The Demon Emperor's words in the midst of the wind and snow seemed to stir up many past stories. But Su Ning who was dressed in all white appeared unwilling to reminisce. He just responded stiffly, "I've long wanted to have a battle with you?"
Upon hearing this, the Demon Emperor laughed for no reason. When he laughed, it seemed as if the wind and snow between heaven and earth were also howling at this moment.
Su Ning said coldly, "What are you laughing at?"
The Demon Emperor looked at him and said calmly, "You've long wanted to have a battle with Us? Your so-called desire for a battle with Us is just taking advantage of Our injury, thinking you can get rid of Us now and ascend to the throne of the demon race, isn't it?"
Hearing this, Su Ning's expression became ugly. The opportunity he had patiently waited for was, in fact, the moment when the Demon Emperor was at his weakest. He had found such an opportunity, but what did it imply?
Naturally, it meant that the Demon Emperor's strength was so formidable that it made people unable to face him directly.
"You're indeed very powerful. If you were in your prime, I wouldn't have the confidence of defeating you."
Su Ning candidly admitted this fact, exhaling the turbid air from his lungs. His entire person became somewhat less tense. Some words might seem easy to say, but in reality, admitting is always a challenging thing.
The Demon Emperor glanced at Su Ning with some surprise and said casually, "To admit such a thing, you've made some progress in these years."
"I don't believe you came out of that battle unscathed. Since you're injured, I have a chance." Su Ning stared at the Demon Emperor before him. He glanced at the bodies behind the Demon Emperor and said softly, "Moreover, you've just experienced a great battle."
The Demon Emperor did not turn his head to look at the scene he had personally created. He just looked at Su Ning and said calmly, "Indeed, We are injured, and at this moment, We are not at Our peak, but what does it matter?"
"No one can defeat Us, no matter Our current condition."
The Demon Emperor extended his hand, "Since this is the opportunity you've waited for so long, then come, let Us see what progress you've made over the years, whether you're still the same loser who lost to Us before."
Su Ning looked at the Demon Emperor, took a deep breath, and his aura gradually rose. Endless demonic qi burst forth from his body. He looked at the Demon Emperor and murmured, "Your existence is like a nightmare in my life. I no longer want to live like this. Now, I'm going to end these days, whether it's you or me..."
As he spoke, Su Ning walked into the great hall, entering his final battlefield.
At this moment, Su Ning was indeed at his strongest in his entire life, while the Demon Emperor facing him also happened to be at his weakest.
As one rose, the other fell. This might be Su Ning's best opportunity, but the final outcome remained unknown to anyone.
The Demon Emperor knew that this day would inevitably come, so he did not feel fear. He was just waiting for this day. The wind and snow continued, but the great hall had already begun to tremble.
……
……
The High Priest stood on the high platform and kept looking at the corridor. After an unknown amount of time, this big shot of the demon race finally withdrew his gaze, directing it toward the distance. The distant landscape remained a vast expanse of white. At the edge of his vision, nothing could be seen beyond the snow and wind, but he was well aware that if the Demon Emperor were to fall today, there would surely be many changes in that white expanse.
This was the first difficult challenge the Demon Emperor faced after ascending to the throne, and also an unavoidable challenge.
The High Priest remained silent for a long time, recalling the history of the demon race. In the history of the demons, most Demon Emperors could not die peacefully in their sleep. Either they were forced down from the throne by the successor they personally chose, or they could not even see their chosen successor come before them, and the throne was vacated. Whether in the human or demon race, bloodline inheritance was ultimately not very important in this world.
In contrast, the demons in the Demon Realm were more accepting of a new Demon Emperor, as long as the new ruler was powerful enough to suppress the Demon Realm. That was the reason why newly appointed Demon Emperors, after seizing power from their predecessors, easily gained the allegiance of the entire Demon Realm.
Therefore, the Demon Emperor could not afford to be weak, injured, or give the impression that they might be defeated. Every time they faced a challenge, they needed to repel it with their formidable strength, remaining eternally powerful.
Thinking about this, the High Priest murmured softly, "Being the Demon Emperor is never that easy."
Having said these words, he left the high platform and headed toward the great hall.
The impending conclusion of the great battle was inevitable, and the outcome would eventually be revealed to everyone.
The High Priest looked into the distance, hoping that the Demon Realm would remain the same after this.
……
……
On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, heavy snowfall persisted.
There was only one day left before New Year's Eve.
Over at the Northern Frontier Great Wall, activities finally began to liven up. Despite the harsh cold in this snowy and icy land, with the demons casting covetous eyes in the North, the year-end festivities were still inevitable.
In the past few days, the appearance of the Great General on the city wall became more frequent. However, after seeing the Great General, most people grew concerned. It was not just because of the increasingly hunched figure of the Great General but also due to the continuous and lingering sounds of his coughs.
Over the many years, they had witnessed various facets of the Great General. They had seen him standing tall in countless battles. They had long grown accustomed to the presence of this powerful man. But now, they had to accept the undeniable fact that this man was aging.
He had grown old, completely old.
Realizing that this might be the Great General's last New Year in the Northern Frontier, people could not find joy anymore.
The atmosphere suddenly became quite depressing.
The Great General stood in the snowy wind on the city wall, gazing into the distance. Suddenly, he heard the sobbing sound not far from him. It was a young soldier who had recently arrived at the Northern Frontier, quietly sobbing.
The Great General coughed a few times before walking over to the young soldier's side, patting him on the shoulder.
"Why are you crying? Do you think this general is about to die?"
Hearing these words, the young soldier's youthful face was filled with panic.
He was about to kneel down when the Great General pulled him up, shook his head, and chuckled softly, "Why kneel? There's no such custom in the Northern Frontier, no need to kneel."
After saying this, he reached out to wipe away the tears from the soldier's eyes and continued, "I've already lived for so many years, and with the demons not attacking now, how could this general possibly die? Moreover, even if I'm going to die, it wouldn't be right now."
After saying this, the Great General patted the young soldier's shoulder once again before returning to the other side of the city wall. A middle-aged scholar had been waiting for him there.
Looking at the arrival, the Great General said, "His Majesty's journey southward this time, our Northern Frontier didn't send people to escort him. Although it was His Majesty's decision, I can't help but worry..."
The middle-aged scholar shook his head, "Since it's His Majesty's decision, there's no need to worry too much. His Majesty even returned safe and sound from the desolate north, so how could anything happen in our Great Liang's territory?"
The Great General nodded and said with a sigh, "Be that as it may, it's just that..."
When he spoke halfway, the Great General waved his hand, smiling, "There's no need to think too much about it. This old martial artist's days are numbered. In these final days, I won't trouble myself with such matters."
"Yao Chang, even Sword Immortal Liu has taken the opportunity to head south to relax. What about you? Still not leaving?"
The Great General looked at the middle-aged scholar, who had been advising and strategizing in the Northern Frontier without an official position. He grinned and said, "What's this? Are you thinking of waiting for this general to die and then take my place as the Great General of the Northern Frontier, becoming a scholar-general of a generation?"
The middle-aged scholar ignored the Great General and instead asked, "I have no ties or obligations here, whether in this place or in the South. But for you, Great General, you haven't seen your family for many years. Don't you plan to go back and have a look?"
The Great General responded calmly, "This general is the Northern Frontier Great General of the Great Liang Dynasty. As long as the people still need me, this general will continue to stand here until the day I die."
The middle-aged scholar sighed, "Great General, you've already done a lot for the people of Great Liang. In these final days, won't you consider living for yourself?"
Shaking his head, the Great General's gaze turned profound, "Whether it's me or His Majesty, we've never planned to live for ourselves."
