# Chapter 1865: Laying the Groundwork
"Of course, if you truly don't wish to, then pretend you never heard it. In this world, there is no one left who has the right to force our Demon Lord."
Chi Wuyue's demonic eyes shifted lightly, with a hint of self-pity as she said, "It's just that to control the entire situation within a short half-year... I can't think of any other feasible method for now. Or perhaps, the Demon Lord has a brilliant idea of his own?"
"...In the Southern Divine Realm, who have you chosen?" Yun Che asked with a serious expression.
After the collapse of Nanming, the three existing Divine Emperors of the Southern Domain were all male... Could it be that Chi Wuyue was planning to forcibly install one?
Seeing Yun Che's current expression, a faint smile appeared on Chi Wuyue's jade-like face: "The easiest to manipulate, of course, is the Ten Directions Canglan Realm. After all, Cang Shitian is currently quite loyal to you—earlier, he declared himself in front of everyone, frenziedly claiming to be the Demon Lord's mad dog."
Yun Che furrowed his brow slightly and suddenly lowered his voice: "Demon Empress, are you truly planning to heavily employ this Cang Shitian?"
"Of course." Chi Wuyue smiled.
"Gamble in adverse times, stabilize in favorable times—that's a phrase you often say." Yun Che said slowly. "And Cang Shitian, though a Divine Emperor, is extremely volatile and twisted in nature, acting without regard for reason and being almost unpredictable. For someone like that, sparing his life is already the bottom line—why would you want to give him an important role?"
Chi Wuyue's smile remained, her voice leisurely and faint: "What you say is indeed correct. A mad dog is hard to control; no one can predict when it might bite its master. But by the Demon Lord's side... at least at this stage, such a mad dog is precisely what's needed."
Yun Che: "?"
"It's simple." Chi Wuyue continued, "Currently, throughout the Divine Realm, there are countless people who harbor resentment toward you—for example, those whose clan members, or even entire families, were annihilated in the fierce battles."
"Even more terrifying than that is the cognitive solidification that has persisted for a full million years. To have people from the three Divine Realms coexist with 'demonic humans' bearing dark profound force—they can only accept it superficially under coercion. Truly accepting it in their hearts is far from easy."
"As for those unstable factors that cannot be controlled or managed—especially those extreme existences with immense hidden dangers—the only way to handle them is to eliminate them with the most thunderous and ruthless methods."
"But such tasks that would soil one's hands with blood and stain one's reputation should certainly not be done by the Demon Lord. Ideally, they shouldn't even be done by 'demonic humans.' So, by the Demon Lord's side, who is more suitable than the 'mad dog' who long ago 'betrayed' the Southern Divine Realm and pledged allegiance to the Demon Lord—to bear all this blood, infamy, blame, and shit?"
"..." Yun Che was half stunned, half enlightened.
"The Supreme Arbiter." Chi Wuyue slowly spoke three words: "I've already thought up his new identity. It only requires the Demon Lord's nod, and he can shed the title of Shitian Divine Emperor and take on this identity that suits him perfectly."
"Having someone who never wanted to follow order become the 'Arbiter'?" Yun Che smiled. "Only you could come up with that."
"He will thoroughly enjoy this new identity. To him, it will be a thousand times more exhilarating than the title of 'Divine Emperor.'" Chi Wuyue changed the subject: "However, the necessary restraints must still be in place. As a ruler, one must possess both a red and a black side. And the black side must be thoroughly black at its core, yet superficially whitewashed clean enough."
Yun Che reached up and pressed his brow... Hearing Chi Wuyue occasionally pour out some ruler's wisdom, he was already starting to get a headache.
Back then on the Tian Xuan Continent, when he was the Palace Master of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, he had basically been a hands-off ruler, leaving all matters big and small to Murong Qianxue and the others. He wondered if he could be a hands-off ruler for this Divine Realm as well.
But it seemed Chi Wuyue had long since come to terms with that.
"Alright, let's do it your way." Yun Che shook off the mess in his head, appearing to resign himself to fate.
What he wanted most now was to control the overall situation, eliminate those obstacles that, while not threatening, couldn't be ignored, and return to the Lan Ji Star to reunite with his family and loved ones as soon as possible.
This was clearly not his forte, so he would just follow Chi Wuyue's arrangements.
......
At the center of the ruined Canglan Divine Realm, all realms gathered.
