XXVII

"Endless crimes… hmm, I don't recall being that much of an unlawful young man." Rokas stroked his chin in thought. "I wish to make a humble enquiry as to what crimes I've committed."

"... Hmph, you date act so ignorant!?" Huan Caiyi's eyes flashed with an overbearing killing intent, yet Rokas didn't even flinch. He had seen far worse in Jasmine.

"Little Demon Empress, allow Jiufang Ke to explain himself. Given his talent and status…it would only be right." Duke Huai spoke up for Rokas. "Perhaps he does have valid reasoning for his actions."

[System: The villains are backing you, isn't that amusing?]

'He's doing it in spite of Huan Caiyi…'

Helian Kuang nodded. "I agree, Jiufang Ke should be given a chance to justify himself."

Duke Ming's entire faction seemed to stand behind Rokas which was absurdly ironic considering that he was against them. In the end, Huan Caiyi agreed to be more fair.

"I shall start from the least important of your crimes… stealing a high-quality weapon from a reputable guild of the Demon Imperial City."

"Objection, hearsay." Rokas shook his head. "I did not steal the Ballcrusher from that shop… as a matter of fact, I was gifted it. If the guild desired a suitable price, its associates should have said so. To call what I did a crime… is nonsensical."

"..." Huan Caiyi furrowed her brows, deciding not to linger on the minor crime of theft. "What do you have to say of your unlawful desertation of the army?"

"Desertation? Why, I am still a faithful member of the army. The only thing is that I self-deployed myself to the Profound Sky Continent." Rokas smiled slightly.

[System: Waffling game on point.]

"Oh… self-deployed, you say?" Huan Caiyi raised an eyebrow. "On who's orders?"

"... Ahah, I'm a free dragon, you could say." Rokas smiled slightly as he placed his palm against his chest and started to speak with a sincere tone.

"I don't know what you have against me, but… during my self-deployment period, I only thought of serving you, my Little Demon Empress. I took advantage of the land's resources and raised my strength at a rapid pace until I encountered the Sun Moon Young Hall Master, Ye Xinghan. As he was an enemy of the throne and son of the villanious Heavenly Monarch, I murdered him and took all of his treasures… including this."

Rokas took out the Sun Moon Calamity, which raised many gasps. It was one of the most powerful artefacts in the Profound Sky Continent, used by Ye Meixie on the several invasions against the Illusory Demon Continent. Naturally… many of the powerhouses recognised it.

"That is… the genuine Sun Moon Calamity!" Lin Guiyan, a Patriarch, exclaimed.

"He might not be lying, after all…"

"That is not all!" Rokas shook his head. "I drew the attention of the Sun Moon Divine Hall's experts away from their sacred ground, taking advantage of their lacking defences right after. I took all of their resources, slaying a Sun Moon Divine Envoy as I did so. Afterwards… the Sun Moon Divine Hall sought the resources of the Profound Sky Continent's nations, leading to the other Sacred Grounds joining hands and destroying it."

"... What? The Four Sacred Grounds have become three!?"

"If that is true, Jiufang Ke is truly a worthy hero of the Illusory Demon Realm." Duke Huai smiled, nodding with approval. "His actions would have led to the downfall of a Sacred Ground… who in our history can say the same? For as long as we have fought against the invasions of the Sacred Grounds, not once did we win. We only pushed them back… truly, this would be the sign of a great change."

'Duke Huai's ass-kissing is on point today.' Rokas thought to himself… although he didn't hate it. In his previous life, he had rarely been acknowledged for his accomplishments so it was a nice change.

"Impossible! How could someone who was only at the peak of the Earth Profound Realm, a piece of trash amongst his generation, not even four years ago… proceed to slay a Sun Moon Divine Envoy?" Yan Zijing countered.

"How did Jiufang Ke cripple his father, then?" Chiyang Bailie replied, turning to Helian Kuang. "I wouldn't dare call the Helian Family liars."

