Chapter 1463: Want to Date but Afraid of Being?

The Demon Emperor was unique, the only being in the world considered on par with Zhao Hao, the Human Emperor. Many believed him to be slightly weaker than Zhao Hao, reasoning that otherwise, the demon race would not have been defeated in the great war and banished to the desolate lands.

This, however, was primarily the human perspective. The demon race universally believed the Demon Emperor was stronger, citing his greater age, richer experience, and longer lifespan. They attributed their past defeat to various factors, not to any lack of ability from their revered Demon Emperor.

For over a century, countless individuals had fiercely debated who truly held the title of the world's strongest.

Regardless of their allegiance, supporters on both sides acknowledged that the two were on the same level, with any perceived difference being negligible.

Yet, this invincible being was now kneeling on one knee, pledging allegiance to another individual?

Not only the Golden Crow Prince, but even Zu An, Yan Xuehen, and the others present felt their resolve shatter.

Yun Jianyue recalled her own attempt to break into the imperial palace years ago, where she hadn't even seen Zhao Hao's face and was gravely wounded by a remote strike. Now, the Demon Emperor, a figure as renowned as Zhao Hao, was practically groveling before someone else.

While it was nominally an act of allegiance, everyone understood it was a desperate plea for survival, driven by the realization of an overwhelming power disparity.

This was what Yun Jianyue found most incomprehensible.

A true warrior, born between heaven and earth, cultivates power to defy injustice—and though she wasn't a man, she shared the same conviction.

Her current cultivation was far below the Demon Emperor's, yet she couldn't imagine ever kneeling in surrender. How could the Demon Emperor, a legend in the cultivation world, choose to beg for mercy from an opponent?

It showed a complete lack of a true powerhouse's spirit.

It was an utter disgrace to all cultivators!

Yet, if he lacked that spirit, how had he become one of the world's foremost powers?

Yan Xuehen, and even Yu Yanluo, found themselves similarly questioning reality, utterly unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before their eyes.

Zu An, at that moment, felt as if he were watching *The Mummy Returns*, recalling how the protagonist and a powerful boss like Imhotep ventured into the Scorpion King's tomb, expecting Imhotep to share the burden, only for the latter to immediately surrender and switch sides.

The Golden Crow Prince looked at his father, his emotions cycling through shock, disappointment, and finally, profound disdain.

*How did this old man teach me growing up?*

*He taught me to have a true warrior's spirit, delivering grand, sanctimonious lectures, yet when he faced a truly powerful foe, this was his response?*

He secretly spat at his father's back, then the very next second, he too dropped to his knees with a thud: "Great God Gonggong, this junior also wishes to offer his humble service!"

Witnessing this scene, Xiangliu and Fuyou stared wide-eyed. Gonggong was momentarily startled but then burst into raucous laughter. "Hahaha, excellent, excellent! Only those who recognize the signs of the times are truly wise. I have re-emerged and require subordinates to help expand my domain. You will certainly share in any future gains."

Seeing the Golden Crow Prince's fawning smile, Zu An secretly scorned him. Truly father and son, he thought; their servile demeanor was clearly a family trait.

*Hmm, given the current situation... if you can't beat them, join them.*

He was just pondering how to appear more sincere than the Golden Crow father and son when Gonggong's eyes suddenly narrowed, fixing intensely on him. "I sense it, I sense it! You carry the aura of Yu the Great!"

*Anger value from Gonggong +444+444+444...*

Zu An was dumbfounded.

*What the hell is this? Everyone else can just join if they can't win, so why doesn't it work for me?*

*And what's this about the 'aura of Yu the Great'?*

*Am I some fated protagonist, the reincarnation of Yu the Great?*

Having read so many novels in his past life, he couldn't help but draw such connections in a moment like this.

"Your Excellency must be mistaken," Zu An hastily explained. "Yu the Great and I are separated by tens of thousands of years. How could I possibly carry his aura?"

"Tens of thousands of years? Has so much time truly passed?" Gonggong's face showed a flicker of confusion, clearly astonished by the vast changes wrought by time.

"Run!" Seizing the opportunity, Zu An grabbed the women and instantly activated his teleportation skill, fleeing outwards.

The Demon Emperor, who was closest, narrowed his eyes slightly but made no move to stop them. Instead, he subtly shifted aside, unwilling to engage in internal conflict with Zu An and his companions.

Fuyou, resembling a massive bear, let out a heavy grunt and lumbered after them, his immense weight causing the entire hall to tremble.

