……

"Shouzhe, what do you mean by this? Isn't it too dangerous to go undercover at the outer region battlefield?" The King of the South's expression grew increasingly peculiar as he quickly flipped through a few pages.

"Your Highness, please remain calm and listen to me," Wang Shouzhe replied with a gentle smile, pouring another cup of immortal tea for the King of the South. "Your Highness came to our Wang's Clan and coincidentally encountered the Shenwu Heavenly Abyss eruption, was invaded by the remnant soul of the Dragon Blood Demon God, was saved by Luomiao, and coincidentally, my wife and I have a way to solve the problem. Don't you think that's quite a series of coincidences?"

"It is indeed quite coincidental."

The King of the South had to admit that the number of "coincidences" was a bit excessive.

"Your Highness, this is the treatment of a child of destiny," Wang Shouzhe said solemnly, with a look of conviction. "It is destiny that brought you these encounters at a critical moment for our human race. This is the will of heaven, Your Highness."

"Ah, this..." The King of the South was taken aback.

How did he suddenly go from being a victim of a demon god's remnant soul to a child of destiny?

"Have you not heard, 'When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it first tests their resolve'? Since Your Highness has been entrusted with this great destiny, how can you hesitate and ignore it?" Wang Shouzhe spoke with a serious tone, as if the King of the South's refusal would mean neglecting this "heaven-sent opportunity."

"……"

This was something he couldn't admit to.

The King of the South hurriedly said, "Shouzhe, what are you saying? I, a prince of the Yun Clan, would never be so cowardly. I'm just concerned about the Immortal Emperor Ancestor, who has high expectations for me and might have other plans."

"On that point, Your Highness can rest assured," Wang Shouzhe said, pulling out another plan and placing it in front of him. "I have a grand plan called [Spring Thunder Operation]. This plan, if executed in the Great Qian, can significantly reduce the pressure on our human race. However, if Your Highness joins, I can rename the Spring Thunder Operation to [Thunderous Operation]. If the plan succeeds, it will be a great fortune."

"Your Highness, don't be in a hurry to refuse. I will send the revised plans to the Immortal Emperor. With His Majesty's grand vision and exceptional insight, he will surely agree to my request."

The King of the South was completely dumbfounded.

Master Wang Shouzhe, you are determined to send him to the outer region demons as an undercover agent, even blocking his escape routes.

But thinking about it, convincing the Immortal Emperor Ancestor might be difficult, but not impossible.

As long as Wang Shouzhe's plan is feasible and can truly alleviate the current pressure on the human race, with the Immortal Emperor Ancestor's character, not only would he agree to send Yun Tai An to infiltrate the outer region demons, but he might even agree to let him transform into a female demon to go undercover.

"Shouzhe, for the sake of the human race, I'm willing to go undercover and risk my life," the King of the South finally decided, gritting his teeth. "But about Luomiao..."

Seeing this, Wang Shouzhe dropped his gentle facade and seriously said, "I'll be honest, I hope Your Highness won't mind... Luomiao thinks you're old, that you're a second marriage, that you have too many burdens, that you lack style, that you..."

"Stop, stop, stop!" The King of the South's face turned increasingly blue as he listened, finally interrupting, "Let me catch my breath before you continue."

"Actually, there is a way," Wang Shouzhe said with a sly smile. "As long as Your Highness helps me complete the 'Thunderous Operation,' you'll be a great hero of our human race, and as for Luomiao..."

"You'll promise her to me?" The King of the South's eyes lit up.

"In your dreams~" Wang Shouzhe rolled his eyes at him. "Our family tradition is that girls are not forced to marry anyone; it must be of their own free will. However..."

"However, what?"

The King of the South looked at him eagerly, like he was grasping at a lifeline.

"However, I can have Ningxi help you improve your image, advise you, and help you showcase your strengths and charm. If you can truly move her, I can help put in a good word," Wang Shouzhe said. "Of course, you have to be strong yourself. Our Luomiao has a romantic heart and admires heroes..."

"Say no more. If it's just going undercover, I'll do it!"

The King of the South realized he couldn't avoid this, and since he might have a chance to win Luomiao's favor, he decided to go for it.

Besides, he had witnessed Wang Ningxi's skills. If even the old Hundred Refinements True Monarch could have a late romance under his influence, why couldn't he, the King of the South?

"Very well." Wang Shouzhe gave him an approving look and handed him the plan. "Your Highness, study this plan thoroughly and think carefully about how to act. The sooner we execute the Thunderous Operation, the better. Also, Ningxi will help train you."