After more than a day of rest, coupled with the dark resonance drawn by the Calamity Demon's Heavenly Calamity, the condition of the Northern Domain profound practitioners had improved considerably. They looked at Yun Che and Chi Wuyue, their eyes having calmed from the pain of losing their clan members and the excitement of defying fate, now again dark and steadfast.
"What's the situation?" Yun Che swept his gaze across the area and asked flatly.
Fen Daoqi stepped forward and said solemnly, "Although our power hasn't fully recovered, we are all beyond serious injury. The Western Divine Realm is currently in chaos—especially the Dragon God, Di Chi, Hui Long, and Wan Xiang realms, which are leaderless. Their order and morale are certain to collapse—an excellent time for suppression."
"Therefore, please give the order, Demon Lord. On the way there, we will recover more than seventy percent of our strength. Upon entering the Western Divine Realm, we will slaughter every obstacle and will not disappoint the Demon Lord!"
"..." The Qilin Emperor swayed slightly. After hesitating several times, he ultimately didn't dare to speak.
But the Azure Dragon Emperor beside him suddenly stepped forward and said, "Northern Domain Demon Lord, the Divine Lords of the Dragon God, Di Chi, Hui Long, and Wan Xiang realms have all been slaughtered. Our Azure Dragon and Qilin realms have already voluntarily submitted and promised to persuade the various realms of the Western Region to surrender. The Western Divine Realm poses no threat to you whatsoever. Why must you still suppress it?"
"Absurd!" Fen Daoqi's respect instantly turned to ice when facing someone from the Western Region: "If we don't eliminate the remnants, they will become future troubles! Once they calm down and form a united force, they will only cause more trouble. Your Azure Dragon Realm survived only by the Demon Lord's supreme grace—how dare you utter such offensive words!"
The Qilin Emperor's heart raced. He quickly stood up and said, "Demon Lord, please calm your anger. The Azure Dragon Emperor meant no offense. It's just that she is naturally averse to war and couldn't bear to see the beings of the Western Region suffer calamity, so she spoke rashly. I beg the Demon Lord not to take offense."
"Can't bear to see the Western Region suffer calamity?" Yun Che looked sideways at the Azure Dragon Emperor with a cold laugh: "Then who was it that inflicted a full million years of calamity upon the Northern Divine Realm? Where were you at that time? Back then, when this Demon Lord was betrayed by a pack of beasts and even the fact that I once saved the world was concealed, where were you then? Did you speak a single word on my behalf?"
"..." The Azure Dragon Emperor's lips moved slightly, but she found it hard to refute.
"Demon Lord, actually," the Qilin Emperor said weakly, "at the edge of the chaos back then, the Azure Dragon Emperor did want to speak for you... but I forcefully stopped her. I swear by the name of the Qilin that these words contain not a single falsehood."
Yun Che gave a disdainful snort.
"You two don't need to be so nervous," Chi Wuyue said with a smile. "The Demon Lord never said he would suppress and stain the Western Divine Realm with blood next. Our Northern Domain has already suffered heavy casualties. If we can achieve submission without fighting, who would truly want to engage in violence?"
These words surprised not only the Qilin Emperor and Azure Dragon Emperor but also the Northern Domain profound practitioners.
"However, that depends on how well you can control the Western Divine Realm." Chi Wuyue's lips curled into a smile, but her voice carried a spine-chilling deterrence.
The Qilin Emperor was overjoyed. Suppressing his excitement, he said, "Yes, yes, the Demon Empress is absolutely right. Please rest assured, Demon Lord and Demon Empress. Our Azure Dragon and Qilin clans have always been second only to the Dragon God clan in prestige within the Western Divine Realm. Now that the Dragon God has fallen, the Western Divine Realm should take our two clans as the leaders and honored ones. I guarantee here and now..."
"What guarantee can you give?" Yun Che looked sideways and said coldly.
The Qilin Emperor was taken aback. Facing Yun Che's intangible demonic might, he lowered his head and steeled himself: "I... will do my utmost. If I fail, I will accept any punishment."
"Unfortunately, your guarantee is worth nothing to us." Chi Wuyue's indifferent words left the Qilin Emperor speechless.
Chi Wuyue said slowly, "The four divine realms each take their respective king realms as leaders. The Northern Divine Realm goes without saying. In the Eastern Divine Realm, the Zhou Tian and Yue Shen realms have been destroyed. The current Divine Emperor of the Fan Di Divine Realm is the Demon Lord's future imperial consort. Although the Xing Shen realm is half-destroyed, the Celestial Wolf Star God still remains—he can take over the position of Xing Shendi, and the residual prestige of the Xing Shen will persist for a long time in the Eastern Divine Realm."
