Continent knew of this. They wondered if the Crocodile Demon, like the Dragon Lord, had been possessed. Looking at the Dragon Lord, who was usually steady and composed but now looked hideous, and then at the Crocodile Demon, whose attitude was so unnervingly contrary to his usual rebellious nature, they were stunned.

The demons surrounding the Crocodile Demon were dumbfounded, unsure of what to do, assuming his mind had been bewitched. A fish demon tugged lightly on the Crocodile Demon’s sleeve and whispered, "Boss, what has come over you?"

The Crocodile Demon did not appreciate the gesture; he shook his sleeve free, blinked, and said to the fish demon, "You and I are both ministers of this Water Mansion; we must honor the Dragon Lord’s command!"

The fish demon immediately understood. He looked at the other monsters behind him and said to the Crocodile Demon, "Commander Crocodile is right."

He then knelt before the Dragon Lord and said, "I was rude just now, please punish me, Dragon Lord."

"Ha-ha," the Dragon Lord laughed heartily. "No matter. Regarding what I said, what do you think?"

The fish demon felt a chill run through him as he looked at the Dragon Lord’s eerie smile. The sight was unsettling, and it was no wonder Commander Crocodile had changed. "Whatever the Dragon Lord says is right," he replied. "Your subordinates will strictly execute your orders. Anyone who defies your will deserves to die. We will strictly follow the Dragon Lord's command!"

The fish demon signaled his brothers, who stepped forward, knelt before the Dragon Lord, and spoke in unison: "We will strictly follow the Dragon Lord’s command!"

"Good!" the Dragon Lord exclaimed. "Your loyalty is commendable. Rise."

The demons stood up and moved beside the Crocodile Demon. Like him, they shed all traces of their predatory nature, appearing unnaturally docile, devoid of any wild instinct. The rest of the demons watched in stunned silence, at a loss for words.

After speaking, the Dragon Lord fell silent, sitting there with a smile, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. The atmosphere was creepily still.

Several demon generals, seeing the Dragon Lord’s fortune fading and the Heavenly Intent to Kill invoked, no longer wished to stay. They wanted to leave immediately.

A demon with a snail shell on his head hesitated, then stepped forward and said, "Please forgive me, Dragon Lord. I have some unfinished business at home and would like to take my leave."

The Dragon Lord nodded with a smile. Seeing this, another demon carrying a clam shell stepped forward: "Reporting to the Dragon Lord, it is the day for the clam-women in my clan to conceive pearls. I must return to preside over the affairs and regret that I cannot continue to participate in this grand event. I hope the Dragon Lord will forgive me."

"Good!" the Dragon Lord replied. Looking at the remaining hesitant demons, he asked, "Is there anyone else who wants to leave? Speak now, so I don't have to look at you and feel annoyed."

"Forgive me, Dragon Lord. My concubine has matters at home that need tending," a demon with two long whiskers replied, rushing to speak first.

Soon after, seven or eight other demons stepped forward to bid the Dragon Lord farewell.

The Crocodile Demon stood respectfully to the side. The demons behind him, his own subordinates, were secretly anxious. Had it not been for the Crocodile Demon standing in front, they would have fled long ago. Though they called the Crocodile Demon brother, they were his subordinates and dared not defy his will, so they forced themselves to stay put.

After a while, when no one else stepped forward, the Dragon Lord addressed those who had: "Since you are all leaving, I would like to toast you. Let us part on good terms."

The Dragon Lord shouted, "Someone, bring wine! Use the white jade cups!"

A short while later, a mermaid brought in over a dozen white jade cups and said, "Dragon Lord, the wine is here."

The Dragon Lord picked up a red coral cup from the side table and said to the departing group, "Come, after this cup, you shall each go your own way. Once you leave, never look back."

The group felt uneasy. The Dragon Lord’s choice of words sounded like those used at funerals. Though it felt uncomfortable, the prospect of being able to leave promptly led them to pick up their cups.

The Dragon Lord stood up and walked down, saying, "After finishing this cup, I wish you all a safe journey."

The demons felt as though they had swallowed a fly; it was extremely uncomfortable. A few grew suspicious, but upon seeing that the Dragon Lord held no murderous intent, they relaxed. Their only thought was to leave this place, so they gave the matter no further thought.

The Crocodile Demon’s eyes narrowed as he watched them clink glasses with the Dragon Lord. As a great demon who viewed the Dragon Lord as his primary rival, he knew the Dragon Lord better than the others. He knew the Dragon Lord could not be so kind—especially not a Dragon Lord whose spirit was being eroded by the intent to kill.