by <unknown>
Elder Nether Spring was wearing a satisfied expression, indicating that he had come back with loads of trophies. With such a smile, he stared at his blood brother, whom he had risked his life rescuing, with glamorous colors in his eyes. There was no telling what was on his mind.
But the Fire Ant King suddenly burst out!
Chapter 905: Unwavering Pessimist! |
The Fire Ant King's limbs bulged to twice their normal size, and his joints all bent in the wrong direction. His thick tail whipped thunderously in midair, breaking the synthesized nerves that tied up his body apart. The shackles deeply buried into his body flashed in glamorous brilliant as a series of spiritual stripes were activated to the maximum before they were shattered all of a sudden. The broken pieces raged inside the narrow cage like bullets!
For a moment, the entire prison cell was filled up by the Fire Ant King's eruptive demonic energy!
He was about to break free and pierce toward Elder Nether Spring like a shining tusk!
However, when he was one step away from Elder Nether Spring, the 'veins' that Elder Nether Spring planted into his body earlier suddenly jerked up. The green venom inside the veins was flowing ten times faster than before, like leeches that had drunk enough blood and turned into hideous serpents!
All the vigor of the Fire Ant King seemed to be absorbed by the terrifying serpents. His body suddenly withered, and his skin became wrinkled. His demonic energy instantly vanished, and he tripped over, falling into the cold acid, only to be pulled back by the elastic synthesized nerves and tied up in midair again.
Li Yao was secretly surprised. The Fire Ant King's actions seemed to be reckless, but Li Yao knew that the strike was far from the best he could make.
Judging from the delicate control over his demonic energy during their conversation, he was certainly reserving his strength!
He was misleading Elder Nether Spring even now!
Besides, after his desperate struggle, the demonic energy was raging inside the cage. Everything was in disorder, which was convenient for Li Yao to further hide Neltharion.
The Fire Ant King is trying to cause mayhem so that his brother won't notice Neltharion.
Li Yao thought quickly and soon realized what was happening.
However, with Elder Nether Spring standing next to it, he did not dare to move Neltharion at all, much less communicate with the Fire Ant King.
After the Fire Ant King's 'final strike' failed, he seemed to be grasped by the utmost desperation. He lowered his head and uttered miserable laughs.
Elder Nether Spring raised an eyebrow and casually asked, "What are you laughing for?"
"I'm afraid that this is the sincerest moment between the two of us over the past decades. We are finally able to be frank, without disguises and lies. Shouldn't I laugh?"
Elder Nether Spring did not realize that his brother would admit his failure so quickly. Rolling his eyes slightly, Elder Nether Spring was deep in thought. His voice turned gentler as he said slowly, "Indeed. For decades, I've been in the Nether Spring Kingdom, while you in Void Turmoil City. Many things have changed. We cannot go back to the time when we fought side by side with each other and supported each other through the siege of thousands of enemies on the Devilish Teeth Mountain."
Hearing 'Devilish Teeth Mountain', the Fire Ant King's eyes suddenly bulged, and he gnashed his teeth. "Big brother, let me ask you, in the depths of the Devilish Teeth Mountain years ago, before you saved me, did you find the residence of Chaos as well?"
It was the first time that the Fire Ant King had addressed Elder Nether Spring as 'big brother' since the two of them met.
Elder Nether Spring pondered for a moment but nodded. "Yes. I discovered the residence of Chaos, too.
"You were heavily wounded, and your head was not clear, which stopped you from further exploring the residence. I was in a much better status than you, and I made more discoveries in the residence.
"Most importantly, I found a secret door that led to an even more secret base below the residence.
"At that time, there was no time for me to explore the 'cave in the cave'. I could only remember the coordinates and the terrain nearby. After we returned to the Nether Spring Kingdom and everything was peaceful again, I snuck back into the Devilish Teeth Mountain in disguise by myself and opened the cave in the cave, receiving a lot of the legacy of Chaos.
"Later, I blew up everything."