"... We are branching away from the purpose of this trial." Huan Caiyi reminded everyone. "You say you took the Sun Moon Divine Hall's resources for me? Why don't you present them…"

"Aha…" Rokas scratched his hair. "About that… I ate them all."

"..."

The entire hall seemed to go silent at the absurdity of that statement. How many resources had the Sun Moon Divine Hall accumulated over ten thousand years? Certainly, they spend most of them… but still, their reserves were vast as the skies!

"Now I know that the death of my so-called father and brother is the true reason why I stand here." Rokas broke the silence, waving his Sun Moon Calamity. "I'll be honest, I did it as a matter of vengeance. Jiufang Yu humiliated me so I repaid the humiliation. Jiufang Kui abandoned me… and so I repaid the abandonment."

"To kill one's own brother and throw away the father who raised you… these acts are simply despicable!" Su Xiangnan roared. "Both sacred taboos that should never be broken… how could you say that you committed them with such a calm tone?!"

'Because they don't mean anything to me…'

"Watch your tone." Rokas glanced at Su Xiangnan, suppressing him for a moment. "It just so happened that my father and brother had been conspiring against the Little Demon Empress. I can prove it right now, for that matter."

Rokas' eyes flashed red as he blitzed Duke Huai, wounding him greatly with a single kick to the dick. His knees buckled as he lowered his hands, guarding the sacred pillar which had been crushed. Afterwards, Rokas used his Profound Handle and conducted a soul-search.

"This is an open act against the Little Demon Empress' peace…!" Chiyang Bailie roared, suddenly going against Rokas. "Attack him at once… protect Duke Huai!"

Huan Caiyi blinked with curiosity as she raised her hand. "Cease… do not strike Jiufang Ke!!"

"What!?" Chiyang Bailie looked back with a shocked expression.

As several profound practitioners charged towards him, Rokas used his Unlimited Energy Works and created a spear for each.

PIERCE.

"See how quick they are to defend themselves!" Rokas chuckled, turning to Duke Huai as his opposition was either dead or terribly injured. "Duke Huai, did you or did you not conspire against the Huan Imperial Family and the Little Demon Empress?"

"I did…" Duke Huai nodded.

"Who did you conspire for, in that case… yourself or someone else?" Rokas questioned, grinning at Huan Caiyi slightly.

"Duke Ming, my father…"

"So which Patriarchs supported this rebellion, if any?"

"Jiufang Kui, Helian Kuang, Chiyang Bailie, Nangong Zhi, Lin Guiyan and Xiao Xifeng all supported the rebellion."

[System: I present to you; 6ix9ine in a cultivation world.]

"Ah… isn't it so interesting that these were also the individuals who tried to impede the soul search? One last question… what is your type of woman?"

"I like them… small, petite, young-looking and delicate. Perfect for domination-"

'What ze fuck?'

[System: He likes them like Huan Caiyi…]

Rokas ended the soul-search, kicking Duke Huai down and smashing Ballcrusher into his head with enough strength to knock him out. Since killing him would alert Duke Ming via Soul Imprint… he avoided that for now. He then observed the Dukes and Patriarchs standing in confusion regarding their future.

'… This is a little awkward. Huan Caiyi isn't strong enough to assert her will over all of them, especially the rebels… which means that I'll have to.'

"The rebelling patriarchs will be punished with death on behalf of the Little Demon Empress."

[System: Man almost sounds like the Terminator.]

'Allow it.'

Rokas observed those that remained, slaughtering them in an instant. Then he turned to the rest, his overwhelming power demanding complete silence. The question of how the hell he had a Profound Handle was hanging over their heads. However, even Huan Caiyi didn't dare say anything to him.

"So… who knows the whereabouts of Duke Ming?"

~

Duke Ming was meditating in his personal sacred hall, distanced from any of the Duke Palaces in complete peace. He had an elegant appearance, like that of a weak scholar. Yet, one could sense the extremely frightening pressure from his body a mile away. He was anything but weak.

