Chapter 1747: He Doesn't Dare
"Withdraw the forbidden technique?" Lang Daochun shook his head, smiling. "Once this technique is cast, it's no longer something we can simply undo at will. Do you know who cast it back then?"
A glint flashed in Fang Chen's eyes. "I am guessing it was your race's Heavenly Dao?"
"Correct. Let me tell you another secret—our ancestors were able to step into the Nine Mortal Realms back then largely because of our Heavenly Dao too," Lang Daochun revealed. "It was by its intervention that we came here. So the Three Realms Upheaval back then was nothing more than the demon race's Heavenly Dao using our race to eliminate you, whom they considered outsiders."
Fang Chen frowned slightly. "Why didn't the demon race's Heavenly Dao act personally? Why rely on you instead?"
With that explanation, he could roughly imagine the high-level struggle behind the Three Realms Upheaval. The demon race's Heavenly Dao used a forbidden technique. The demon race's Heavenly Dao itself did not act, leaving only the human predecessors to resist. And that was why, after the upheaval, it appeared that the demon race had gained the upper hand. Both the Immortal Realm and the Underworld were shattered, and the foundations of the Nine Mortal Realms declined drastically.
As for the human predecessors, they became anomalies, their memories fractured and incomplete, ridiculed by mortals and cultivators alike.
"That's because your human race had Great Sages." Lang Daochun sighed. "These Great Sages were already capable of attaining the position of Heavenly Dao. But since a Heavenly Dao already existed, they could never take that final step. If the demon race's Heavenly Dao had personally intervened, disrupting the balance and creating flaws, your Great Sages could have seized that opportunity to ascend. So how could it dare break the rules it had established before attaining the Dao, or damage its own foundation?"
After a pause, he added, "Your race had more than one Great Sage. The former Monarch Yan was one of them."
"Great Sages?" Fang Chen's expression shifted. "You mean Half-Step Heavenly Dao Realm?"
Lang Daochun nodded. "You can interpret it that way. 'Great Sage' is just our term."
"But in the end, the demon race's Heavenly Dao still personally entered the fray, and died, its blood spilling across the Nine Mortal Realms. How do you explain that?" Fang Chen asked softly.
Lang Daochun sighed. "That's because it realized the situation was slipping out of control, that your race's Heavenly Dao might devour it as well. So it stepped in at the last moment, destroying all our plans, and perished together with your Heavenly Dao. If it had endured until the end, there would be no Human Race left today."
Fang Chen calmly said, "If there were no humans, and only your demon race and Demonic Beast Race remained, the current situation might be even worse. It's precisely this three-way balance that has allowed all races to breathe. I understand your intentions now. You're worried that what's happening in the Taicang Realm won't help your race establish itself, but will instead damage your long-term future. That's why you're seeking cooperation. Why not take Monarch Yan's inheritance directly from me, and let your race unify the Underworld?"
Lang Daochun sighed softly. "It's not that we don't want to—"
"He doesn't dare," a voice suddenly sounded beside them.
Fang Chen and Lang Daochun both turned to the source of the voice.
A crack had opened in the void. Three figures stepped out side by side, followed by dozens more, men and women, old and young.
"Grandfather? Master? Daoist Yun Que?"
A look of joy appeared in Fang Chen's eyes. He stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
Lang Daochun touched his nose, then cupped his fist. "Greetings, esteemed three Great Sages."
Daoist Yun Que snorted. "What Great Sages? We're no longer what we once were. We can't compare to you juniors anymore."
Fang Zhentian and Yun He exchanged a glance, faint smiles on their faces. They ignored Lang Daochun and instead began chatting with Fang Chen like elders catching up with a younger family member.
Lang Daochun stood awkwardly to the side, unable to interject.
Meanwhile, the group behind them approached, looking Fang Chen up and down with curiosity.
"So this is the current Monarch Yan?"
"Indeed."
Fang Zhentian smiled modestly. "How's my grandson's talent and aptitude?"
"Aptitude... hard to say. But he didn't rashly agree to that man's proposal just now. His temperament is sound," someone murmured.
Yun He smiled lightly. "He's also my disciple. His temperament was never in question. Take a good look at him. If you encounter him outside in the future and he needs help, remember to lend a hand."
The group carefully observed Fang Chen, as if memorizing his appearance and aura.
Fang Chen couldn't help but smile bitterly. Even if they remembered him now, they might forget him again in the next moment.
"Chen'er, what he said earlier isn't false. The demon race's forbidden technique isn't easy to undo. But as long as we endure, they'll be the first to collapse," Fang Zhentian said, casting a sidelong glance at Lang Daochun.
"Grandfather, Master, do you think there's a need for the human race to cooperate with the demon race?" asked Fang Chen, seizing the opportunity.
If he didn't ask now, he might never get the chance.
Lang Daochun cupped his fist. "Seniors, I hope you'll consider everything I said earlier. My words were sincere."
"Your demon race can barely take care of itself. What right do you have to cooperate with us?" Fang Zhentian said indifferently.
Lang Daochun's expression changed slightly.
However, Yun He smiled. "Old Fang, that's not entirely fair. The demon race may be struggling now, but they've produced quite a few ninth-transformation True Demons in the Nine Mortal Realms. That's not something we can ignore. If we want to restrain the God Decree Ranking and the True Immortal Ancient Mirror, we'll still need their help."
Fang Chen's thoughts stirred. Restraining the God Decree Ranking and the True Immortal Ancient Mirror?
"It seems Grandfather and the others are more concerned about the threat of the Demonic Beast Race. Indeed, if the God Decree Ranking and the True Immortal Ancient Mirror continue to cooperate, even just those half-step ninth transformation Divine Path experts could be mass-produced. Once their numbers reach a certain level, it would trigger a qualitative change and completely shift the balance of the Three Realms."
"So... you want our race to act against the God Dao Sect's God Decree Ranking?" Lang Daochun pondered.
He then looked at Fang Chen. "Monarch Fang, what do you think?"
"My master's opinion is my opinion," Fang Chen replied calmly.
Lang Daochun pondered for a long time, then shook his head with a bitter smile. "I cannot agree to this condition for now."
"Then you have no sincerity. Leave," Fang Zhentian said flatly.
"Please hear me out, senior." Lang Daochun remained calm and explained patiently, "I said I cannot agree for now, not that I can never agree. At present, the demon race has already split into several factions. The ninth-transformation True Demons cooperating with the God Dao Sect form the majority. If I cannot persuade them, the forces under my control are insufficient to restrain the God Decree Ranking. Its existence, together with the True Immortal Ancient Mirror, is no weaker than a Half-Step Heavenly Dao Realm existence."
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