The Fire Ant King sniffed. "That explains a lot. I should've guessed it earlier. No wonder you were uninterested in my flying sword that could suck blood. Turns out that you knew what it was all the time.
"Besides, you knew it a long time ago that you were not a pure silver-blood demon but a well-concealed chaotic-blood demon?"
"Yes. I've known it all the time," Elder Nether Spring said casually.
"Then I really find it hard to understand." The Fire Ant King's eyes were red, as if he was feeling both baffled and wronged. "Big brother, since you found the legacy of Chaos, too, you must know that the propaganda of the Pantheon of Demons is drivel. Besides, you also know that your real identity is a chaotic-blood demon that is even lowlier than the servants in the system of the Pantheon of Demons.
"So, why were you still so greedy about everything in the Nether Spring Kingdom, and why did you even become one of the twelve demon emperors of the Pantheon of Demons?
"If you had found out that I was the leader of the Blade of Chaos long ago, why didn't you work with me to shatter the Four Pillars System so that all the chaotic-blood demons could master the Blood Demon Sector rightfully?
"With the capabilities of us as demon emperors, together with the legacy of Chaos and the great number of low-level demons, it would've been more than possible for us to succeed!
"Why didn't you do it?
"You may be one of the four giants of the Blood Demon Sector and one of the most respected demon emperors of the Pantheon of Demons, but as long as your secret that you are a chaotic-blood demon leaks out, your reputation will immediately be demolished. However strong you are, none of the silver-blood nobles will listen to your command anymore. They will attack you together!
"Alright. Let's say that you can keep the secret your whole life. What about your blood descendants? Don't forget that they will inherit your curse of the chaotic blood, too. One day, your descendants will show the features of the chaotic-blood demons. By that time, the enormous enterprise that you accomplished will still be ruined!
"I don't believe that you are too shortsighted to see through such a simple logic. Then what do you want exactly by founding such a strong 'Nether World Watch' and forcefully occupying the Mausoleum of Chaos?"
His question made Elder Nether Spring's eyes turn extremely hollow. Deep in thought, he gazed at the Fire Ant King for a long time before he suddenly asked, "Even if I told you the truth decades ago and we led the Blade of Chaos to rise together, so what? Could we defeat the Pantheon of Demons?"
"Of course!" the Fire Ant King affirmed proudly. "I believe that the Pantheon of Demons will definitely be blown to smithereens if we encourage all the low-level demons to stand up against them!"
"What then?" Elder Nether Spring said coldly. "The Four Pillars system has been implemented in the demon race for thousands of years. It has been deeply rooted into the veins of every demon. If we pluck it out completely, we are definitely going to pull out their veins, bones, and blood.
"Let me tell you, I have contemplated on what would happen if I join the Blade of Chaos and fight against the Pantheon of Demons with you before. However, according to my deduction, even if all the low-level demons join our cause and the reign of the high-level demons is overturned in the end, the Blood Demon Sector will still be heavily battered by the fire of war. It will take decades before the world recovers again."
The Fire Ant King narrowed his eyes and said, "Change always comes with a price. It is just an insignificant throe."
There was a hint of mockery in Elder Nether Spring's s
mile. "I would agree with you if we were in any era of the past ten thousand years except right now.
"Don't forget that the Blood Demon Sector and the Heaven's Origin Sector have already started melding slowly!
"In the Heaven's Origin Sector, there is a powerful Star Glory Federation that has been preparing for a war and coveting us!
"The Star Glory Federation is a nation of human beings that was only established five hundred years ago. It seems rather young, but it actually boasts boundless potential. The speed of their development is unimaginably high!
"Five hundred years ago, they were hiding in the inland of the Heaven's Origin Sector, most of which was governed by the Far East Demon Kingdom and the tribes of demons on the Grand Desolate Plateau. It was almost a world of demons just like the Blood Demon Sector right now.
"However, it only took them a hundred years to destroy the Far East Demon Kingdom that ruled over the ocean, and it was only another hundred years before all the demon tribes on the Grand Desolate Plateau were exterminated!
