The Desolate Ancient Soul Devouring Toad was decisive, knowing that speed was of the essence. It immediately led Ji Mo's tens of thousands of demonic beasts and set off.
"Let's do it! This old bull is also rebelling!"
Niu Ben slapped his thigh and gritted his teeth, making a decision.
True brothers were those who played in the mud together in childhood and joined a rebellion together in adulthood.
He immediately contacted the experts in his tribe, planning to join forces with the Desolate Ancient Soul Devouring Toad to sweep through the surrounding tribes and alliances.
Over the years, his Desolate Ancient Ox Demon clan had suffered much humiliation from nearby tribes and alliances. It was time to settle old scores.
One toad and one ox demon joined forces and began their conquest of the four directions.
Over the next few days, they captured city after city, sweeping through the land. They conquered over a dozen tribes and alliances of various sizes, claiming tens of thousands of square miles of territory.
The Desolate Ancient Soul Devouring Toad's military talent was indeed outstanding. By living off the spoils of war, its demonic beast army grew from tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand, and its overall strength increased severalfold.
Afterward, the Desolate Ancient Soul Devouring Toad slowed its expansion and established defenses, awaiting the Demon Lord's next move.
News of the rebellion quickly spread, and the information about the reopening of the Demon Realm Gate also rapidly circulated throughout the Demon Realm.
All parties awaited the reaction from the Imperial City, expecting the Demon Lord to brutally suppress the rebellion and then march into the Profound Spirit Realm.
The Profound Spirit Realm was a large piece of fat that everyone wanted a bite of. The major tribes and alliances were already parched and eager to invade the Profound Spirit Realm.
However, the Imperial City made no reaction to these events. Even the usually volatile Demon Lord was surprisingly calm, making no statement.
This was because, in his eyes, these were minor matters, not worth mentioning.
He was engaged in something extremely, extremely important.
Imperial City, Divine Temple.
The Demon Lord Solon, as imposing as a mountain, was incredibly devout. He gazed up at the hundred-zhang-tall statue of the Demon God before him with fervent adoration.
If Ji Mo were present, he would have found the statue somewhat familiar. It was the Heavenly Demon with whom he had dealings and from whom he had forcefully absorbed energy three times.
On the large altar before the statue stood one hundred demon children.
These children ranged in age from six to fourteen. Each possessed prominent horns and an extraordinary aura, all being the most talented geniuses in the Demon Race's cultivation.
Solon's gaze fell upon a young boy with two horns among the children, his eyes showing a hint of anticipation.
This was his most outstanding prince, and he hoped the boy would not disappoint his expectations and would be successfully chosen.
"High Priest, you may begin."
Solon turned to a dark figure beside him, his mood filled with excitement and trepidation.
The dark figure's appearance was very similar to that of the Dark Night Priest, clad in a wide black robe, with its physique and features obscured by a layer of gray mist, making it impossible to discern its true nature.
Compared to the Dark Night Priest, this being's aura was clearly more powerful and bizarre.
Priests held high status in the Demon Realm; even the Demon Lord sometimes dared not cross them, for they were servants of the Demon God and could hear the voice of the divine.
A few days prior, the Heavenly Demon had transmitted a divine decree, stating its intention to descend to the mortal realm.
Due to the limitations of the Demon Realm's heavenly laws, even divine beings could not descend in their true form, only through divine projections or the descent of a minuscule portion of their divine consciousness.
On previous occasions, the Heavenly Demon had descended a wisp of its divine consciousness, only for it to be absorbed by Ji Mo.
Even his damaged divine artifact, the Void Shuttle, had been brazenly snatched away by Ji Mo.
To tolerate this was unbearable!
The dignity of the Demon God was sacred and inviolable. He decided to personally kill the human who dared to blaspheme the divine and restore his honor.
The one hundred children on the altar were meant to select the most suitable vessel for the Heavenly Demon's will to descend.
The High Priest raised his scepter, chanting obscure incantations. Instantly, countless runes flew, and a brilliant beam of light shot towards the Demon God statue.
Rumble!
The divine statue emitted light, its eyes slowly opening as if coming to life.
