Chapter 1723: Spoiling It For Yourself

Immortal of the Nine Realms

"Fellow Daoist, don't tell me you actually believe the previous Monarch Yan is still alive, do you?" said Ye Qinghun. "And you don't need to worry about her coming back to take your current position as Monarch Yan. Once she went over there, it would be extremely difficult for her to return. Back then, that 'mutual exchange' strategy was already a last resort for the human cultivators.

"If I remember correctly, it was proposed by several of the most outstanding seniors from the Nine Mortal Realms. From start to finish, it was personally carried out by them, sending the previous Monarch Yan and most of her subordinates over there. It's said the price paid was enormous. With the current foundations of the Nine Realms, there's absolutely no possibility of repeating it."

Seeing Fang Chen's strange expression, Ye Qinghun assumed he didn't believe him.

Fang Chen's expression grew solemn as he looked at Ye Qinghun. "Fellow Daoist Ye, if what you say is true, and the demon race's cycle of reincarnation has also been sealed… then those demons that appeared later, could it be… they are actually reincarnated humans?"

Yu Feng and the others were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"How is that possible?"

"Utter nonsense."

"Don't even think about shaking my Dao heart."

"Yes, that possibility is actually quite high. Although it can't be verified now, that was precisely the intention of those seniors back then. Since the demon race stole the Underworld's Mirror of Reincarnation and planned to parasitize the human race, why couldn't we return the favor in the same way?" Ye Qinghun looked gleefully at Yu Feng and the others, whose faces had turned livid. "Take these few in front of us as an example. At first, they thought they were human. Later, they awakened their demon memories and believed themselves to be demons, but in truth, they are very likely still human."

His demon memories were so vivid, completely overwhelming his human memories. Claiming he could be a human was almost laughable.

"Our race's plan had a prerequisite. It was using forbidden techniques to seal your cognition. Aside from a very small number of individuals, the rest simply cannot perceive the flaw that the Underworld can no longer sustain reincarnation."

One awakened demon said coldly, "If you truly sealed off our race's reincarnation path, then our ancestors would have noticed long ago. How could they have let you succeed?"

"Forbidden techniques? Do you think we don't know them as well?" Ye Qinghun sneered. "Think about why only such a small portion of your awakened demons have managed to awaken despite all your efforts. And think about your understanding of reincarnation back in your homeland."

He continued to mock them. "I've told you already, do you really think your demon race is so all-powerful, that sending a few nobodies here could throw the Three Realms into such chaos? You're nothing more than pieces on someone else's chessboard. Of course, there are a few exceptionally brilliant individuals among you who managed to play the game back against the chess players. That's why the situation has become what it is today. Otherwise, the Nine Mortal Realms, and even the twenty-six realms of your homeland, would already be filled with the banners of the demon race."

These words left Yu Feng and the others speechless. Even Fang Chen was deeply shaken. The truth he had first learned was that human cultivators had been defeated by the demons.

The demons had thrown the Three Realms into chaos, causing the Immortal Realm, the Nine Mortal Realms, and the Underworld to lose their foundations, leaving them unable to recover for years. The Immortal Realm, in particular, had lost its Immortal Origin energy, effectively cutting off the path for all immortals.

Once immortal crystals were exhausted, the world would only have Ascension Realm cultivators, and no more Immortals. From that alone, humanity's defeat had been devastating.

Later, after learning more deeply about the matter, he discovered that the demon race had the shadow of the Demonic Beast Race behind them. Humanity had not only been fighting the demon race, but also the Demonic Beast Race, facing two enemies at once.

And now, from Ye Qinghun's words, he had obtained an even more crucial piece of information—From the very beginning, the human race had been far stronger than the demons. Their defeat, or rather stalemate, was because the Heavenly Dao of the Three Realms had also intervened. Human cultivators had been fighting multiple enemies all along… and even so, they had endured for countless years.

Fang Chen looked at Ye Qinghun, his gaze heavy. "Fellow Daoist Ye… why did the Heavenly Dao fall?"

Ye Qinghun smirked. "One who proves the Dao through fairness and order, if they break that fairness and order, they also break their own Dao. It wouldn't cause immediate death, but it would certainly weaken them. Secondly, the key to that fall also involved the Heavenly Dao on the demon race's side. The two likely perished together.

"Now, both sides have vacancies in the position of Heavenly Dao. Back then, there were no fewer than ten candidates capable of proving the Dao. But now? The foundations on both sides are dozens, if not hundreds, of times worse than before. Who could possibly fill that vacancy? Even Motian Dizang from the Motian Division falls far short. Though if he manages to unify the Underworld, he might have a small chance at attaining the Dao."

"So Motian Dizang's goal in unifying the Underworld is actually to compete for the long-vacant position of Heavenly Dao, to use the power of the Underworld to achieve Dao ascension?"

Ye Qinghun's words were like a great hand sweeping away the fog in Fang Chen's mind, making everything clearer.

"Stop putting this act together. That kind of talk might fool ghosts, but not us. From beginning to end, our race has always been the one in control. You've suffered losses at every turn and gained nothing from us," Yu Feng butted in, his tone icy.

"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right." Ye Qinghun replied perfunctorily. "We're just putting on a show. Your demon race has no problems at all–your foundations run deep, ninth transformation True Demons are dime a dozen, and you guys are invincible with countless heterodox paths bowing to you."

He paused, then sneered, "So then, why did you come all the way to this backwater place? Huh? What are you doing here? Are you sightseeing? Now that you've seen the scenery, why aren't you going back? Why are you sticking around here?"

Anger surged through Yu Feng. "You!"

The other awakened demons lowered their heads, their thoughts in complete disarray.

Ye Qinghun grinned. "Don't know? Well then, let me analyze your current situation for you. First, your homeland has probably already been ravaged by external forces. As for why they found your homeland, let's set aside whether it has anything to do with that Monarch Yan. Then, left with no choice, you changed your original plan of invasion and plunder into one of smuggling and migration. You all flocked over here, and once you arrived, you thought this place should now belong to you. So you tried every possible way to seize control of the Nine Mortal Realms.

"But have you ever thought about what you are? You're nothing more than refugees. Did you really think that just because you came here, this place would belong to you? Targeting human cultivators? Allying with the Demonic Beast Race? That's hilarious! Being used once wasn't enough? Now you want to be used a second time? Well, perhaps it's not entirely your fault. After all, the one calling the shots for the demons in Taicang Realm isn't that far-sighted Saint Son of yours.

"He seemed to understand a few things. He never cooperated with the Demonic Beast Race again from beginning to end. Once your plan to crush Taicang Realm fails, and your foundations take another heavy loss, you'll probably behave a bit better."

Ye Qinghun's words were like daggers, stabbing directly into the hearts of Yu Feng and the others. Their faces turned pale, and their chests heaved.

Fang Chen's expression shifted slightly. "Fellow Daoist Ye, you know the stance of that demon race Saint Son?"

"Yes. I remember encountering him in one of my past lives. His stance is quite simple. The demon race must be reborn within the Nine Mortal Realms, but they don't necessarily need to control them. Having a place to live and propagate would be enough. But he isn't the only ninth-transformation True Demon. He can't dictate everything alone. Over the years, more and more demons have advanced to the True Demon realm, forming numerous factions. The one pushing to crush Taicang Realm now is simply the most warlike faction."

Ye Qinghun grinned suddenly. "If one day they realize they're actually human… now that would be truly amusing."