Xiangliu, however, remained rooted in place. Firstly, he valued his status and disdained bullying the weak; secondly, he needed to guard Gonggong, who had not yet fully recovered.

The Demon Emperor's subtle movement moments ago had not escaped his keen perception.

At that moment, Yun Jianyue casually flicked her hand backward, unleashing a volley of hidden weapons from her sleeve. These were exquisite, lethally potent items from the Holy Sect, which she normally disdained using due to her pride. However, with such a formidable enemy before them, she disregarded such conventions.

Fuyou roared and swept his arms, effortlessly batting away the hidden weapons.

Simultaneously, Yan Xuehen activated a formation. Bursts of blinding light erupted, like a volley of flashbangs, making it impossible for anyone to keep their eyes open.

From the moment they had entered the hall, she had discreetly used her toes to lay down runic formations on the ground. Her original intent was to use them against the Demon Emperor at a critical juncture, but she never imagined they would be needed in this particular situation.

Fuyou was caught off guard and instinctively squeezed his eyes shut. As a result, he couldn't fully evade the hidden weapons; many struck his body, causing a stinging pain.

Yu Yanluo seized this chance to activate the Sacred Spirit Pearl, manipulating earth elements to directly collapse the entire hall's ceiling.

Originally, this grand tomb was protected by ancient defensive runic formations, making it almost indestructible. However, Gonggong had just absorbed Emperor Yao's power from within the hall.

These very powers were the core of the hall's runic formations, and without them, Yu Yanluo could manipulate the earth with ease. Even Fuyou, with his immense strength, was thoroughly buried and disoriented by the sudden collapse of massive earth and rubble. By the time he clawed his way out of the debris, Zu An and his party had already fled far into the distance.

Fuyou let out a roar of frustration, his anger flaring as he furiously gave chase.

On the other side, Xiangliu waved his hand, and the falling earth above them seemed to be deflected by an invisible barrier, leaving him and Gonggong completely untouched.

The Demon Emperor also radiated an invisible aura that repelled the debris, leaving him unharmed.

He looked at Gonggong, his eyes subtly narrowing. Gonggong hadn't lifted a finger throughout, even needing Xiangliu to deflect the falling debris. Could it be that...

At this point, Xiangliu subtly frowned. "I believe I just sensed Nuwa's aura?"

"Indeed, I sensed it too," Gonggong affirmed, gazing in the direction where Zu An and the others had vanished, the red glow in his deep, skull-like eyes flickering erratically. "How intriguing. I initially thought they were mere ants, but it turns out each of them is quite remarkable."

The Demon Emperor was secretly shocked. First Yu the Great, then Nuwa... how were Zu An and his companions not divine beings?

The Golden Crow Prince, conversely, felt a significant easing of his mind. If Zu An were merely an ordinary individual who had somehow surpassed someone of his distinguished status, his immense pride would have been utterly devastated.

However, if his opponent was the reincarnation of a great deity, then his defeat was entirely excusable.

"You go after them as well," Gonggong commanded. "Ensure they are captured alive." He mused that Fuyou alone would have been sufficient for a few individuals, but this group possessed the auras of both Yu the Great and Nuwa, making them truly extraordinary. It would be safer for Xiangliu to pursue them.

While he could have sent the newly pledged Demon Emperor, there was a risk: if the Demon Emperor allied with the group, Fuyou would be in danger.

Thus, after careful consideration, Xiangliu remained the most suitable choice.

Xiangliu glanced at the Demon Emperor and his son, feeling a twinge of concern. However, being inherently meticulous, he quickly realized that his lord's arrangement must have a deeper purpose. He promptly responded, "Understood!"

With that, he vanished from his spot.

After Xiangliu departed, the Demon Emperor maintained an outwardly respectful stance, guarding Gonggong. Inwardly, however, he subtly scrutinized Gonggong, a flicker of eagerness stirring within him.

At that moment, Gonggong's crystal skull head suddenly turned towards the Demon Emperor, an ambiguous, almost mocking expression on its face. "What, do you intend to strike while they are gone?"

The Demon Emperor's heart froze. For a fleeting moment, he had almost succumbed to the temptation to attack.

He could discern that Gonggong was still in the process of recovery; otherwise, Zu An and his companions would never have escaped.

Yet, Gonggong's serene composure filled him with a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

It was the quintessential dilemma of wanting to strike while simultaneously fearing the consequences.