Then a Phoenix Arrow soared through the skies, burning through everything in its path… which alerted him. His eyes burst open as he moved to the side, dodging the arrow. He looked up and saw the collapsing building with a deep frown.

Schhh…

The residual Phoenix Arrow exploded into thick poison that polluted the air around Duke Ming.

"What is… *cough*... the meaning of this!?"

Duke Ming left his hall, ascending the steps. Then, as he blinked, he saw the Heavenly Demon floating in the air with all of the surviving Dukes and Patriarchs from the meeting behind him.

"Little Demon Empress… to what do I owe the pleasure?" Duke Ming managed a kind smile, looking up with slight confusion.

"Cripple him." Huan Caiyi spoke with a cold, domineering tone.

"Well, you heard the Little Demon Empress."

[System: Warning, Duke Ming is a pussy and he will use the blood escape technique if he needs to.]

'Noted.'

Rokas charged forward with the Star God's Broken Shadow, appearing right next to Duke Ming. He tried to smash his fist against his head but the Duke evaded him, kicking away Rokas to the side.

'What the… he managed to counter me?'

[System: Didn't you know a middle stage throne Yun Che had the combat prowess of a middle stage monarch… but a middle stage overlord Yun Che was only 'slightly above the 10th Level of the Sovereign Profound Realm'?]

'That was a bullshit nerf…'

[System: It applies to you as well. We got to keep consistent, you feel me? I guess you could see it as the 10th level of the Sovereign Profound Realm was heavily buffed.]

'... Man.'

Rokas sighed, dusting himself off. The blow Duke Ming had given him barely even hurt, even though it did move him.

'So that's how it is.'

Utilitsing his Nine-Headed Divine Chimera soul domain, he froze Duke Ming still. From the Heavenly Demon… a nine-headed true dragon emerged, its colossal six wings eclipsing the sun's light. What was in the sky seemed akin to an insurmountable and tyrannical Dragon God looking down on the world.

Its many terrifying jaws opened, turning the vast profound energy in its body into poisonous blazing water.

By the time Duke Ming shook himself out of his dazed state… it was simply too late.

The water rained down upon him in the form of nine massive spheres, exploding upon contact.

SPLASHHH.

Duke Ming was soaked wet with his entire body scorching with flame and even weakened by poison. He spat out some blood but that was not enough. He vomited out several mouthfulls of blood… before trying to rise into the skies to avoid the remaining water.

That was when it reformed under Rokas' command, surrounding him once more.

"AGHHHH." Duke Ming screached in pain as his entire body was contaminated by this poisonous blazing water.

Huan Caiyi glanced at Rokas as he returned to his human form and dressed himself.

"That… was no nine-headed flood dragon." Huan Caiyi remarked, her eyes observing Rokas with bewilderment.

"I'm not an ordinary person." Rokas then replied, descending onto Duke Ming. With one swift blow, he crippled him and turned back to Huan Caiyi with a slight smile. "So… am I still a criminal, Little Demon Empress?"

"Not one that I can condemn." Huan Caiyi then replied, sighing. "I will use the Yun Family's Soul Searching capabilities to find the rest of the traitors from Duke Ming's memories. Then… I will need your aid once more in punishing them."

"Sounds easy enough… you go do that and call me when you got the list. I'm going to chill for a bit."

[Huan Caiyi (Emperor IV) Confidant Rank: 0 → 1]

Huan Caiyi observed Rokas' figure fade into the distance with a conflicted expression. For one, she was grateful regarding his support. However, his lax attitude also irritated her slightly. Though… she did need him, that much was clear.

~

Rokas carried out Huan Caiyi's executions and punishments. Initially, she wanted them all dead but Rokas suggested using Slave Imprints instead to which she agreed. Then, peace was restored to the Illusory Demon Realm once more. Regarding Yun Qinghong and his wife, Rokas intended to heal them but he wasn't quite the medical expert that Yun Che was. He got rid of their poison easily with the Sky Poison Pearl… but the internal and external wounds? That was out of his field.

