The corners of Emperor Dui's eyes darkened with devil patterns, on the stele of the Earth Deity Origin.
The ancient sages spoke of the Earth Deity, while the Great Devil spoke of the Earth Devil, with constant changes and endless exchanges.
As the changes in Emperor Dui deepened, the Earth Devil's Dao increasingly gained the upper hand.
The next day, the greatest Favored Minister and powerful minister of Dadui, Liu Changkong, once again came to report the situation.
"Your Majesty, the demons are indeed too fierce.
Together, they have nearly twenty Ninth Tier Strong ones. Your servant really cannot withstand them.
Eleven of the Twelve Capital Cities have already fallen.
Now advancing on Dingmao City, your servant has gathered all forces in Dingmao City, awaiting Your Majesty's orders."
"Not being able to hold them back is normal. Those demons have various means, beyond what ordinary Earth Deities can withstand."
Emperor Dui did not turn around, still gazing at the Earth Deity Origin, though his expression began to change continuously, with evil thoughts burgeoning.
"Changfeng, you cultivate the Incense Fire Dao. What power do you have now?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, your servant is ashamed of the favor Your Majesty has shown. As of now, I have barely reached the realm of the Third Tribulation."
"In just a hundred years, you've reached such a realm... Emperor Dui's expression was somewhat dazed.
"The Incense Fire Dao is indeed a shortcut.
With your talent, you have achieved such a realm in such a short time.
No wonder so few can resist its allure."
"Your Majesty..." Liu Changkong slightly lifted his head, a peculiar flicker crossing his expression. What had happened to Emperor Dui?
Emperor Dui remained silent for a long time, only staring at the Earth Deity Origin, sensing the Earth Devil's Dao had completely gained the upper hand, and the devil patterns at the corner of his eyes seemed to come to life.
He began to see the stele of the Earth Deity Origin slowly becoming illusionary, revealing the hidden skeletal remains of an unknown Exotic Beast within.
The skull, covered in devil patterns, depicted the essence of the Earth Devil's Dao.
Staring directly at those devil patterns was even more immediate than listening to the Great Devil's teachings.
The Earth Deity Dao espoused by the ancient sages was thoroughly suppressed.
Emperor Dui revealed a smile, an increasingly sinister smile.
"Changfeng, I once made a grand vow, to resolve the many calamities that Dadui has accumulated, did you know?"
"Your servant knows. Your Majesty emulates the ancient sages, a holy monarch whom we willingly pledge loyalty to, willing to die for."
"No, I am far from the martyrs of old.
Since I ascended the throne, and began the Dingmao Era, I have known that Dadui was terminally ill, deep into its bones.
This old ailment cannot be solved merely by cutting open flesh and excising tumors.
Only by completely remaking and transforming everything is there a glimmer of hope.
Now is the time for you to shed your heads and spill your blood. What do you think, my dear minister?"
"Your servant is duty-bound." Liu Changkong replied loudly, firmly, and resolutely.
"In that case, very well."
Emperor Dui turned around, revealing a face already marked by devil patterns.
He grasped Liu Changkong's head with one hand, his fingers penetrating to the bone, blood gushing out, spilling within the hall.
"Your Ma... Your Majesty..." Liu Changkong was horrified, wanting to say something, but upon seeing Emperor Dui's eyes, those unfamiliar eyes, only despair remained in his own.
"Your Majesty, you lied to me..."
Emperor Dui's expression was cold, forcefully absorbing Liu Changkong's power.
In this devouring, it was discovered that Liu Changkong was not just barely comparable to a cultivator who had just entered the Third Tribulation. His realm had already reached the Ninth Tier Peak.
He had even used special Dharma Methods to accumulate dozens of times the power of a Ninth Tier Peak.
Had there been an opportunity, he could have long since broken through to the Tenth Tier.
However, in the current Earth Deity system of Dadui, where hierarchy was strict, Emperor Dui, being the supreme, held absolute suppressive power over all other Earth Deities and all cultivators of the Incense Fire Dao.
Because he was Emperor Dui, after obtaining reinforcement, his realm did not reach the Tenth Tier, yet his power had already far surpassed the Ninth Tier Peak.
This nine-story building was Emperor Dui's Taoist temple. Here, none of his peers could rival him, not to mention the special suppressive effect.
With despairing eyes, Liu Changkong could not even struggle until his death.
He served as the Favored Minister, a powerful minister, beneath one person and above tens of thousands, and often, in the absence of Emperor Dui, he was nearly equivalent to a proxy emperor.
Only today did he understand.
Many privately slandered that Dingmao Emperor Dui was the worst and most incompetent Emperor Dui of the age.
They were all deceived.
Emperor Dui was the one with the deepest thoughts.
Only at the moment of his death did he realize he had never truly understood or known what Emperor Dui thought or wanted to do.
Liu Changkong's empty shell of a body, like those City Gods, sat in a high place, eyes closed, seemingly in deep cultivation, having received Emperor Dui's protection.
As Yu Ziqing led a force that swept across, Emperor Dui effortlessly killed all the remaining City Gods of the capital and county, absorbing all their powers.
And this blame naturally fell upon Yu Ziqing and these demons, for no one ever suspected Emperor Dui.
Those City Gods, whose foundations were destroyed, at least their bodies lived, and under Emperor Dui's protection, they survived within the nine-story building in deep cultivation.
And with Liu Changkong not emerging from the nine-story building, it was said Liu Changkong, like those City Gods, deeply trusted and sheltered by Emperor Dui.
Within Dingmao City, the reigning powerful ministers and various grand families began to vie for the limited opportunities released by Emperor Dui.
Simply telling them that his abilities were limited, unable to protect everyone, only the most loyal and patriotic people could enter the nine-story building.
Emperor Dui did not specify who, while outside, fierce demons continuously pressed forward.