"This is an extremely horrifying country. It has been in the state of war for the past hundred years, with armed forces of a tremendous scale. The development of their technology has been much faster than ours, too!
"Hundreds of years ago, they could not even produce the simplest tube-type crystal processors or equip the plainest crystal shields. But today, from crystal tanks to crystal warships, and from crystal suits to Taiyi Lightning Railguns, they are presenting countless types of new magical equipment every year like a big bang.
"Ten years ago, by studying the pieces of a crystal suit from the Star Ocean Imperium, the Star Glory Federation developed a very balanced model of crystal suit named 'Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit'. The ratio of the cost to the performance could not be more perfect.
"According to our latest intelligence, at least fifteen formal legions of the Star Glory Federation have been equipped with the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit and its derivative models. More magical equipment factories have been working day and night to produce even more crystal suits!
"Do you think that they've built so many crystal suit legions in order to stay behind their defensive lines and wait for our attacks?
"Then, you are terribly wrong!
"According to my deduction, if the Blade of Chaos really grows large and competes with the Pantheon of Demons, a civil war in the Blood Demon Sector will certainly be raised, and the third party will take all the advantage!
"Is there any significance even if the Blade of Chaos can overthrow the reign of the Pantheon of Demons? When the iron torrents of human beings flood on the boundless plateaus of the Blood Demon Sector, their caterpillar tracks that are embedded with sharp thorns will not care whether you are a silver-blood demon or a chaotic-blood one. They will simply crush all of us!"
"I didn't know that big brother thought so highly of the Star Glory Federation," the Fire Ant King said.
"Yes. I think very highly of the Star Glory Federation," Elder Nether Spring said calmly. "In fact, forget the civil war between the Blade of Chaos and the Pantheon of Demons. Even if the Blade of Chaos is completely suppressed and the Pantheon of Demons is able to concentrate all the forces of the Blood Demon Sector to fight against the Star Glory Federation, I don't think we stand much chance at all."
The Fire Ant King was truly shocked. "Right now, there are indeed a lot of demons outside who are worried about the war to come and have been disseminating pessimistic predications, but I didn't know that you were one of them."
"Indeed I am."
His eyes as clear as water, Elder Nether Spring observed casually, "Since a long, long time ago, I've been an unwavering pessimist. I firmly believe that the demons will fail, and mankind will win the ultimate war between the Blood Demon Sector and the Heaven's Origin Sector!"
Chapter 906: A Way Out! |
The Fire Ant King was dumbfounded, his brain not functioning anymore.
Li Yao even cursed in a low voice inside the dark drainage canal. He was so shocked that his surging telepathic thoughts almost exposed Neltharion.
Are you kidding me? Elder Nether Spring is an unwavering pessimist? This is really a very bad joke!
Li Yao found it absurd.
It must be noted that, of the four superpowers of the Blood Demon Sector, the Gold Crow Kingdom mastered the forces in the sky, the Sea Dominator controlled the forces in the ocean, and the Kingdom of Lion Butchers and the Nether Spring Kingdom commanded the forces on and below the ground respectively.
The merging point of the Blood Demon Sector and the Heaven's Origin Sector was in the Dark Desolate Domain deep inside the Grand Desolate Plateau. The place was far from the ocean, with a lot of air turbulence. Also, the magnificent crystal warships of the Star Glory Federation were defending the place.
Therefore, as far as Li Yao could recall, he had barely seen any forces of the Gold Crow Kingdom and the Sea Dominator Kingdom before.
In the meantime, on the boundless Grand Desolate Plateau, any large-scale beast tides on the ground would certainly be barraged by the crystal warships the moment they showed up. Therefore, the rendezvous points of the beast tides were almost always below ground. They would gather without anybody knowing first before they suddenly jumped out of the soil and invaded the towns of human beings, raising alley battles so that the weapons of mass destruction such as the main guns of the crystal warships would hesitate.