Then.
Its eyes erupted with dazzling brilliance, spewing scarlet beams that fell upon the altar, beginning to select suitable candidates.
Many children displayed expressions of excitement and fervor, yearning to become the most fortunate chosen ones.
They believed that once chosen, they would be reborn and soar to great heights.
However, the expression of one boy was out of place with the others; he showed fear, his body trembling slightly, clearly terrified of this event.
He did not wish to be chosen.
Yet, no one could escape Murphy's Law.
The more something was not desired, the more likely it was to happen.
After the scarlet beam screened everyone, it finally fell upon him, selecting him.
The other children displayed disappointment and resentment, not believing their qualifications were inferior to this lucky one, and they did not understand why they had not been chosen.
The High Priest spoke, "Child, congratulations. The supreme Heavenly Demon Chi Yan has chosen you, and you shall become his most sacred representative."
The other children were filled with envy and jealousy. However, to their incredulous gazes, the boy immediately knelt down.
"High Priest, I am worthless. I implore you to choose someone else."
The boy actually refused, willing to give up this incredibly precious opportunity.
This stunned everyone present, who could not understand why anyone would be foolish enough to refuse such a momentous opportunity.
Demon Lord Solon showed surprise, a hint of admiration appearing in his eyes. This boy was indeed exceptional, more intelligent than the other children, and it seemed he had guessed the truth.
What chosen one, what representative of the Demon God, were merely outward pronouncements.
In reality, the truth was cruel.
"Child, you are more intelligent than the others. This must be why the Heavenly Demon chose you, because you are the most outstanding. This is supreme honor, glory; you should not refuse it."
The High Priest spoke indifferently, but his tone carried an unrefusable authority.
"I don't want to die."
The boy slowly stood up, his face pale, and defiantly said, "With my aptitude, achieving immortality is not a problem at all. In the future, I might even ascend to the Divine Kingdom, ignite the divine fire, and become that supreme existence. Why should such a heaven-defying prodigy like me face such a calamity and become a target for the Heavenly Demon's possession?"
At this point, the boy no longer held back, revealing the bloody truth.
He knew that this selection was actually to find a suitable body for the Heavenly Demon.
Once the Heavenly Demon's will possessed him, he would inevitably die, his soul becoming sustenance for the Heavenly Demon, completely devoured.
The surrounding children were stunned. The truth was so cruel.
Wasn't this supposed to be a blessing bestowed by the Heavenly Demon? Why was it possession?
Aside from the Heavenly Demon's loyal followers, who would willingly be possessed? Although these children believed in the Heavenly Demon, they were not foolish enough to sacrifice their souls.
The prince glared at the Demon Lord, not understanding why his father, knowing the truth, had repeatedly encouraged him to strive to be chosen.
Was the life of his own flesh and blood so insignificant compared to appeasing the Heavenly Demon?
The prince's face was filled with bitterness, finally realizing that his father would do anything for his own power and benefit.
The imperial family was truly the most heartless.
"It is the will of heaven, you should accept your fate."
The High Priest's voice was extremely cold. The boy's words displeased it greatly.
Every ray of sunshine and every drop of rain is a gift.
It was the greatest fortune for the Heavenly Demon to be willing to possess him; he should be grateful.
"We cultivate in order to defy the heavens. I do not accept fate."
The boy roared, shaking his arms. His body directly grew dozens of meters, and he attempted to rush towards the exit to escape.
However, after leaping into mid-air, he found himself completely unable to control his body, unable to move at all.
The divine statue pulsed with radiant light, emitting ten thousand rays of brilliance.
A ball of nine-colored auspicious light appeared at its brow, exuding an aura of supreme authority, and slowly merged into the boy's body.
The boy felt as if struck by lightning, his body convulsing. Then, his eyes glazed over, and he lost all vitality.
But the next second, his body began to emit nine-colored light, reviving.
His demeanor and bearing had undergone a complete transformation. His eyes were arrogant, looking down upon all beings.
"Welcome, Lord Heavenly Demon..."
The High Priest and Demon Lord Solon knelt, welcoming the descent of the Heavenly Demon Chi Yan.