"Now that you know your guilt, what face do you have to return to the Star Boundary?" Zhan Wuhen's tone was aggressive, leaving not a shred of courtesy.
Yang Kai lowered his head. "This junior carries a Great Emperor's destiny and received Lord Mingyue's final instructions. I had no choice but to return."
"Oh, 'had no choice,'" Zhan Wuhen snorted coldly. "You think this Seat won't punish you?"
Yang Kai answered with utmost deference. "This junior accepts whatever punishment is given!"
"And if this Seat wants to kill you?" Zhan Wuhen's gaze turned sharp as a blade in an instant, murderous intent billowing forth.
Yang Kai paused briefly, then raised his head to meet those eyes. His voice rang out firm and unyielding: "No matter what, Lord Mingyue died at my hands — the guilt is mine beyond measure. If you wish to reclaim the Great Emperor's destiny, this junior has nothing to say. But if you intend to take my life, then though I am no match for you, I will not simply stand there and accept it without a fight!"
Beside him, Li Wuyi turned his head to glance at Yang Kai, silently clicking his tongue. In his heart, he admitted that if he were in Yang Kai's position, he probably wouldn't have had the nerve to say such a thing.
Zhan Wuhen let out a cold laugh. "You think you can fight back? Can you even fight back?"
Yang Kai shook his head slowly. "Anything is possible if one tries. This junior doesn't want to die, and I can't die!" There were so many loved ones waiting for him at Lingxiao Palace — how could he simply die?
Zhan Wuhen was about to say something more when Hua Linglong cut in. The Flower Shadow Great Emperor's voice was pleasant and melodious, forming a stark contrast with Zhan Wuhen's iron-blooded ruthlessness: "Tell us about your experiences in the Demon Realm, especially anything related to Mingyue."
Yang Kai composed himself and began speaking. "Back then, this junior was hunted down by Senior Li together with Yu Rumeng and fled into the Demon Realm. The journey went smoothly, and we reached the depths of the Demon Realm without incident…"
It had all happened within the past few years, so recalling it wasn't difficult for Yang Kai. He reported every detail of his experiences, omitting nothing.
The Great Emperors already knew that the Demon Realm contained many continents and that World Gates existed — after all, several of them had once charged into the Demon Realm together. Even without knowing the specifics, they had some understanding of those continents and gates. But everything else about the Demon Realm was beyond their knowledge.
What Yang Kai had learned was precisely the intelligence they lacked.
When he revealed that the Demon Realm contained hundreds of continents and twelve Demon Saints, all four Great Emperors' expressions grew solemn. Never mind how many demon subjects lived across those hundreds of continents — the mere number of twelve Demon Saints was already far too many.
The Star Boundary had only ten Great Emperors. Subtract the whereabouts-unknown Red Dust Great Emperor, the deceased Mingyue Great Emperor, and the Night Shadow Great Emperor who had defected from the Star Boundary, and only seven remained.
In terms of top-tier combat strength, the Star Boundary was vastly inferior to the Demon Realm — nearly a two-to-one disparity. Once the Great Emperors and Demon Saints clashed head-on, the losses would be catastrophic.
Hearing that Yu Rumeng was actually one of the twelve Demon Saints only deepened their astonishment.
After all, Yu Rumeng had once stayed by Yang Kai's side, appearing within the sight of several Great Emperors. She had even assumed the identity of Li Shiqing and engaged in deep conversation with the Flower Shadow Great Emperor. Yet neither Zhan Wuhen nor Hua Linglong had detected the slightest flaw — they hadn't even sensed the faintest trace of a Demon Saint's aura about her.
Thinking back on it now, it seemed almost inconceivable.
But once they learned that Yu Rumeng was the Mistress of the Charm Demons, the Great Emperors understood.
Charm Demons had always excelled in spiritual power and were masters of bewitching the mind. It was hardly surprising that Yu Rumeng could accomplish such a thing. In terms of spiritual cultivation alone, even the Nether Soul Great Emperor might not have been her equal.
The existence of the Myriad Demon Cave and Myriad Demon Pills furrowed the Great Emperors' brows. Over the years of warfare between the two races, the Great Emperors had noticed that the Demon Realm's Demon Kings were frighteningly numerous. They had struggled to understand why — now they knew.
The sheer number of Demon Kings stemmed from two factors. First, the demon race's population was enormous. Across hundreds of continents, they could rally roughly a hundred thousand Demon Kings — a staggering figure.
Second, it was likely thanks to the Myriad Demon Pills. These were unique to the Demon Realm; though they were formed by the Myriad Demon Cave siphoning the life force of the entire continent's demon population, consuming them greatly benefited a demon's Cultivation.
When Yang Kai described how he had used the Mysterious World Bead to devour multiple shattered continents in the Demon Realm, the Great Emperors were visibly amazed. They could shatter the Demon Realm's continents, but they could never cause them to be swallowed whole. Yang Kai's strength might have seemed insignificant in their eyes, but such a method left them thoroughly impressed.
He spoke at length — of the Battle of Zhoutian, of the Twelve Heavenly Demon Grand Formation, of Mingyue's desperate last stand, how in her darkest hour she had deceived her own perception and perished beneath her own fist.
Silence fell over the great hall. The atmosphere grew heavy.
They had been companions for tens of thousands of years, each long accustomed to the other's existence. Now, suddenly, one of them was gone. Even with their unshakable composure, the Great Emperors could not help but feel a pang of grief. Yang Kai's detailed account had placed them right in the midst of that moment — Mingyue standing alone against twelve Demon Saints, bold and magnificent. It was as though they had witnessed that battle's ferocity with their own eyes, seen Mingyue fighting on through grievous wounds.
It was a sight that stirred the soul. How they wished they could have fought by her side!