"Shouzhe, rest assured, I won't gamble with my life," the King of the South said seriously. "I'm still young, and Luomiao is waiting."

"And take this book as well," Wang Shouzhe handed him a small, exquisitely bound notebook. "It contains many scenarios that might save your life at critical moments."

The King of the South accepted the notebook with reverence, seeing the four-character title written in bold strokes—"Return of the Dragon King."

After the King of the South left, filled with tension, excitement, and a bit of anticipation, Wang Luomiao emerged from the study, slightly worried. "Brother, isn't this a bit cruel? Even though I can't quite accept Yun Tai An, you don't have to send him to the outer region demons as an undercover agent, do you?"

Everyone knows that being an undercover agent is like having your life hanging by a thread, always at risk of death.

"Well, should I cancel the 'Thunderous Operation'?" Wang Shouzhe said with a half-smile.

"Uh..." Wang Luomiao thought of Yun Tai An's recent relentless pursuit and felt overwhelmed. "Forget it~ I think it's better to send him to earn some merit. If he can accomplish something extraordinary, I might see him in a new light."

As she spoke, her eyes suddenly lit up, noticing a small booklet tucked among Wang Shouzhe's books.

"Huh? Brother, you have the third volume of 'The Daily Life of the Overbearing Princess'?" She happily dug the booklet out from the pile of books and clutched it to her chest. "The third volume just came out, and I couldn't get the latest one. Let me borrow yours to read; I'll return it later."

With that, she ran off with the book, full of joy.

"This girl!"

Wang Shouzhe looked helpless.

In her earlier years, this girl was quite composed, but ever since she got hooked on these storybooks, her personality had become more lively.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing.

This girl was always spirited and carefree, daring to argue with him even at the age of seven or eight. Seeing her burden herself to share his pressure, pushing herself to train and study hard, made him feel uneasy.

Now, at least she's living comfortably.

However...

Remembering Madam's request to find a good husband for Luomiao, Wang Shouzhe felt a headache coming on.

This was truly a monumental task.

Perhaps it would be best to see how Yun Tai An performs in the [Thunderous Operation]. If he proves himself capable, letting Luomiao become a ready-made princess of the Immortal Dynasty wouldn't be out of the question.

At least, this King of the South has decent strength and bloodline, and his looks are passable. With some grooming, he could be a "mature" handsome man, though his personality is a bit...

Forget it, better let Luomiao decide for herself when the time comes.

……

Red Moon Demon Dynasty.

Second Prince's Residence.

In the lavishly decorated study, the rune chandelier quietly emitted a bright light. However, the atmosphere in the study was far from bright.

In the center of the study, Second Prince Shentu Kaixuan stood with his hands behind his back, his expression extremely grim.

Opposite him, his attendant Hu Yan Tinghe hung his head in shame, cold sweat dripping down his back.

Behind him stood a burly middle-aged man with a scruffy beard.

At first glance, this middle-aged man seemed ordinary, but his aura was profound and restrained, not to be underestimated. He was one of the few master trial equipment makers in the Red Moon Demon Dynasty, known as the "Ingenious Demon Lord," currently serving in the Armament Department.

The study contained only these three people, yet the atmosphere was tense and oppressive.

"Tinghe, what did you promise this prince?" Shentu Kaixuan's tone was stern as he stared at Hu Yan Tinghe. "It's been so long, and you still haven't managed to crack and replicate even two pieces of Immortal Dynasty armor?"

"What do you know?"

Before Hu Yan Tinghe could speak, the "Ingenious Demon Lord" exploded.

His beard bristled as he angrily scolded, "Don't think you can talk nonsense just because you're a prince. What do you know about armor? You call it 'mere'? What do you know about 'mere'?"

"The Immortal Dynasty armor may seem like just Lingtai Realm armor, but its internal design is incredibly complex and exquisite. It not only has an internal skeleton for support but also an auxiliary power system. All components are modularly designed. Each module contains intricate inscribed formations, each with its own encryption, making it extremely difficult to crack and replicate."

A bad temper seems to be a common trait among technical experts.

The Ingenious Demon Lord was one of the few master trial equipment makers in the entire demon dynasty, with a status comparable to the Hundred Refinements True Monarch of the Immortal Dynasty. Naturally, he was deeply engrossed in technical research and couldn't tolerate any disparaging remarks about technology.

