Meng Tuoluo’s heart was incomparably distressed at this moment, even inexplicably recalling the years at the Yanjing Holy Temple Dragon Academy.
At that time, she had a fiance, the crown prince of a northern duchy, who was also studying at the Yanjing Holy Temple Dragon Academy.
Meng Tuoluo could still recall his gaze, his face even now.
He was the crown prince of the Loulan Duchy, named Wayne, a very gentle and quiet man, not extremely handsome in appearance, but very gentle, even seemingly born without the ability to get angry.
At around six or seven years old, the two of them had already been betrothed.
All the way until the Dragon Academy, the relationship between the two was very intimate, somewhere between siblings and lovers.
Crown Prince Wayne’s martial arts were far inferior to Ji Mengbai’s, nor did he shine as brightly. However, he possessed extremely outstanding artistic talent, whether in literature, music, or painting.
However, he was not intoxicated by art, but rather used it to cultivate his temperament. What he focused on was the study of governance.
Although he did not stand out very much at the Dragon Academy at that time, he won the affection of many mentors, especially Vice-Dean White Wolf, who wanted to take him as a disciple many times, but was rejected by Crown Prince Wayne each time.
Who was White Wolf?
Throughout the entire Dragon Holy Temple, he was like half a deity, the top-level powerhouse of the human kingdom second only to King Jiang Shang.
Not only that, he was also the guardian deity of the Dragon Holy Temple students.
If not for his secret protection, Lan Yin would have been killed by the Dragon Holy Temple a hundred times already.
At that time at the Dragon Academy, countless people wanted to become White Wolf’s direct disciple, yet White Wolf favoured only Crown Prince Wayne. However, he actually refused.
The reason was that as a monarch, one did not need too much martial arts. He did not have a high pursuit of the martial path. What he wanted was the art of governance, to make his country strong, to make his people live happily.
Crown Prince Wayne was always quiet, always standing in the crowd watching others perform.
But Ji Mengbai was different. The moment he appeared, he seized everyone’s gaze.
At that time, more than half of the female students at the Dragon Academy were fascinated by him, secretly in love with him. The few girls in Meng Tuoluo’s dormitory talked about Ji Mengbai all the time.
It could be said that Ji Mengbai was the most dazzling star at the Dragon Academy, bar none.
And the feelings between Meng Tuoluo and Ji Mengbai actually originated from an invitation by Ji Mengbai.
At that time, the students of that year’s Dragon Academy needed to write a sword manual, working in pairs.
Before this, for such two-person cooperative projects, Meng Tuoluo had always been with her fiance Crown Prince Wayne.
Later, for some unknown reason, Ji Mengbai actually took the initiative to invite Meng Tuoluo.
At that time, Meng Tuoluo’s heart pounded like a startled deer, filled with secret joy, yet also filled with unease.
Because once she chose Ji Mengbai, it meant betrayal of Crown Prince Wayne, even defilement.
Meng Tuoluo still remembered that at that time, Crown Prince Wayne’s face was somewhat pale, while most of the female students in the class looked at her with jealous gazes.
Ji Mengbai was the male god of most girls, yet he took the initiative to invite Meng Tuoluo to be in his group, so countless girls were incomparably envious. That gaze, she could still remember even now, that feeling was like being drunk.
Moreover, the hierarchy at the Dragon Academy was very distinct. The children of the Four Secret Continents and the Flame Empire were at the pyramid’s peak, the royal members of the Four Kingdoms were on the second level, while Meng Tuoluo, Crown Prince Wayne, Lan Yin and other duchy children were on the third level.
Meng Tuoluo had always been indignant. On what basis were people divided into three, six, and nine grades?
And if she accepted Ji Mengbai’s invitation, then…
Meng Tuoluo was very clear at that time that she absolutely, absolutely should not accept Ji Mengbai’s invitation, as it would bring incomparably serious consequences.
At that time, she had to make a fatal choice, whether to still walk toward Crown Prince Wayne, or walk toward Ji Mengbai.
All her reason, all her willpower were stopping her.
However, inexplicably, as if compelled by ghosts and gods, she walked toward Ji Mengbai.
From then on, a magnificent love began.
To be with Ji Mengbai, she severed relations with her parents, while Crown Prince Wayne left the Dragon Academy before completing his studies.
Of course, what began was not just a love, but also a tragedy.
In the end, she abandoned everything, choosing to follow Ji Mengbai to live together.
However, on the day of their wedding, Ji Mengbai abandoned her, marrying the legitimate daughter of Yinzhou, and taking the opportunity to become a disciple of the Sky Priest, successfully going to study at the Sky Holy Temple, leaping to stand at the very peak of this world.
And Meng Tuoluo fell into the abyss.
This was the consequence of her first choice.
