Jianyu's curiosity deepens.
Can someone like Ling Ye really have anything to ask of her?
"I have something I want to entrust to you," Ling Ye says calmly.
"Before I return, I need you to watch over something. Don't let it fall into the hands of others."
"Oh? What is it?" Jianyu asks, intrigued.
Ling Ye's gaze sharpens.
"Three thousand Demon Emperors."
Jianyu freezes for a moment.
"Your… ace army?"
Ling Ye's three thousand Demon Emperor puppets are all at the God Emperor Realm—an army unlike anything else in existence.
No force in the heavens or the myriad worlds possesses three thousand God Emperors.
Generally, an army of even a hundred God Emperors is considered a peak force.
The Heaven and Earth Alliance, the Purple Cloud Immortal Palace, and other such mighty factions each have only hundreds of God Emperor-level warriors.
But Ling Ye commands an army of three thousand.
Few have ever seen them, yet their existence is undeniable.
A thousand God Emperors are equivalent to an Extreme God.
By that measure, Ling Ye's army alone is equal to three Extreme Gods—an overwhelming power.
In the entire universe, no faction possesses over a thousand God Emperors.
No power commands more than two Extreme Gods.
"I'm going to battle Ye Tian from the Heaven and Earth Alliance," Ling Ye continues.
Even though Jianyu dwells in the ruins of the Boundary Sea, she remains aware of the great events of the heavens.
She scoffs.
"Do you really think you could lose to a mere upstart?"
Her voice is low, almost disdainful.
For someone like Ling Ye—an existence even she could not defeat—losing to Ye Tian would be a disgrace.
If that were to happen…
Wouldn't that mean Ye Tian surpasses them all?
Ye Tian is indeed talented and powerful, but to her, he is just another fleeting genius.
Just another arrogant youth who will shine and fade.
Ling Ye, however, shakes his head with a faint smile.
"In the Boundless Realm, I truly can't match him."
Jianyu narrows her eyes.
This is what the original book has dictated.
Ye Tian—the protagonist who appears suddenly, rising against all odds—must ultimately defeat the invincible Blood Shadow Demon Lord.
This is a destiny that cannot be altered.
Only after surviving the finale can he reclaim his power and dominate everything.
Jianyu's expression hardens.
"If he can reach the Boundless Realm… then why can't you?"
"If you die, what's the point of me guarding your three thousand Demon Emperors?"
Ling Ye's smile deepens.
"I'm not going to die."
Jianyu's eyes flicker with confusion.
Not going to die?
What does he mean?
What is he planning?
"I will return," Ling Ye says lightly. "But in this battle against Ye Tian, I cannot win."
Jianyu watches him closely.
"I only ask that after the war, you go to the Demon Emperor's Tomb. The army of three thousand Demon Emperors will be waiting there—guarding them—until I return."
Jianyu remains silent for a moment.
Then, she smirks.
"What if I refuse? What if my promise from back then was just empty words?"
Ling Ye shrugs.
"If you don't help me, my three thousand Demon Emperors might fall into Ye Tian's hands."
His voice is calm, but there is an undeniable weight to his words.
"That would be… unfortunate. After all, they are my ace army."
Jianyu folds her arms.
"And what does that have to do with me?"
"Nothing," Ling Ye admits.
His tone remains light, but a faint bloody distortion flickers around his body.
"But you will help me."
He pauses, then says something that shakes Jianyu.
"In my entire life… I haven't had many friends."
"And among them, I've never had a friend who could speak empty words."
He meets her gaze.
"Besides you, there is no one else who can do this. No one else I would trust."
With that, Ling Ye takes Zhuge Qingchan, and the two of them slowly fade into the distortions of space.
The wreckage of the Boundary Sea falls silent once more.
Only Jianyu remains, sitting quietly amidst the ruins, holding the wine gourd in her hand.
"Friend…"
She takes a slow sip of the liquor, her expression thoughtful.
---
The Torn Void
Ling Ye and Zhuge Qingchan drift through the broken void, flying toward their next destination.
Zhuge Qingchan stares at him, curiosity flashing in her eyes.
"You just said… you don't have many friends?"
She finds it hard to believe.
Someone like Ling Ye—the Blood Shadow Demon Lord—can have as many friends as he wants.
Ling Ye glances at her.
"How many people do you think are qualified to be my friends?"
Zhuge Qingchan hesitates, then quickly answers,
"…Not many."
That's right.
How could just anyone call themselves a friend of the Blood Shadow Demon Lord?
Only someone like Jianyu—a warrior of unparalleled will—could be worthy of such a title.
She studies Ling Ye for a moment.
"But… do you really think the Sword Goddess will help you?"
She pauses, then adds, "You two seem more like kindred spirits."
And in some ways, they are.
Although Ling Ye is undoubtedly stronger than Jianyu, they share a similar nature.
Their personalities.
Their beliefs.
Their view of the world.
It's as if they are two of a kind.
Ling Ye smiles faintly.
"You think… I would misjudge someone?"
The original book had assigned him a group of traitorous subordinates—a cruel fate he had no control over.
But those were characters destined to betray him.
They had only been using each other from the start.
If he were to build his own army, it would be different.
His Blood Shadow Demon Army would be absolutely loyal.
And when it comes to choosing people, he never misjudges.
He knows Jianyu.
He trusts Jianyu.
And he believes in Jianyu.