In the local Demon King channel, both Zhang Nu and Han Kexin stood as undeniable giants. When it came to fame, the Potato Demon King did have a slight edge over the Succubus Queen, but in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of Demon Kings, they were considered to be on a similar tier.
The distinction was that Zhang Nu was recognized as one of the top three Demon Kings, while Han Kexin held a place among the top ten. This gave the Succubus Queen a false impression that, although there might be a disparity in power between her and Zhang Nu, it was not too vast.
However, that was quite far from the truth.
Zhang Nu had an incredibly low-profile presence, rarely showcasing himself in public. Other Demon Kings remained unaware of his true nature, as his messages in the chat channel solely revolved around trade and never wasted a moment on other matters.
As a result, beyond the labels of being a wealthy landowner and a tycoon who amassed riches through farming, most Demon Kings possessed limited knowledge about Zhang Nu, leading to a grave underestimation of his abilities.
Now, Han Kexin was beginning to comprehend the stark reality.
Regardless of herself or the other self-proclaimed powerhouses, the disparity between them and Zhang Nu was staggering. The Potato Demon King was far more than just a fortunate entrepreneur; his strength and influence firmly established him as the unspoken king among the Demon Kings in their region!
"Don't call me 'Big Shot' or 'Boss' anymore," Han Kexin exclaimed. "The true 'Big Shot' is your boss now!"
She continued, "Compared to him, I'm nothing. Following a leader like him is an incredible opportunity for all of you, so make sure you seize it."
The other Demon Kings were taken aback. Han Kexin's previous identity had long been recognized by others. She was the young and talented leader of a top-tier domestic conglomerate, boasting an impressive academic and professional background. She was a force to be reckoned with, both in reputation and ability.
Moreover, Han Kexin was renowned for her strong-willed personality. Whether in academia or her career, she always strived for excellence, refusing to settle for anything less. Her dominance was unquestionable.
However, this formidable individual openly admitted that she was no match for Zhang Nu, leaving the audience of Demon Kings in disbelief.
Han Kexin wore a calm expression on her face. While she had a strong personality, it did not mean she could not accept defeat. Only by acknowledging the gap could she strive to catch up.
After all, for them as Demon Kings, they were still in the early stages of their careers. The world was vast, brimming with opportunities and encounters waiting to be discovered. Numerous territories awaited conquest and domination. The greater the stimulation and shock they experienced, the more it fueled the Succubus Queen's fighting spirit.
"Thank you for your advice, Queen!"
"The Queen's straightforwardness is admirable!"
"Although our boss is the strongest Demon King, it doesn't diminish the Queen's status as a big shot in our hearts."
"That's right! If you and our boss join forces, there will be no one in this world who can rival you."
"I've heard that the bar in Giantree City is excellent. Since there are so many Demon Kings gathered here, why don't we pay a visit?"
"Let's go, let's go!"
"Together!"
"..."
As the Demon Kings erupted in excitement and raised a clamor, Chen Guoguo stepped forward to intervene.
"Enough with the commotion," she said. "The Queen is a busy Demon King, overseeing countless responsibilities. She doesn't have time to entertain a bunch of idle slackers like you. If you want to go to Giantree City for some fun, go ahead, but we have other places to visit."
Despite all being Demon Kings, they understood the hierarchy and respected the distinctions among them.
After introducing the Chaos Forest Demon Kings Alliance, Chen Guoguo continued guiding Han Kexin through other areas of the castle.
"Guoguo!" exclaimed the young Elven King, accompanied by a serene and gentle young girl.
Both the Elven King and the Succubus Queen possessed highly acute perceptions, and in that moment, they mutually sensed each other's immense power. Their levels of strength were undoubtedly formidable, perhaps even rivaling their own.
Chen Guoguo introduced, "This is Nancilia, the city lord of Giantree City and the Elven King. She is one of our own."
"The Elven King?!" Han Kexin, who believed she had already been shocked enough, found herself once again dumbfounded. She gazed at the young elven girl before her and exclaimed, "An Elven King so young? And the ruler of Giantree City? Could she also be affiliated with the Darkness City?"
It was beyond belief. This was a monarch! Not just any monarch, but the highly esteemed Elven King!
Before Chen Guoguo could respond, the Elven King spoke with pride, "Indeed, I am a citizen of the Darkness City and a loyal subordinate of the Dragon Demon King. The Demon King places great trust in me!"
A indigenous monarch.
Subjugated under his command.
It was truly inconceivable!
How many more secrets did the Potato Demon King hold? Han Kexin felt her mind becoming a jumble.
The Elven King was taken aback upon learning that Han Kexin was also a Demon King. Despite the considerable gap between His Majesty and the Succubus Queen, this female Demon King possessed a terrifying power that even the Elven King was not certain she could overcome.
Never did they expect that in this world, there would be such a formidable Demon King.
"Who is this young lady?" Chen Guoguo noticed the girl beside the Elven King and asked.
The Elven King immediately introduced her with enthusiasm, "This is Shui Yao of White Sands, a merfolk from the southern Azure Water Federation!"
"The Azure Water Federation? A mermaid?" Chen Guoguo exclaimed in surprise. "To think that we have an ally from the sea!"