She kept telling herself that she absolutely would not regret it, but countless times in her dreams, she had fantasised, if she had chosen Crown Prince Wayne back then, what kind of situation would it have been?
Perhaps Heaven felt it had played with Meng Tuoluo’s fate too cruelly.
So, it gave her a second chance, and she made a promise to Lanling.
Very soon, the second choice came.
Choose Lanling? Or choose the Little Rakshasa King and the Modo Empire?
After a difficult choice, she chose to betray Lanling.
Well, actually Lanling did not care, perhaps there was a slight bit of regret, if his Flame Demon Tribe had Meng Tuoluo it might be better, after all the two had once shared hardships. But if not, that was also completely fine.
The first choice made Meng Tuoluo fall into the abyss.
What about the second?
Lanling defeating Naishu’s million-strong army had already made Meng Tuoluo incomparably uneasy.
And now, Lanling had defeated the Black Devil Banner Lord in a duel?
This… had already made her panic and tremble.
Could it be… she had chosen wrongly again?
No, no, no…
I, Meng Tuoluo, no matter what choice I make, will not regret, will not turn back!
…
Seeing Princess Shayan’s surprised gaze, Meng Tuoluo calmed down and said: “Wasn’t Lanling’s martial arts very low? How could he possibly win, if I remember correctly, the Black Devil Banner Lord’s cultivation was already infinitely close to a Devil Venerable powerhouse.”
Princess Shayan said: “He used a very despicable method to hide his power, he is a Five-star Demon Lord.”
Meng Tuoluo said: “Even so, he is far from being the Black Devil Banner Lord’s match.”
Princess Shayan said: “He summoned… Hell Lightning!”
At these words, Meng Tuoluo nearly fainted.
Hell Lightning, the power of heaven and earth, this… this belongs to the domain of the Devil King.
And Lanling is Sauron, the World-destroying Demon Emperor that the Dragon Holy Temple views as its greatest enemy.
However, according to Meng Tuoluo’s understanding, the so-called World-destroying Demon Emperor was simply hype created by the Dragon Holy Temple. He should merely be the residual energy remnant of the Dragon Emperor.
And the Dragon Emperor was already finished, what use was his remnant?
But… Lanling had actually summoned Hell Lightning, had actually summoned the power of heaven and earth.
What did this represent? Could it represent that Lanling’s World-destroying Demon Emperor was not hype, but real?
If this were the case, then wouldn’t Meng Tuoluo’s choice truly be wrong, wouldn’t it be extremely absurd and foolish?
Hearing of Hell Lightning, the Little Rakshasa King abruptly stood up.
His face, which had always been as calm as an ancient well like jade, finally twitched violently.
Meng Tuoluo’s gaze turned cold as she said: “Husband, there cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two masters for the people. In this domain, there can only be one Devil King. The power of heaven and earth belongs to the Devil King’s domain. Lanling summoning Hell Lightning is an infringement upon His Majesty the Rakshasa King’s authority, he cannot be allowed to live!”
The Little Rakshasa King said: “We cannot violate the Heavenly Demon Blood Oath.”
Meng Tuoluo said: “Is it truly cannot be violated, or falsely cannot be violated.”
Her meaning was very clear. The so-called truly cannot be violated meant that violating the Heavenly Demon Blood Oath would bring divine punishment, punishment from the gods and demons of heaven. The so-called falsely cannot be violated meant it would harm the Rakshasa Royal Family’s reputation.
“Falsely cannot be violated.” The Little Rakshasa King said.
Meng Tuoluo said: “Then summon him into the royal city, not only to propose marriage to the royal family, but also to swear allegiance to the Rakshasa Royal Family, so that he can stabilise his so-called Flame Demon Banner. And once he enters the royal city, even with heaven-shaking abilities he cannot escape. We do not kill him, but we have ten thousand ways to cripple him, and it will not violate the Heavenly Demon Blood Oath.”
The Little Rakshasa King closed his eyes.
This was a person with a mind as deep as the sea, truly no one knew what he was thinking.
For example, why did he dote on Meng Tuoluo so much? He should not be someone who covets feminine beauty at all.
After a good long while, the Little Rakshasa King opened his eyes and said: “Pass the decree, let Lanling come to Rakshasa City to propose marriage.”
Princess Shayan’s eyes brightened as she said: “Yes!”
She had always looked at Meng Tuoluo unfavourably, but this time the two stood on the same battle line.
If Lanling had the audacity to enter Rakshasa City, then he would never return.
…
Black Devil City!
Everyone received an incomparably shocking piece of news. The Black Devil Banner Lord was actually not dead, and had actually been saved by Lanling.
Before countless people, the former Black Devil Banner Lord led the former Black Devil Banner elders to kneel and pledge allegiance to Lanling.
In the following time, Lanling redistributed the looted wealth and grain to the people of Black Devil City.