In his view, the design of this new armor was simply brilliant.

So what if you're a prince?

If he gets upset, he'll still argue. At worst, they'll part ways, and he'll find another place to stay.

"Please calm down, Master Ingenious," the Second Prince quickly adjusted his expression and apologized, "I was criticizing Tinghe, not targeting you. The main issue is that the Demon Emperor Ancestor's deadline is too short, putting immense pressure on me, causing me to lose my composure. Master Ingenious, you're our top trial equipment maker. Is there really no way to replicate it?"

The Ingenious Demon Lord, having been appeased, softened his expression and explained, "We've analyzed its material composition and found that it primarily uses a composite material made from black iron, spiritual plants, and leather as the main materials, along with at least ten auxiliary materials."

"I've tried to replicate this composite material, but no matter how I blend it, there are significant issues, and its performance falls far short. Of course, this is a technical problem, and given time, I believe I can solve it."

"The most important issues are cost and manpower. Even if we overcome all the technical hurdles, not many trial equipment makers can independently produce this armor, and the overall cost would be nearly ten thousand immortal crystals."

Shentu Kaixuan was shocked, "Ten thousand immortal crystals? With that amount, I could buy many things, why buy this? Our demon dynasty's standard armor costs only about seventeen to eighteen hundred immortal crystals. Even if the performance is improved, it's still not cost-effective."

"Your Highness, but the Immortal Dynasty isn't foolish," Hu Yan Tinghe frowned. "Since they've abandoned their original standard black armor for this new armor, the cost must be lower than we imagine. I estimate that the price of this new armor won't exceed twenty-five hundred immortal crystals; otherwise, the Immortal Armament Division wouldn't dare to equip it on a large scale."

It's often said that your enemy knows you best, and the demon dynasty naturally has a good grasp of the Immortal Dynasty's financial situation.

"Impossible!" the Ingenious Demon Lord retorted, "The new armor has numerous components, a complex design, and excellent performance. There's no way it costs that little."

Shentu Kaixuan pondered, "Could it be that a wealthy patron is subsidizing the Immortal Court? Or are there other channels for profit transfer? The losses on the Immortal Dynasty armor could be recouped elsewhere? Tinghe, you brought back these two Immortal Dynasty armors, find out the reason."

Hu Yan Tinghe felt a chill down his spine, "Your Highness, I took great risks to bring back these two Immortal Dynasty armors..."

"Hmph, what does it matter if the risk is great? This matter is no longer just about replication; it concerns the great destiny of our demon dynasty," Shentu Kaixuan said discontentedly. "This new armor has outstanding performance. Once the Immortal Dynasty soldiers are fully equipped, their overall combat power will surpass our demon dynasty. If the Immortal and Demon Dynasties clash again in the future, we'll be at a disadvantage!"

This was no small matter.

Even though they were in a truce period, and the Immortal and Demon Dynasties wouldn't clash again soon, the arms race couldn't be relaxed.

"As the saying goes, 'Prevent problems before they arise.' We can't wait until the Immortal Dynasty completes their equipment before taking action. If I solve this major issue, it will be an unparalleled achievement."

Hu Yan Tinghe's expression turned serious, "In that case, I'll do my best to find out the truth, no matter the cost."

"Very well," Shentu Kaixuan said confidently, "Let's see what achievements the eldest and third princes can boast of against this prince!"

……

Outer Region Battlefield.

Blood-red rays stretched across the sky, and a mix of red and black mist filled the air, casting an eerie atmosphere over this world.

Every breath seemed to carry some kind of intense toxin and malice.

If an ordinary person without cultivation were to stay in such a place, it wouldn't take long for the malice and poison to corrode their entire body, leading to a life plagued by illness and eventual death.

Therefore, those who come to the outer region battlefield must at least be Qi Refining Realm cultivators. With bodies strengthened by profound energy and some detoxifying pills, they can barely survive and fight in such an environment.

This is why the human army must rotate for rest and remains in a defensive posture.

The outer region battlefield, after all, is the home ground of the outer region demons, and the environment here is more suitable for their survival and activities.

Moreover, the entire outer region is vast and boundless, with environments varying greatly from place to place.

The area guarded by the human race is built around the Boundary Rift, and compared to the entire outer region battlefield, it is just a small part.

At this moment.

In the territory occupied by the outer region demons, within a range of towering mountains near the battlefield.

A majestic and grand palace stood silently.