With such tactics, the underground forces of the demon race, or to wit, the Insect Clan, who were adept at digging holes and fighting below the earth, were of paramount importance.
Therefore, the Nether Spring Kingdom had been the leading vanguard in the invasion of the Star Glory Federation.
The first beast tide that Li Yao encountered on the train to the Grand Desolate War Institution was made of the Ghost Face Silver Mosquitoes, which belonged to the Insect Clan, too.
Elder Nether Spring, as the best expert of the Insect Clan and the real controller of the Nether Spring Kingdom, ranked at the top in the List of Deadly Demons of the Star Glory Federation. He was definitely the greatest trouble-maker for the country!
In the 'Battle of Dawn' a year ago, the Nether Spring Kingdom and the Kingdom of Lion Butchers summoned an unprecedentedly large army and swept across the entire Grand Desolate Plateau like wild fire. The vanguard of the army even reached the Giant Blade Pass at the south of the Grand Desolate Plateau.
Although they failed to occupy the Giant Blade Pass in the end, a lot of military fortresses and infrastructures of the Star Glory Federation on the Grand Desolate Plateau had been demolished, and the path to march south had been created. According to the intelligence that Li Yao learned through various sources, the Star Glory Federation had been quite in quite a perilous position back then. The major cities and towns inland were all under curfew, and all the reserve soldiers had been summoned.
Right now, Elder Nether Spring, who was the commander behind the curtain during the Battle of Dawn, was acknowledging that he was a pessimist and that he believed in the failure of the demon race and the victory of mankind?
Li Yao did not even know what to say.
Elder Nether Spring sighed and said, "On the surface, the Blood Demon Sector looks more intimidating than the Heaven's Origin Sector. In the battles right now, we are on the aggressive side, too, and we've even marched into the territory of the Star Glory Federation.
"But if you analyze it carefully, you will realize that the Blood Demon Sector is already running out of momentum.
"We are launching serial aggressive attacks because we have to. The technology of the Star Glory Federation is developing too fast. If we don't maintain tremendous pressure on the Star Glory Federation at all times and consume their resources, it is very likely that they will achieve a technological leap in the next twenty to thirty years. If so, they will be at an overwhelming advantage.
"Hehe. Although we've managed to keep the high pressure, the Star Glory Federation still established fifteen crys
tal suit legions in only ten years. Even at the most dangerous moment in the Battle of Dawn, the forces were never mobilized on a large scale. They are like a scorching saber that is hanging right above our heads!
"But attacks always come at a cost.
"The expeditions deep into the territory of the hostile country will cause three times more casualties and resource consumptions for us.
"Let's take the Battle of Dawn for example. Naturally, most of the soldiers killed were low-level demon generals. But we lost quite a lot of precious bronze-blood demons and silver-blood demons, too, who were all marvelous warriors that could not be raised to their posts without decades of hard training. The loss of them cannot be made up easily, at least not in the three to five years.
"But the foundation of the Star Glory Federation was not hurt. Some of their buildings were burnt to the ground. Some of their crystals and magical equipment were used up. That was all.
"In the meantime, they learned a lot of lessons during the battle. I could clearly sense that, over the Battle of Dawn that lasted almost an entire year, the federal army improved a lot in regards of distribution of soldiers, tactical responses, and strategical mobilizations.
"In fact, even if the low-level demons did not mutiny, we wouldn't have been able to persist for long and would have had to retreat immediately. Otherwise, it was very possible that the army of the Star Glory Federation would have blocked our path of retreat and wiped out all our soldiers!
"Do you know why?"
The Fire Ant King held his breath and listened attentively.
"Everything is because of the differences of our systems," Elder Nether Spring explained carefully. "On the surface, this is a war between the Heaven's Origin Sector and the Blood Demon Sector.
"However, human beings of the Heaven's Origin Sector, under the government of the Star Glory Federation, are an integrated whole. All the orders will be obeyed. The army is stable. The people are united. The industrial and training systems are very mature. All the resources can be made use of in the most optimal way.
