Chapter 766 Southern Quadrant
"Humans and other races have an inherited hatred and disdain for our demon race," said Ao Shen to his people. "Although our situation has improved over the years, one generation is not enough for them to truly accept us.
"So, these other races will band together to attack us if they have a chance. As such, our strategy for the early stage of the battle is to remain invisible and low-key."
"Venerable Chief, are we not going to do anything?" asked one of Ao Shen\'s generals.
"Low-key doesn\'t necessarily mean inaction. We just have to remain secretive to prevent other people from allying against us."
"Alright."
"Let\'s set up the formations," continued Ao Shen. Due to demon society\'s structure, professions like Array Master and Alchemists were undeveloped; the number of people in each profession did not exceed a hundred.
But after Ao Shen took over, he emphasized the development in these fields to ensure the development of the demon race. Although humans previously destroyed Profession Dao\'s Inheritance of the demon race, he made up for the inheritance from his experience in the Martial Hegemony World.
The demons previously resisted all the changes Ao Shen made. However, with his strength, prestige, the support of the Emperor Tribes, and his noble bloodline, he forced the demon to change and evolve.
Of course, the main reason for his current success is because the Dao Opening Sect allied with the demon race, thus preventing other human factions from destroying their inheritance, foundation, and progress.
Some factions tried to do it secretly, but after a harsh warning from Sword One, everyone became honest.
As such, Ao Shen brought unprecedented change to the demon race. Although the changes would not allow his race to catch up to the others, everything was progressing in a good direction.
Currently, Ao Shen has two issues; firstly, he fears the demon race will revert to their former selves once he lives. Secondly, he felt the demon race owed too much karma to the Dao Opening Sect.
Unfortunately, these two problems can only be dealt with over time.
While setting the formation, Ao Shen suddenly felt something; he looked in the distance.
\'The sea race,\' he frowned as he watched what happened. Someone from the sea race deployed an interesting formation that submerged the surrounding hundred galaxies underwater; it was like a massive ocean had swallowed numerous planets, stars, and galaxies.
Ao Shen watched their deployment of the formation and immediately had a headache; he just decided to remain low-key and invisible. However, the sea race\'s formation was rapidly swallowing the surrounding galaxies. Their intention seemed to submerge the entire Southern Quadrant underwater and give them an environmental advantage.
\'They may want to submerge the entire battlefield.\' Ao Shen knew this was impossible, as people would never allow such a thing.
"Hmm?" uttered Ao Shen as he felt the void close to their formation tremble, and someone appeared.
"You\'re…Xiao Songxi?" Ao Shen never met the latter, and the demon race\'s information network was still subpar, so he had to take a moment to recognize this sea race\'s Heaven Chosen.
"That\'s right."
"I don\'t know why you\'re here, but do you think my demon race is easily bullied? That we are easy prey?" asked Ao Shen, using the Dragon Might Innate Ability.
Dragons are Innate Creatures and are born noble. In the Primordial Era, they were one of the primary leaders of the Innate Demon Race. As such, they had a natural ability called Dragon Might–an aura that could suppress creatures of lower bloodlines than them. This ability can even work on weak-Willes humans or acquired races.
As such, after using this ability, Xiao Songxi felt a deep fear from his blood, rendering his body unable to move. Luckily, he had escaped the shackles of his bloodline and was a person of firm Willpower. So, he broke from this fear after concentrating and focusing his spirit.
\'Bloodline Hierarchy is truly a double-edged sword,\' thought Xiao Songxi. Creatures or races focusing on bloodlines cannot overcome the concept of hierarchy. People of higher bloodlines can restrain or control others of lower bloodlines.
"Relax. I\'m not here to fight," he swiftly explained.
"Then, why are you here?"
"I\'m here to ask for an alliance."
"Do you think I will believe you?" said Ao Shen with a sneer. Xiao Songxi had so many years to contact him and form an alliance. Instead, he waited until the battle. How suspicious is this?