That was when Li Suo left his Inner World, healing them herself with pure white profound energy. The speed and effectiveness of her healing… was terrifying. Heaven-defying in every sense of the phrase.

Although she was right next to Rokas, she didn't even look at nor address him.

'Could she heal from inside of my Inner World?'

[System: Not after you pissed her off, that's for sure.]

"I thank you both from the bottom of my heart." Mu Yurou smiled, looking at Li Suo and Rokas. "Are you two a couple?"

"... Not in the slightest bit." Rokas shook his head.

"Be careful not to harm yourself like that again." Li Suo stated as she entered his Inner World once more, ignoring the topic at hand.

"You two would look wonderful together, in my opinion." Mu Yurou whispered to him. "Such women are hard to approach… but you have to state your intent. Otherwise, she might see you as something else."

"Err… thanks but I don't need love advice, miss Mu Yurou." Rokas shook his head. 'I'd just get rejected and even harsher than Ni Xuan did at that.'

"You have my gratitude, Lord Executioner." Yun Qinghong chuckled, changing the subject. "With my strength restored, the Yun Family will not be looked down on as much."

"Lord Executioner… is a terrible title. Call me Lord Protector or something akin to that." Rokas replied, nodding along. "Regarding that, I came to know the whereabouts of the Demon King."

"My… father?" Yun Qinghong's eyes widened.

"Yes… while I was in the Profound Sky Continent, I located the place that he had been sealed in. I will bring up that matter to the Little Demon Empress. We will surely rescue him from his shackles soon enough, you have my word."

"I… thank you once more." Yun Qinghong took a deep breath, unable to calm his breathing. He hadn't seen his father for what was a hundred years, believing him to have long since died.

"Well, I'll be going now." Rokas didn't want to drag on the conversation, stepping away.

"Wait… there is just one thing; your Profound Handle in the conference. You have the bood of the Jiufang Family, that much is clear. So how could you have attained a Profound Handle?"

"... I'd rather not speak on it." Rokas replied with a conflicted expression.

~

Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou seemed like wonderful parents, although the shadow of their lost son looming over them was something he could sense. If there was ever a time that he regretted killing Yun Che… it would've been then. Alas, if he hadn't consumed him, he wouldn't be standing where he is now.

…

Huan Caiyi gathered the top powerhouses of the Illusory Demon Realm once more, allowing Rokas to speak on her behalf as he had something to say. He took out a map of the Profound Sky Continent, pointing his finger in a region of the Blue Wind Empire.

"During my time in the Profound Sky Continent, I managed to locate where the Demon King had been restrained. The Mighty Heavenly Sword Region left him in a palace called the Heavenly Sword Villa, the strongest sect of the Blue Wind Empire… which just so happens to be the weakest nation where thrones are considered peak experts."

Some laughter broke out of the crowd.

"Thrones… peak experts? My thirteen-year-old grandson would conquer that lowly Blue Wind Empire!" One duke laughed.

"That… Blue Wind Empire is also my wife's nation."

Suddenly, the laughter stopped.

"Well, uhm…"

"Beyond saving the Demon King, none of you will commit any acts within that Empire. Otherwise, I will not be so kind." Rokas warned.

"... Yes, Lord Executioner."

There was a common understanding amongst everyone in the Illusory Demon Realm; don't piss of the Lord Executioner.

"How will we reach the Profound Sky Continent? Through a tleeportation formation, or…?"

"I have a Profound Ark capable of crossing the distance in an instant. Suffice to say, our appearance will catch the Sacred Grounds unawares."

"Woah… Lord Executioner truly does have a massive bag of tricks!"

"Instantly… hahaha, they will never see us coming."

Once the remarks stopped, Rokas continued.

