In front of the Darkness City's Demon King Castle stood a colossal square---the Darkness City Grand Square.
It had the capacity to accommodate up to three million human beings at once. In the vicinity of this area, two significant structures could be found: the Life Spring, which provided rapid restoration of vitality and spiritual energy, and the newly constructed Altar of Sacred King.
On this momentous day, it held immense significance for both the Darkness City and the Chaos Forest. Countless legions of Demon King's soldiers encompassed the surroundings, numbering in the tens of thousands. Alongside them were vast numbers of various prominent races, including elves, orcs, giants, gnomes, and even goblins, with their combined presence reaching hundreds of thousands, spread across the left and right sides of the square.
As for the central area, it was occupied by the high-ranking officials from the cities and tribes of the Chaos Forest. There were figures like the Giantree City's lord, Nancilia, its deputy city lord, Miley Millen, and dozens of elders. The representatives from Ironheart City included Zhang Dachui, Ironbeard, and the dwarven chieftains. Additionally, there was the chieftain of Thunderclap City, Jin Kui, and the lord of Thousand Fangs City, Segon.
...
In the entire region, every influential leader was gathered in the forefront formation, arranged according to their stature and status. Each person was filled with excitement, anticipation, and nervousness.
"It's truly a magnificent sight!" Han Ke Xin exclaimed, her eyes wide open as she witnessed the scene before her. Standing near the altar alongside Chen Guo Guo and other Demon Kings, Han Ke Xin, as a special guest, had been invited to attend this extraordinary celebration despite not being a resident of the Darkness City.
"Boom, boom, boom!" The resounding beat of drums reverberated through the air as the minotaurs struck them. The crowd held their breath, their anticipation reaching its peak.
At that moment, a colossal dark figure over a hundred meters long descended from the Demon King's castle, emanating a terrifying aura as it dominated the grand square. After gracefully circling in the air, the Demon King then took on humanoid form and landed on the Altar of Sacred King.
With a towering height exceeding three and a half meters, majestic wings, imposing horns, and an overwhelming presence, the Demon King instantly commanded the attention of everyone present.
"All hail His Majesty, the Dragon Demon King!" Zhang San, leading his legion, dropped to their knees and shouted in unison.
"All hail His Majesty, the Dragon Demon King!"
"All hail His Majesty, the Dragon Demon King!"
From the elves of Giantree City to the giants of Thunderclap City, the orcs of Berserk Beast City, and the dwarves of Ironheart City, along with tens of thousands of Demon King's servants, all knelt in reverence, their collective voices creating a thunderous roar that reverberated throughout the valley.
His gaze swept across the servants and subordinates, and the Demon King nodded with utmost satisfaction.
Archpriest Li Si then stepped forward and declared, "Today, this grand celebration serves one purpose---to proclaim to the world the formal establishment of the Chaos Federation!"
"The Chaos Forest shall stand as the first territory of the Chaos Federation!"
"Henceforth, the ceaseless cycles of strife and discord shall be quelled!"
"The days of fragmentation and external oppression shall be brought to an end!"
"The Demon King shall ascend as the supreme ruler, encompassing all races, mountains, and forests within the Chaos Forest!"
"From this very instant, all cities, tribes, and inhabitants shall abide by the order of the Dark City!"
"Those who obstruct!"
"Those who defy!"
"Shall be marked as adversaries of the Federation!"
"Let us unite as one!"
"Pledge to defend the Chaos Forest with unwavering resolve!"
"Pledge loyalty to the Demon King till eternity!"
As those words reverberated, the entire venue erupted in a wave of exultation.
"Pledge loyalty to the Demon King till eternity!"
"May the Chaos Federation stand forever!"
The Elven King, Nancilia, was the first to bellow with a resounding voice.
Leaders like Jin Kui, the giant; Ironbeard, the dwarf; Gru, the orc; Segon, the gnome; and many others joined in unison, roaring, "Pledge loyalty to the Demon King till eternity! May the Chaos Federation stand forever!"