"I know what you\'re thinking, but I had my reason." Xiao Songxi spent most of his time thinking of a feasible plan to win this battle, working day and night with the Star Sage.
And after years of research, trial, and error, they came up with a plan with 5% success. And the worse thing is the Star Sage told him this success rate might be even lower since Wang Wei has taken measures to counter their race\'s divination abilities.
\'Although the success rate is less than 5%, I can\'t give up. At least there is hope,\' thought Xiao Songxi. Meanwhile, Ao Shen was sneering while looking at him with intense killing intent.
"Before you reject me or do anything else, look at this news; it may change your mind." He showed a talisman to Ao Shen before slowly floating it over the latter.
The noble dragon used numerous means to detect whether something was wrong or this was a trap. Even then, he did not immediately use his Divine Sense to check the talisman.
Instead, he called one of his trusted generals and had the latter read the information first. Then, Ao Shen watched as the latter\'s face changed from shock, horror, denial, and despair.
He frowned before reading the general\'s memory.
"Impossible," yelled Ao Shen, a dragon echoing throughout the void, shaking a quarter of the Southern Quadrant.
"It\'s true," said Xiao Songxi with helplessness and similar despair as the general hidden deep in his eyes.
"This is nonsense–they cannot be this powerful."
"Unfortunately, it\'s true."
"Where did you get your information."
"From our race Star Sage."
Ao Shen\'s face became ugly; due to his loss of emotion, he leaked his aura, destroying a few stars nearby. "Nine Extremity, Nine Extremity–how can there be such a thing in this world."
He knew Wang Wei was powerful and was considered his most significant obstacle in this battle. But according to his calculations, the latter\'s strength should have reached the peak of 7-Leaf. And with his strategic mind and intelligence, he should be a worthy adversary.
But now, he knew the opponent\'s power had reached a realm of power he could not fathom. Furthermore, he was not the only one–Di Tian was in the same league.
\'Will my dreams, hopes, and ambitions end here?\' thought Ao Shen. He did not mind failure since he knew there were too many heaven-defying geniuses in this generation.
However, no matter how talented the Heaven Chosens of this generation is, Ao Shen was considered one of the bests. As such, he had a high chance of being the final winner.
But now, he knew he had a 1 to zero percent chance.
\'Maybe I should give up this battle and walk the Path of Heaven,\' thought Ao Shen as despair overwhelmed his mind.
Bang!
An intense aura emanated from his body as he removed these ideas from his mind.
\'No, there is no absolute in this world. I cannot give up even before trying.\'
His solid Dao Heart did not allow him to wallow in despair. Even if there were a 0.1% chance, he would not give up and try his best. Nothing can stop his Emperor\'s Path–not death, despair, or the possibility of failure.
Countless thoughts flashed in Ao Shen\'s mind as he thought about how to use this information to his advantage. He analyzed the situation and used all the information he had. Then, he thought of something.
\'This might work. But I would need more samples.\'
A ruthless light flashed in his eyes as a crazy plan flashed in his mind.
\'If I succeed, I might have a chance. If I fail…There is no need to think about failure. Plus, if I fail this battle but survive, the benefits will be endless.\'
His eyes lit up as he concocted an insane plan. Finally, he looked at Xiao Songxi with a terrible killing intent, catching the latter by surprise.
"Are you trying to lie to me to affect my mind?" asked Ao Shen with a fierce voice.
"What?" Xiao Songxi was confused; he watched how this demon\'s face went through myriad emotions. He sympathized with the latter as he had a similar reaction after receiving the news.
However, he did not think Ao Shen\'s response would be so belligerent after calming down. According to his calculations, the latter should have considered their alliance and negotiated.
\'It seems a battle is inevitable.\'
Xiao Songxi could feel Ao Shen was not willing to hear him out. Unfortunately, his plan requires the latter\'s cooperation, so he has to defeat and catch him, forcing him to agree.