It seems everything before was just an act.
"Miss? How many times have you been married over the years?" Ling Ye's cold voice cuts through the air.
"Hmm… hundreds of thousands of times, maybe?" The man across from him chuckles, completely unfazed by his wife's death.
"Alas! I just want to find true love, but unfortunately, I haven't found it yet." He exhales deeply. "Why are women always like this?"
"At first, they claim they're willing to share weal and woe with me, but none of them last more than two years."
"Is love really just about material things?"
"Is this what love between a man and a woman is? It's so… tedious."
"Then again, if you stand high, you can see far. But if you stand low, you can see more clearly."
"I remember you were the one who said that."
"Now, I see right through a woman's heart."
The man turns his gaze to Ling Ye.
Ling Ye looks at him as well. On the surface, he appears to be nothing more than an ordinary, somewhat disheveled man, a mere cultivator at the Mysterious Transformation Realm.
But that's just a façade. Those who truly know him understand what kind of being he really is.
His name is Jiang Wuya.
No one would ever guess that he is a powerhouse of the Extreme God Realm. In all the heavens and myriad worlds, Extreme Gods are renowned for their unparalleled prestige and power.
But this one? He chooses to remain silent, blending in with ordinary mortals.
He is an eccentric—a man who enjoys experiencing life at the bottom.
A man missing a few screws…
"You don't need to seek out these kinds of women. There are still good ones in the world," Ling Ye says indifferently.
"But I like choosing… the not-so-good ones," Jiang Wuya replies with a light smile. "I want to share weal and woe with them, influence them, and then prove to the world that love exists."
Jiang Wuya chuckles. "Am I supposed to save all sentient beings?"
"You seem to be keeping yourself quite busy," Ling Ye remarks.
"Well… yeah! I just like staying busy." Jiang Wuya shrugs. "Gotta have some fun, right?"
Then, his expression turns serious.
"So, Lord Demon Lord… What brings you here? You don't usually look for people without a reason."
Ling Ye never approaches someone without purpose.
There must be something important.
"Be my subordinate. I'm rebuilding the Blood Shadow Demon Army," Ling Ye states plainly.
Jiang Wuya smirks. "Subordinate? I thought you'd at least say brother! You're just outright making me inferior to you?"
"What you think is your problem." Ling Ye looks at him without a shred of concern.
Jiang Wuya is momentarily speechless.
Fine.
Even though he's an ancient being who has survived countless eons, he knows one thing—no matter the era, Ling Ye is king.
Ling Ye stands above all.
Ling Ye's strength is unmatched.
Ling Ye's will is absolute.
No matter how arrogant he may seem, Jiang Wuya knows he has every right to be.
He is meant to be above everyone.
"So… you're gathering a bunch of us idle folks to deal with that kid, Ye Tian?" Jiang Wuya asks, grinning. "The almighty Demon Lord, hurt by a mere fledgling? That's quite the unexpected turn of events."
Ling Ye smirks. "The arrogance of an era is nothing more than fleeting light."
"Hahaha, exactly!" Jiang Wuya laughs heartily. "At most, he can fight you—but I don't believe anyone can defeat you."
Ling Ye's eyes darken slightly.
"After this is over, I want the heavens to be without Boundless Realm." he declares.
He has been too lenient.
Too many people have started believing they can stand above him.
Once Ye Tian's story reaches its conclusion, this kind of thing… will never happen again.
"Yes, no one should be above you," Jiang Wuya nods in agreement.
"Well… I suppose I can be your subordinate. I did say back then that, as long as you asked, I'd do anything for you."
He exhales. "But I hope such a tragedy, where everyone is left to die alone, never happens again."
"This kind of thing… might have to happen again," Ling Ye responds with a faint smile.
Jiang Wuya's expression shifts. "Hey… what do you mean by that?"
"Just wait. The heavens and myriad worlds… need to be restructured." Ling Ye's voice is calm yet absolute.
Jiang Wuya sighs. "No matter what you're planning, no matter what you do… in the end, I know you'll be the one who wins."
"Wait for my command."
Ling Ye doesn't linger. The space around him distorts, and in the next moment, he vanishes.
Jiang Wuya watches the spot where Ling Ye disappeared.
Then, a small smile forms on his lips.
"My lord… your subordinate awaits your call."