At this moment, Zhou Qianfu suddenly sensed a faint but intense gaze fixed on him. To the side, a demon cultivator radiating a strong demonic aura was staring at him with greedy, malevolent eyes.
The blatant desire in the demon cultivator's gaze shocked and infuriated Zhou Qianfu. How dare he! I'm still alive, and this demon is already plotting against me!
This demon cultivator was none other than Mo Tu, one of the powerful demon cultivators previously taken under the protection of the Da Zhou royal family. The Da Zhou Dynasty, ruling over a vast land, boasted strength that even surpassed that of the Sword Sect. Within the secret realm of Longting, there were six practitioners at the Martial Saint level, and Mo Tu was the most formidable among them—a peak Martial Saint.
"Snort!" Zhou Huangye, standing nearby, noticed Mo Tu's aggressive gaze and immediately let out a cold snort. "Mo Tu, don't forget who has protected you all these years! The emperor is injured, but I advise you to abandon those treacherous thoughts. Don't be ungrateful!"
Demon cultivators were generally loathed across the continent, and Mo Tu was no exception. In pursuit of his demonic skills, he had once sacrificed millions in a city, sparking widespread anger. It was Zhou Qianfu, the then-emperor, who defied all opposition to protect Mo Tu. Without Zhou Qianfu's intervention, Mo Tu would have been annihilated long ago.
Hearing Zhou Huangye's words, Mo Tu sneered inwardly. Ungrateful? We're all playing the same game here. Zhou Qianfu didn't protect me out of kindness—it was for my combat prowess, so I could be his lackey.
"Haha, Brother Huangye, why so serious? I only wanted to check on the emperor's injuries," Mo Tu said with an evil smile, though he did not step back. His gaze grew even more intense, brimming with ravenous desire. Zhou Qianfu was a half-emperor—devouring him would undoubtedly propel Mo Tu to new heights in his cultivation.
"You..." Zhou Huangye, realizing his threat was ineffective, felt a wave of frustration. In truth, his early-stage Martial Saint abilities were no match for Mo Tu.
"Enough!" Zhou Qianfu, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice cold and commanding. "Mo Tu, I assume you're smart enough to avoid doing something foolish, right?"
As he finished speaking, a grand and ancient aura spread throughout the chamber, instantly creating a sense of overwhelming oppression. The sheer force of Zhou Qianfu's presence reminded everyone why he was the emperor. For anyone else present, just being in the presence of this aura could have been lethal.
Mo Tu stared at Zhou Qianfu, trying to gauge his strength. But Zhou Qianfu's deep eyes remained calm and collected, a faint chill rising from them. Mo Tu hesitated, his initial bravado faltering in the face of Zhou Qianfu's unwavering composure. Though tempted, Mo Tu knew better than to act rashly. Zhou Qianfu might be injured, but a wounded half-emperor was still a formidable foe. Lacking absolute certainty, any impulsive move could be disastrous.
After a tense moment, Mo Tu relented, withdrawing his gaze. "I was too forward. Please rest well, Emperor. I'll take my leave now." With that, Mo Tu left the chamber without a backward glance.
As he watched Mo Tu depart, Zhou Qianfu's expression darkened, his heart seething with murderous intent. "Ungrateful wretch," he muttered. "If you're disobedient, there's no need for you to continue existing."
For years, Zhou Qianfu had supported and nurtured Mo Tu, hoping to gain a powerful ally. But instead of gratitude, Mo Tu had developed an insatiable hunger, even daring to consider devouring his master.
"Hmph! Mo Tu is getting more and more arrogant," Zhou Huangye muttered angrily. "If you hadn't stopped him, Emperor, I would've killed him on the spot!"
"Who said I was going to stop him?" Zhou Qianfu's voice was icy.
"Huh?" Zhou Huangye looked at his emperor in shock.
Zhou Qianfu's eyes gleamed coldly. "We're short on manpower right now, so let him be... for now. Once we deal with the major threat facing Da Zhou, we'll deal with that wolf cub."
If it weren't for the pressure from Luo Yi and the urgent need for skilled fighters, Zhou Qianfu would have already eliminated Mo Tu for his insolence.
Nearby, Zhou Linglong observed the exchange with growing fear. The atmosphere had been so suffocating that it nearly crushed her spirit. Why does it seem like my own Longting is not as unified as I thought? What's really going on here?
Zhou Linglong was confused. Longting's existence was an open secret, but the true extent of its power remained hidden, even from her.
"Ancestor," Zhou Linglong thought to herself, "the situation seems dire. I need to report this to the envoy as soon as possible. We must tread carefully until reinforcements arrive."
As Zhou Qianfu dismissed the group, his face reflected his exhaustion. "I'm tired. You may all leave."
"Yes, Emperor," the others responded, bowing before taking their leave.