"After freeing the Demon King, we will negotiate with the Sword Master. Once that is settled… we will storm the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary and Supreme Ocean Palace, either destroying them entirely or taking tributes."

"Negotiate… with the Sword Master?" Huan Caiyi raised an eyebrow.

"You will understand when it comes to it." Rokas nodded, raising his head as he turned away from the map and faced the crowd. "So… who is with me?"

"If it means getting revenge on those insatiable Sacred Grounds, you have my spear!" Yan Zijing banged the butt of his spear against the floor.

"The sight of my father being freed is not one that I would wish to miss." Yun Qinghong nodded. "The Yun Family will stand behind you, Lord Executioner."

"The Mu Family will support the Illusory Demon Realm in this great endeavour as well!" Mu Feiyan exclaimed right after Yun Qinghong, his voice twice as loud.

"I owe a great favour to the great Demon King Yun Canghai… how could I stand by as an opportunity to release him arises?!" Greatest Ambition Under Heaven joined in.

Everyone was in support of Rokas' proposition, from the Patriarchs to the many Dukes. Huan Caiyi observed that his power had somewhat eclipsed her own… politcally. Whatever he said, was the true law of the land. It was not wrong to say that he was the acting Demon Emperor even though he tended not to act like it.

…

Rokas looked around, mystiqued by Huan Caiyi's invitation to her palace. The dining hall was devoid of people, even the servants waited outside. Rokas decided to sat down to the opposite side of Huan Caiyi, observing the food. It was a rather dark room, lit by only candles. He got a romantic atmosphere from it…

'Some gourmet stuff… but I'd rather some Burger King, not going to lie.'

[System: You should try Wendy's for once.]

'Wendy's…?'

[System: Trust me, that shit goood.]

'As if you can taste food…'

[System: Due to my omniscience, I know that plenty of people love it. Even more than your Burger King.]

'Okay… I'll try it out later.'

Rokas dug into one of the dishes which had noodles and fell in love almost instantly.

'Mn… this is good!'

As he was digging into the dish like a wild animal, the door suddenly opened and an exceedingly beautiful, delicate, figure walked inside. She wore a tight and regal black-golden dress that tried to show the most of her frame… but there was little to show, in the end. On top of her head, she had a Golden Crow headpiece which was engraved with countless shiny jewels.

Rokas stopped, realising that he had sauce all over his mouth right before Huan Caiyi. He quickly cleaned himself up using profound energy.

"My apologies… I just love eating. Especially when it comes to good food like this…"

"Help yourself." Huan Caiyi did not show a trace of disgust as she walked forward towards him.

"I… am grateful for your assistance, Long Ke. Without you, Duke Ming would have surely triumphed from the shadows. Whether by assassination or some other means, the throne would have been his."

'Is she sweet-talking me?' Rokas thought to himself.

"Oh, it's no big deal." He shrugged, looking up. "Duke Ming had no right contending for the throne either way. If he hadn't betrayed the Demon Emperor and your brother, he would have never had a means to rise so high."

"And yet he did." Huan Caiyi finally reached him, stepping behind him. "After the invasion is over… what will you do?"

"Enjoy my days with my family." Rokas replied simply.

"The Jiufang Family?"

"No… the one between my wife and I." Rokas replied, smiling a little. "What, are you going to miss me? I hardly made a good impression."

"... Hmph, you are a demon. The strongest demon in the world and the pride of this Illusory Demon Realm. Don't you think that your place should be here?"

"After Yun Canghai is freed, you will no longer need me." Rokas replied. 'Except for the dual-cultivation Yang providing part… which I am 1000% not doing.'

[System: Come on, you might like shagging a loli once in a while.]

'... Hell no.'

[System: Then who's going to give her that much needed vital Yang energy? Without it, she will remain as the Little Demon Empress, the future of her reign uncertain. Who is the great hero who will assist her in the making of the next Demon Emperor?]

'Not me.'

[System: Since her being a loli is such a problem… ehe…]

'...?'