Moreover, most of the centaur army withdrew from Black Devil City, making camp outside.
In the great battle with Naishu, most of the tribal chiefs of the Black Devil Banner had all died in battle, and the remaining ones were also turned into death warriors by Lanling.
Thus, Lanling and Heizhou (the former Black Devil Banner Lord) had to select the most outstanding one from among these chiefs’ sons to inherit the chief position.
Therefore, all the chiefs throughout the entire Black Devil Banner territory had to be replaced, a full one hundred and sixty-nine.
That’s right, one hundred and sixty-nine, including all the tribes of the Silver Alliance, all had to be restored.
Previously Lanling had destroyed them, now he ruled the entire Black Devil Banner, so he had to restore these tribes again, including the Chimera Tribe, the Ankara Tribe, and so on.
However, Duo Duo refused the position of Wild Horse Tribe chief, and continued to remain at Flame Demon City to hold office.
Therefore, Duo Ning became the new Wild Horse Tribe chief.
However, compared to the previously loose tribal alliance, Lanling’s Flame Demon City would be far more dictatorial.
Flame Demon City in the east, Black Devil City in the west, and in the future three more great cities would be built in the north, south, and centre.
The five great cities would become Lanling’s iron palm, firmly grasping this land of over one million square kilometres.
And these so-called chiefs basically only had the power to direct construction. The remaining military power, the power of war, would be firmly grasped in the hands of Lanling and the Flame Demon Council.
And at this time, all the tribal chiefs throughout the Black Devil Banner territory were either killed or turned into death knights, forming a huge power vacuum, perfectly convenient for Lanling to seize power.
Three days later, a grand chief enfeoffment ceremony would be held.
At that time, Lanling would personally enfeoff one hundred and sixty-nine new chiefs, and all chiefs had to kneel and pledge allegiance to Lanling.
…
“I am willing to become the Wild Horse Tribe chief!” Duo Ning knelt before Lanling and said.
Lanling said: “This chief has no military power, no power of war, only hunting, construction, and some power to distribute food. Moreover, you must completely obey the Flame Demon Council’s orders, I have the right to remove you from office at any time.”
Previously, even the Black Devil Banner Lord did not have the power to remove a tribal chief, he could kill, but had no right to remove, because that was the tribe’s internal affairs.
“I am willing.” Duo Ning said.
Lanling nodded and said: “Very well, when the Wild Horse Tribe is restored, I will migrate thirty thousand people to fill your tribe.”
“Yes!” Duo Ning said.
Why was Duo Ning willing to become chief? Because she wanted to be farther from Lanling, and as Flame Demon City grew larger and larger, she gradually felt she could not find her position.
Next, the person Lanling was to receive was Ninian.
She walked in gracefully, hesitated slightly, then directly knelt down.
Previously, anger and despair had filled her heart, making her fearless.
But as time passed, as Lanling went from victory to victory, Ninian had completely calmed down.
And after being baptised by these torments, she seemed like a different person.
The previous vanity and ostentation seemed to have disappeared.
However, seeing her own birth mother standing beside Lanling, having become younger than herself, ten times more beautiful, with a figure ten times better.
Her heart was still incomparably complex.
“If I let you become the Chimera Tribe chief, do you know what to do?” Lanling said.
“I know.” Ninian said.
Lanling said: “Tell me.”
Ninian said: “Do nothing, obey all commands from the person you send. Unless I receive your permission, do not do anything.”
Lanling nodded and waved his hand.
Ninian withdrew, her audience with Lanling lasting less than three minutes.
Next to enter was Du Yan.
“Du Yan pays respects to the sovereign!” Du Yan knelt on both knees, kowtowing heavily.
Lanling said: “All tribes of the Silver Alliance must be restored, but all chiefs will be stripped of military power. Originally there were thirteen tribes in the Silver Alliance, I plan to station two armies, ten thousand men each! The eastern garrison, you shall command!”
Du Yan’s eyes brightened, incomparably ecstatic, he was finally able to stand on his own.
Previously in the Chimera Tribe, he had grovelled to Constantine like this, merely the heir of the foreign race army, only able to strive to climb into the Chimera mainstream class.
And now, he had actually become the supreme emperor of seven tribes.
At this moment, he felt incomparable pride and glory for his choice at that time.
Du Yan kowtowed heavily and said: “As commanded, my supreme master.”
Lanling said: “Do you know what you should do?”
Du Yan said: “Supervise, brainwash, suppress, divide!”
Lanling nodded and said: “Fine, you may leave.”
Du Yan kowtowed heavily three times, then backed out.
His audience with Lanling lasted only two minutes.
Just as Lanling was about to receive the next person, Constantine outside said: “Master, someone seeks an audience.”
Lanling said: “Who?”
Constantine said: “He claims to be an emissary of Princess Dini of the Tiansha Domain!”