Centered around this palace was a massive city with a style completely different from that of the human race. The pervasive malice and poisonous mist enveloped it, shrouding it in a veil of mystery.

This palace was called the [Yincha Demon God Palace], and its owner was one of the demon gods of the heavens, the [Yincha Demon God].

The Yincha Demon God was known for her mastery of deception and allure, and her Yincha Legion was the vanguard of the outer region demons and one of the human race's greatest enemies.

Among the human race, the [Yin Demon Codex] from the True Demon Hall was said to be derived from the Yincha Demon God's lineage, imitating their cultivation methods.

At this moment.

In the main hall of the Yincha Demon God Palace.

Gems resembling Night Pearls adorned the dome, emitting a dazzling array of colorful lights, casting a dreamy and enchanting glow throughout the Demon God Hall.

On the massive black stone throne, a female demon god reclined casually on a soft pillow made of fur.

Her form was similar to that of a human, and as she lay on her side, her curves were fully revealed.

The brilliant light outlined her delicate nose, petal-like lips, proud curves, and skin as white as snow.

Intricate and luxurious scales covered her private areas. The contrast between the colorful scales and her snow-white skin created a striking visual impact, adding to her allure rather than appearing out of place.

Her jade-like body lay sprawled, enchanting and seductive.

Huge membranous wings spread behind her, and the massive horns symbolizing her demon god status curved to the sides of her head. The colorful light reflected in her orange-gold vertical pupils, creating an illusionary and cold detachment.

Her entire being exuded an aura of sinister allure.

It was a kind of ultimate charm that, even by human standards, transcended racial differences and gender, capable of stirring hearts and making it difficult to resist.

This female demon god was naturally the owner of the Yincha Demon God Palace, the Yincha Demon God.

Beneath the throne stood a group of formidable demon kings.

Their forms varied greatly, from hulking, pot-bellied demon kings to those with silver hair and green eyes, broad shoulders, and long legs, fitting the human female aesthetic, to half-demon, half-female demon kings similar to the Yincha Demon God, and even some with rough, beast-like appearances.

Each of these demon kings was a ruler in their own right, possessing their own forces, territories, and armies.

Standing together, the aura they emitted was terrifying enough to make ordinary creatures tremble and die. Yet in front of the Yincha Demon God, they all restrained their demonic presence, appearing respectful and cautious, even breathing carefully.

The tradition of the outer region demons has always been that the strong rule.

As a result, the distinction between different levels within the outer region demons is even more pronounced than among humans. In the presence of higher-ranked demons, lower-ranked demons have no right to refuse.

"Useless!" The Yincha Demon God looked coldly at the demon kings under her command, her tone indifferent even when scolding them. "You've intensified the offensive for so long, and yet you haven't even captured a single Boundary Rift. What use do I have for a bunch of useless demons?"

She spoke in the demon language, with a distinct rhythm and intonation. (Here, a powerful mysterious law is helping with translation.)

"Your Majesty," a burly demon king replied nervously, "it's not entirely our fault~~ The main issue is that the humans are far more united than we are. The tighter our offensive, the more closely they cooperate. On our side, the various demon god legions not only fight separately but many also slack off behind the scenes."

"Last time, we were on the verge of capturing the third Boundary Rift, but at the last moment, we were outmaneuvered by that human Princess Suiyun, resulting in the death of the Qingfu Demon King on the battlefield."

"Princess Suiyun..." Even the Yincha Demon God's eyes flickered with apprehension at the mention of this name. "This human princess is highly regarded among the humans, with exceptional military prowess. She has repeatedly thwarted our plans. If she succeeds the Immortal Emperor Mu Yun, she will become a major threat to our demon race. We must find a way to eliminate her quickly!"

"Whoever captures Princess Suiyun will be credited with the first merit and richly rewarded."

Upon hearing this, the demon kings looked troubled.

"Your Majesty," a silver-haired, green-eyed demon king bravely spoke up, "Princess Suiyun has become a formidable force, with many skilled protectors in the shadows. If it comes to a critical moment, even the Immortal Emperor Mu Yun or the Lingxuan Immortal Sovereign might intervene to protect her, making it very difficult to deal with."

"Even if it's difficult, we must capture her at all costs," the Yincha Demon God's tone remained cold, her orange-gold vertical pupils revealing a hint of killing intent. "On the battlefield, a brilliant commander is far more threatening than a powerful brute. If given the chance, I wouldn't hesitate to personally end her. You just need to come up with a feasible plan quickly."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the demon kings responded in unison.