[System: Nothing, nothing at all. Just keep thinking that you'd never do it with Huan Caiyi.]

"Who decided that I won't need you?-"

As Huan Caiyi tried to approach closer and touch him, an icy chill went up her spine as a frozen fairy made her appearance. Huan Caiyi stepped back, surprised by the beautiful and mighty figure.

"Qingyue…" Rokas blinked in surprise.

"I ask that you depart at once, Little Demon Empress." Xia Qingyue spoke with a calm yet eerily chilling tone that shook even Huan Caiyi a little. "I wish to be alone with my fiancé… you do understand, don't you?"

Huan Caiyi glanced at Rokas who shrugged his shoulders. Biting her lip, she walked away. "Certainly."

[Huan Caiyi (Emperor IV) Confidant Rank: 1 → 2]

"Was that… necessary?" Rokas raised an eyebrow. "She was well-dressed for the occasion and you turned her away so coldly."

"Her actions were what I found unnecessary…" Xia Qingyue remarked, glancing at him. "She intends to tie you down to the Illusory Demon Realm… that much I cannot allow, for your own benefit."

'... Or you didn't want her to get close to me?' Rokas wondered, smiling slightly as he thought to himself. 'You can be quite jelly sometimes, for that matter.'

"What?" Xia Qingyue asked with a curious expression as Rokas didn't speak yet had an amused expression. "What is so amusing to you?"

"Nothing…" Rokas chuckled as he stood up from his seat. "I'm feeling like going out for a little sightseeing, don't you?"

"... I would not mind it."

~

Taking the top experts from the Illusory Demon Realm with him aboard the Profound Ark, he moved it in the direction of the Profound Sky Continent… and then the Heavenly Sword Villa. And so, the Heavenly Demon that the Profound Sky Continent's people had both feared and sought out so much was finally here, backed by a worthy entourage.

"So it is true…" Yan Zijing grinned as he observed a Heavenly Demon WANTED poster. "Lord Executioner, shall we call you Heavenly Demon instead?"

"If you so wish."

Rokas nodded, speaking with a calm yet authoritative tone. Beyond just appearance, he felt more… powerful as the 'Heavenly Demon'. More imposing. Perhaps it was because people naturally treated that appearance with greater caution than they did his baby-faced brown hair one.

"It's… the Heavenly Demon!" One of the disciples exclaimed as Rokas and his entourage neared. "Demons… they're going to kill us all!"

However, there was no killing as Rokas forced his way into the Sword Management Terrace. He took out Hong'er and let her look around the swords.

"You can eat them all if you'd like."

"Hmmm… they don't look very tasty." Hong'er frowned a little, shaking her head. "Big Brother, you can do better than that."

'This picky eater…' Rokas sighed, shaking his head as he took Hong'er back into his Inner World. "Fine, I'll get you some better food later.'

"Swords as food?" A Duke scratched his hair. "I'm not sure that's how it works…"

"If you question everything about the Lord Executioner, you'll find yourself having countless sleepless nights." Another replied.

"You demons… dare trespass the Heavenly Sword Villa! The Mighty Heavenly Sword Region will know of this and-"

Bang.

"Shut up, old hag." Another Duke silenced the elder with a simple backhand.

However, that backhand had completely shattered his skull and killed him. Rokas glanced back, causing the Duke to nervously laugh. "I didn't think their elders would be that weak."

"We did not arrive here to squash some ants."

"If those ants are being loud, they're begging to be squashed, are they not?"

"... Restrain yourself. Are you incapable of so little?"

"Forgive me, Lord Heavenly Demon."

'Hopeless baboons… I should've just came here in my own.'

Rokas turned back to the Heaven's Might Soul Suppressing Formation. He flew up to the colossal black sword's handle and grasped it, lifting it up from the ground right after. Yun Canghai's withered old appearance soon came into view.

"My son… are my eyes… deceiving me?"

Yun Canghai muttered in disbelief as he looked up.