"As for Yinxue Realm King Mu Xuanyin, in yesterday's battle, her single sword strike shattered the Fei Mie Dragon God. With that divine might alone, she already surpasses the Divine Emperors of all king realms. Given the current decline of the Eastern Divine Realm, Mu Xuanyin alone can elevate the Yinxue Realm under her command to the king realm level. Coupled with the Demon Lord's endorsement, the Yinxue Realm will henceforth be established as the third king realm of the Eastern Divine Realm—no one can dispute it!"
"Thus, in the future, the Divine Emperors of the three king realms of the Eastern Domain will all be the Demon Lord's imperial consorts. How could the Eastern Divine Realm be anything but peaceful?"
Qianye Ying'er: "..."
Cai Zhi: "..."
Mu Xuanyin: "............"
The entire Northern Domain was stunned.
"But the king realms of your Western Region are all outsiders." Chi Wuyue looked sideways at the Qilin Emperor and Azure Dragon Emperor. "How can mere outsiders be compared to 'insiders' in terms of influence over the Western Region or the Demon Lord's trust?"
"Qilin Emperor, what do you think?"
"..." The Qilin Emperor was far too shrewd. His bewilderment lasted only half a breath before enlightenment struck like a thunderbolt. He immediately knelt on one knee and said solemnly, "The Demon Empress speaks truly! In that case, I dare to request that the Demon Lord take the Azure Dragon Emperor as an imperial consort."
At these words, jaws dropped all around. The Azure Dragon Emperor had been pondering Chi Wuyue's words, and upon hearing this, her pupils contracted. She turned sideways and exclaimed in shock, "What... did you say!?"
Contrary to the Azure Dragon Emperor's shock, the Qilin Emperor instead felt greatly relieved. With a calm expression, he said seriously, "The Demon Lord bears the Evil God's inheritance and the Demon Emperor's legacy—a transcendent existence far above all living beings of this era. In just a few short years, he has saved the world from imminent annihilation and awed the world with supreme demonic might. His merits and prestige are unparalleled in history, unattainable by any."
"He is fit to be the supreme emperor of the chaotic king realm, ruling over and overlooking all beings of the heavens. Only the Demon Lord deserves to be this ancient supreme emperor, and only beings like Divine Emperors are worthy of being the Demon Lord's consorts."
"If the Demon Lord decrees the Azure Dragon Emperor as his consort, the Western Divine Realm will no longer be under an outsider's rule. With the Azure Dragon clan's million-year prestige combined with the name of the Demon Lord's imperial consort, the dissenting thoughts of Western Region profound practitioners can be extinguished many times over. And as the imperial consort, the Azure Dragon Emperor will naturally serve the Demon Lord with even greater devotion. My Qilin clan will also fully assist the Azure Dragon Imperial Consort in guiding and strengthening the resolve of the Western Divine Realm."
The Qilin Emperor was indeed the "old fox" Yun Che had referred to. His speech almost seamlessly and unerringly clarified Chi Wuyue's implication, and he had even directly changed his address of the Azure Dragon Emperor to "Azure Dragon Imperial Consort."
Moreover, these words were not spoken reluctantly under duress. In his heart, he felt more excitement and joy.
"The Qilin Emperor's proposal is excellent indeed," Chi Wuyue said with faint approval, her gaze shifting to the clearly disturbed Azure Dragon Emperor: "The Demon Lord doesn't seem opposed either. Azure Dragon Emperor, what is your opinion?"
The Azure Dragon Emperor lifted her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, the Qilin Emperor's urgent voice transmission reached her ears: "Azure Dragon Emperor! The title of 'Azure Dragon Imperial Consort' is, after all, only an empty name. For the Demon Lord Yun Che, it can instantly form a grand momentum to control the Western Divine Realm. And for the Western Divine Realm, is it not also of great benefit? It can, as you wish, avoid calamity for the Western Region to the greatest extent. Especially for the Azure Dragon Realm, it's the greatest—a protective talisman that other clans and realms can only dream of obtaining in this era!"
"Yun Che becoming the Emperor of Chaos is now unstoppable. Becoming his imperial consort will not disgrace your status in the slightest."
"If you refuse, the consequences will likely become the very situation you least want to see—unimaginable!"
"Under no circumstances should you refuse! Under no circumstances!!"
"..." The Azure Dragon Emperor understood full well that she had no right to refuse.