The crowd amplified the chorus, their fervent cries echoing throughout the Chaos Valley and beyond.
At that moment, Li Si stepped back, and the Demon King approached the altar. The entire grand plaza, filled with hundreds of thousands of people, fell into a profound silence, where not even the faintest sound could be heard.
With a contented gaze, Zhang Nu surveyed the scene before him and spoke in a measured tone, "From this day forth, the Chaos Forest shall no longer be just the homeland we have known, but a sacred and inviolable territory of the Chaos Federation!"
"No matter how formidable the enemy, no matter how dire the calamity, I, as your king, shall stand united with the federation and each and every one of you!"
"Let us forge a prosperous future together, let the federation flourish and endure for eternity!"
"May the Chaos Forest become the epitome of wealth and power, unrivaled in the world!"
As his words echoed, Zhang Nu initiated the Sacred King's Baptism. The Altar of Sacred King, its ritual requiring ten million gold per activation, was employed without hesitation. With approximately two thousand leaders from various cities and tribes present, Zhang Nu spared no expense on this momentous occasion. He performed the Sacred King's Baptism twice on the assembled high-ranking figures and leaders.
In an instant, two radiant beams of light ascended to the sky, descending as a cascade of ethereal energy. The dignitaries participating in the celebration were enveloped in this divine energy, feeling a profound transformation permeate their bodies as invisible forces merged into their very essence.
Even the attending Demon Kings were not exempted from this extraordinary baptism.
Han Kexin received a notification:
[You've received the "Sacred King's Baptism". HP +300, MP +300, Strength +30, Agility +30, Constitution +30, Will +30 permanently!]
Upon seeing this, Han Kexin was once again astounded. The magnitude of these attribute enhancements was significant. How did Zhang Nu manage to achieve such a feat?
If it were only a few individuals receiving attribute enhancements, it would not be so surprising. However, the power was not exclusive to the few Demon Kings present. It encompassed the entire formation of leaders on the scene, including the two thousand high-ranking figures, city lords, chieftains, elders, as well as the Demon Kings' generals, priests, and personal guards.
Every one of them was enveloped in this surge of power, experiencing tremendous advancements in their strength. In the blink of an eye, hundreds of individuals broke through from Level 3 to 4.
Even for those who did not achieve an immediate breakthrough, their strength and cultivation visibly improved. This scene left everyone present in a state of complete astonishment and disbelief.
It was worth noting that the vast majority of city lords, chieftains, and elders present did not possess strength beyond Level 3. Under normal circumstances, it was highly unlikely for them to ever break through to Level 4 in their lifetimes.
But now, with the energy released by the Demon King, hundreds of individuals on the scene achieved breakthroughs in their strength. Others experienced tremendous boosts in their power.
The scene before them had no logical explanation. It could only be described as a miracle---a true miracle!
Yes! It was a miracle!
This was a miracle summoned by the Demon King!
The gods responded to the call of the Demon King! The gods celebrated the establishment of the Chaos Federation!
Countless tens of thousands of subordinates once again prostrated themselves before the Demon King!
"May the Chaos Federation stand eternal!"
"May His Majesty be eternal!"
Zhang Nu could clearly witness the remarkable results of the two waves of the Sacred King's Baptism.
After the energy was released, there was an influx of two to three hundred Level 3 units and twenty to thirty Level 4 units. Even individuals like Nancilia, Marilyn, and Jin Kui experienced significant growth.
The Demon King's two chief guards also displayed a substantial increase in their power.
Shui Yao, the mermaid from Holy Tides City, was astounded to find herself one foot stepping into Level 5.
This left Shui Yao utterly astonished. She could not fathom an explanation for this miracle. How was the Demon King able to accomplish such feats?
The Demon King's abilities were simply too overwhelming and incomprehensible. With his might, he was undoubtedly capable of protecting the Chaos Federation. Perhaps it was time for her entire clan to pledge their allegiance and join him!