Just two days after returning to Holy Tides City, Shui Yao had heard from the Dragon's Shadow Heroes about the grand event taking place in the Darkness City and had made a special effort to attend. Along her journey, she coincidentally encountered Nancilia, the Elven King, who harbored a profound curiosity about the outside world and was naturally intrigued by the prospect of meeting a member of the merfolk for the first time. Given the friendly and elegant nature of the merfolk, they found instant harmony with the elven temperament. Shui Yao was astonished by the Elven King's status and her down-to-earth demeanor, which instantly formed a bond between them.
Shui Yao felt an immense sense of honor. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine befriending a monarch. And now, having just met the Elven King, she encountered a mysteriously powerful Demon King who might even surpass the Elven King in strength. It was truly awe-inspiring!
Were monarchs becoming more common?
This was already the third monarch she had encountered in the Darkness City.
Shui Yao was deeply impressed by the profound power of the Darkness City.
Upon discovering Shui Yao's identity, Han Kexin's curiosity grew, prompting her to conduct further inquiries. The revelations left her utterly astonished.
The Water Blue Federation?
A vast power that could rival an empire!
As a top-tier Demon King, Han Kexin possessed a sharp intuition. She quickly realized why Zhang Nu had recruited Shui Yao as his subordinate. It was all part of his strategic planning.
She was, in essence, a chess piece strategically positioned by Zhang Nu in advance.
However, based on the fragments of information she had gathered, Han Kexin also understood the predicament currently facing the Chaos Forest.
Zhang Nu's primary adversary was likely the Thunder Empire in the north. Even with his terrifying strength, engaging in a direct confrontation with an imperial force at this stage would be highly challenging and risky. He could not afford to establish two battlefronts simultaneously.
Han Kexin's eyes flickered with realization. She sensed a potential for cooperation.
Although her strength and influence were inferior to Zhang Nu's, she was by no means a force to be underestimated. Moreover, her racial talents and the abilities of her troops were assets that the Chaos Forest lacked.
"Greetings, Miss Shui Yao. It's a pleasure to meet you," the Succubus Queen proactively greeted her, leaving the mermaid girl pleasantly surprised once again.
Whether it was the Elven King or the Succubus Queen, their status equaled that of the King of the Pale Moon Kingdom. Their bloodline, race, and potential surpassed expectations.
Under normal circumstances, encountering such individuals would have demanded reverential submission from someone like Shui Yao. If she could forge connections with two monarch-level beings for the White Sands family, then there would be nothing to fear of the Holy Tides City's Heroes guild and its major families.
The Elven King smiled and exclaimed, "That's fantastic! My circle of friends keeps growing. It's a shame that Su Yan couldn't join us. If she were here, the five of us could have a great time together."
Su Yan was the leader of the Dragon's Shadow Heroes. After assisting Zhang Nu in subduing the other Demon Kings in the Chaos Forest, she had embarked on another mission and was currently away from the main city. Even if she were present in the Darkness City, she would need to maintain a low profile. Su Yan was the mastermind behind intelligence operations for the Dragon Demon King, and it was crucial to keep her existence hidden from outsiders, including the alliance of Demon Kings, to avoid any potential exposure.
Moving forward, the four women engaged in various activities together. During their time together, Han Kexin gained a deeper understanding of the surface world's political landscape, the current situation near the Chaos Forest, and the enigmatic depths of Zhang Nu's power. This newfound knowledge proved to be invaluable to her.
While the Succubus Queen's strategic focus primarily centered around the underworld, it did not hinder her from seeking resources and forging alliances with forces on the surface. In fact, such collaborations held numerous advantages and benefits for both sides.
...
At this moment, Zhang Nu had already met with the city lords and tribal chieftains. He conducted a loyalty ceremony for them, where they drank from the Holy Grail of Blood's blood wine. This step was crucial because these cities and tribes were located far from the main city, and Zhang Nu could not ensure their long-term loyalty without employing some form of compulsory control to establish trust.
Moreover, each city lord and chieftain brought forth their city's or tribe's meager treasures, including gold, materials, and various precious items, as offerings to the Demon King. Although these native people were not affluent, their contributions of gold ranged from a few tens of thousands to one or two million gold.
In total, the accumulated amount was approximately 14 million gold. When considering the gold obtained from reward chests, the overall gold acquired from indigenous forces alone reached at least 20 million gold coins.
These indigenous factions, for the most part, were not particularly wealthy. Their substantial tributes to the main city already demonstrated their utmost sincerity. Alongside the gold, Zhang Nu received dozens of blueprints, primarily consisting of Level 2 or 3 ones. While some were noteworthy, Zhang Nu decided to store them for future use.
At this moment, Li Si, the Archpriest, spoke up, "My master, our preparations and preliminary work are almost complete. It is time to hold the grand celebration."
Zhang Nu nodded with satisfaction and replied, "In that case, let us not squander any more time. Gather all the high-ranking officials from the cities and tribes, as well as all the participants, and have them assemble in the main square of the Darkness City for the Demon King ceremony!"
Li Si promptly acknowledged, "Understood!"
The long-awaited day had finally arrived. While everything seemed to fall into place for Zhang Nu, he could not help but feel a profound sense of significance and exhilaration as he took this pivotal step in his journey as a Demon King.