At this moment, another demon king stepped forward, "Your Majesty, our ancient communication treasure has received another mysterious signal from the Great Demon Lord. This is the second time in a short period! I believe this is the Great Demon Lord urging us to bring him back quickly."

The Great Demon Lord!

At the mention of this name, the Yincha Demon God's previously cold eyes turned fervent, "Great Demon Lord~ please wait patiently. Your loyal servants will bring you back soon!"

As she spoke, her enchanting face suddenly twisted with anger, "It's infuriating that some have long forgotten the glory of the past. They speak of bringing back the Great Demon Lord, but secretly they harbor ulterior motives, slacking off and even sabotaging. Despicable! Detestable!"

"Don't let me find out who it is, or I'll tear their demonic soul to shreds!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down. We will follow you and bring back the Great Demon Lord," the demon kings, seeing her anger, hurriedly pledged their loyalty.

At this moment.

A joyful voice suddenly came from outside the Yincha Demon God Hall, "Your Majesty, our 'Puppet Lord Welcome' plan has achieved initial success! We've finally created a flawless puppet body."

The Yincha Demon God was immediately delighted.

"Quickly bring the puppet body to me."

As soon as she spoke, an old, sinister demon king flew in.

This demon king had a humanoid upper body, but its lower body resembled a mix of horse and goat, with four strong, scaly legs, and dragon-like claws that gleamed with a chilling light.

With a wave of its claw, a "female corpse" dressed in Immortal Palace uniform appeared before the demons.

Her features were delicate and beautiful, her immortal attire elegant, and her demeanor extraordinary, but her eyes were empty and lifeless, giving her a vacant look.

Otherwise, with her beauty and demeanor, she would surely be an admired senior sister among the immortals.

The old demon king excitedly said, "Your Majesty, this is a great prodigy female disciple from the [Guanglan Holy Land] under the [Immortal Palace] faction, the only successfully modified puppet body so far. Her name is 'Wu Mingyan.'"

"Enough talk, let me try it myself," the Yincha Demon God's eyes sharpened as she split a wisp of her demonic soul and invaded her divine soul.

Since it was already successfully modified, the Yincha Demon God's soul invasion went smoothly.

Soon, Wu Mingyan's memories from childhood began to merge into the Yincha Demon God's wisp of soul.

Wu Mingyan was born into a branch family of the Han Yue Wu Clan. Due to her exceptional talent, she was sent to a local academy from a young age. Through her efforts, she gradually entered the Guanglan Holy Land and became an inheritor of one of its Divine Realm inheritance grounds.

Throughout this process, she experienced hardships, happiness, secret admiration for a senior brother, and memories of many admirers pursuing her.

All these experiences, feelings, and memories of cultivation techniques flooded into the Yincha Demon God's soul, wave after wave.

After a long time, [Wu Mingyan]'s empty eyes suddenly gained clarity.

However, her gaze remained confused and bewildered, as if she hadn't fully recovered. After a while, her eyes gradually turned sharp, "I am the Yincha Demon God, not Wu Mingyan!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty," the demon kings congratulated in unison, "With this puppet body, you can easily infiltrate the human race. Bringing back the Great Demon Lord is just around the corner."

The demon kings were naturally delighted. If the Yincha Demon God could bring back the Great Demon Lord, their lineage would be the greatest contributors.

The Great Demon Lord was the supreme being of the demon race in legend.

Once he returns, he will undoubtedly lead the demon race back to glory and reclaim their former honor.

At that time, even the least of them would have a chance to rise to prominence.

In fact, the demon race had long considered sending spies to infiltrate the human race, but it was fraught with difficulties. The humans were highly vigilant, with various detection methods to identify them. Even if they deliberately transformed into human forms, it was challenging to hide their identity among humans.

This new plan, though difficult to implement, would be nearly undetectable by humans if successful.

"Order the immediate launch of the 'Puppet Lord Welcome' plan," [Wu Mingyan]'s eyes burned with excitement, "Additionally, to cover the 'Puppet Lord Welcome' plan, our army will launch a full-scale attack on the humans, sparing no effort to divert their attention."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, the demon kings became fervently excited.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the main hall of the Yincha Demon God Palace turned scorching.

From the Yincha Demon God to the demon kings, all the demons' eyes were filled with intense anticipation, as if they could already see the moment of bringing back the Great Demon Lord.

……