If she openly defied the Demon Lord's will and provoked his wrath, leaving aside the consequences for the Western Divine Realm, whether her Azure Dragon clan could even leave this place alive was uncertain.
Her chest rose and fell deeply several times. She slowly spoke: "Demon Lord, if I agree... can you promise not to trample the Western Divine Realm?"
"Promise? Hah..." Yun Che let out a disdainful, low laugh. "Azure Dragon Emperor, you've completely misunderstood one thing. The title of 'imperial consort' is not your sacrifice, but this Demon Lord's grace! Since you receive grace, how dare you have the face to demand a promise from this Demon Lord!"
"..." The Azure Dragon Emperor clenched her teeth. The Azure Dragon Divine Attendant behind her quickly and quietly tugged at her sleeve.
The Azure Dragon Emperor's temperament was extremely indifferent. In her hundred thousand years as emperor, she had always remained solitary, enjoying her own company. To become an imperial consort would undoubtedly be a great sacrifice to her personally. For the Azure Dragon clan... for the Azure Dragon Emperor to become another's consort, she did not know how she would face her ancestors in the future.
And she had to endure this man's harsh words!
Chi Wuyue's lips pressed together lightly, a slight smile playing on them: "The two words 'imperial consort' are, after all, just an empty title promised by the Demon Lord, beneficial to both sides. Whether one can truly gain the favor of the Demon Lord depends on the Azure Dragon Emperor's own ability."
"The competition in the Demon Lord's harem has always been fierce. Even the Fandi Shennü has repeatedly set aside her identity as Fantian Shen Di, wishing she could cling to the Demon Lord's side every day vying for favor. In the future, it will probably be a hundred times more brutal. Sigh."
"Tch!" Qianye Ying'er let out a soft snort from her nose.
Yun Che: "..."
Chi Wuyue's words actually caused the Azure Dragon Emperor's tightly clenched teeth to loosen slightly. She calmed her heart and said, "Very well. Everything... will be as the Demon Lord and Demon Empress command."
"Excellent." Chi Wuyue's seductive eyes narrowed slightly. "The news that 'the Demon Lord will take the Azure Dragon Emperor as his Azure Dragon Imperial Consort, officially enfeoffed at the coronation ceremony'—this news should be first publicly announced to the Western Divine Realm by the Azure Dragon Emperor herself."
The Azure Dragon Emperor clenched her hands, her jade-white fingers turning pale at the joints, but her voice remained clear and cold: "I understand. After returning, I will immediately announce this to the Western Divine Realm."
Chi Wuyue slowly nodded: "As expected of the Azure Dragon Emperor. This Empress likes you more and more. Once you officially become a consort in the future, perhaps one day you truly will gain the Demon Lord's favor."
"...Then, I shall accept the Demon Empress's kind words." The Azure Dragon Emperor struggled to maintain her composure, finishing these words with difficulty.
The Qilin Emperor's face bloomed with a smile as he bowed: "Congratulations, Demon Lord. Congratulations, Azure Dragon Imperial Consort."
Yun Che gave no response. The Azure Dragon Emperor's face was as cold as frost. The Qilin Emperor turned halfway, forced a sheepish smile, and stepped back slightly.
Qianye Ying'er's gaze swept harshly over the Azure Dragon Emperor's jade-white, long legs... She knew this was undoubtedly Chi Wuyue's idea, and an extremely clever one at that. But she couldn't help wondering if Yun Che truly coveted this Azure Dragon Emperor!
After all, the Azure Dragon Emperor's legs, flowing with jade light, were absolutely unparalleled in the world. Even she, after secretly glancing a few times, felt a pang of envy.
"Now, there remains the Southern Divine Realm." Chi Wuyue turned her gaze to Cang Shitian.
"The Northern, Eastern, and Western Divine Realms all have the Demon Lord's 'insiders.' How could the Southern Divine Realm be left out? So..." A deep, dark glint flashed in Chi Wuyue's eyes: "Xuan Yuan and Zi Wei have no suitable candidates. Shitian Divine Emperor, for the Southern Divine Realm, you must be the sacrifice."
"~!@#$%^..." Cang Shitian's scalp went numb. This man who didn't even put heaven and earth in his eyes now found his limbs trembling uncontrollably. He steeled himself and said, "De-de-de Demon Empress, Shitian is absolutely loyal to the Demon Lord, as heaven and earth can testify. It's just... this dragon-yang business... I really... and it would also be detrimental to the Demon Lord's prestige. Please, Demon Lord and Demon Empress, must reconsider... reconsider!"