At this moment, Zhang Nu felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
Not bad at all!
The Sacred King's Baptism had unfolded in a magnificent manner, displaying its remarkable effects!
Although the cost was substantial and the individual improvement per use could not match the terrifying power of the Demon King's Baptism, the breadth of its influence was incomparable.
As a result, even the newcomers who joined later, with initially lower levels of loyalty, grew at an astonishing rate. Regardless of their initial stubbornness, when they beheld the majesty of Darkness City, the awe-inspiring power of the Demon King, and these extraordinary miracles, their hearts would inevitably waver.
The Demon King was undoubtedly the chosen one!
His arrival in the Chaos Forest was divinely ordained!
It was his destiny to become the sovereign ruler of the Chaos Forest!
To oppose such a being would be no different from defying fate itself!
Only by pledging absolute loyalty and serving the great Demon King could they forge a brighter future for their homeland and tribes!
"May the Chaos Federation stand eternal!"
"May His Majesty be eternal!"
The crowd continued to kneel, their voices echoing with fervor like zealous devotees.
And at that moment, finally, the long-awaited notification appeared before Zhang Nu.
[You've conquered the entire region of Chaos Forest!]
[You gained region-exclusive Super Chest x1!]
Upon seeing this, Zhang Nu could not contain his joy.
Just as he had suspected, the task of completely clearing every nook and cranny of such a vast region was nearly impossible. However, by thoroughly occupying and establishing his rule over the territory, he had achieved a true conquest.
Zhang Nu realized that conquering the entire Chaos Forest region granted him a different kind of chest, unlike the regular ones obtained from capturing territories or cities.
This chest was not categorized by quality; it was an exclusive super chest.
It was the first time Zhang Nu had ever obtained such a magnificent treasure chest.
...
The uproar in the Darkness Valley had reached an unprecedented scale.
The news of the Demon King asserting sovereignty and establishing the Chaos Federation spread like wildfire throughout the Chaos Forest in no time.
On that very same day, this urgent intelligence was intercepted by the empire's intelligence agency. It swiftly made its way into the hands of Grand Duke Bachor, the influential ruler of the southern territories.
"The Chaos Forest unified?"
"And by a Demon King, no less?"
"This is beyond outrageous!"
Filled with fury, several knight commanders at Bachor's side could not fathom the audacity of the Dragon Demon King's actions; they saw it as a direct affront.
However... Grand Duke Bahor responded with a hearty laughter.
One of the perplexed knight commanders could not contain his curiosity and asked, "My lord, aren't you angered by this despicable act?"
Grand Duke Bachor, maintaining his composure, replied, "A Demon King operating right under the empire's nose, surrounded by three empire-level powers, could have chosen a discreet path to develop and grow stronger."
"But he boldly declared the establishment of a federation."
"Such foolishness! Utter foolishness."
"I have overestimated him, it seems."
Upon hearing this, the several commanders were struck with realization.
The audacity and arrogance of this Demon King were beyond measure. Why would he choose such a high-profile approach? Did he have a death wish?
The utter destruction of the Southern Borders Third Legion.
Knight Commander Huang Hui and Count Su Wenhao of the Thunder Empire perished in battle.
Once the news of these incidents reached them, Bachor had already started to take the Demon King's threat seriously.
However, due to the unique circumstances surrounding the Demon King's activities, Bachor could not personally intervene with his own status. It would exceed the tolerance of the other two major powers.
But now, the situation had changed.
The Demon King had boldly declared the establishment of a federation and his intention to become the ruler of the Chaos Forest, unifying the previously divided forces. Neither the Sunset Empire nor the Azure Water Federation wanted to witness such a development. The Demon King's actions were tantamount to seeking his own demise.
Bachor rose from his seat with deliberation. "Prepare the teleportation station. I shall make my way to the imperial capital and personally meet with the emperor!"
This matter had escalated to a significant extent. The emperor would undoubtedly be concerned, and it was imperative to report the situation directly.