Martial Cultivator

The Demon Emperor, who had now returned once again and was destined to become the one and only monarch of the demon realm in all these years, walked slowly between the two lines of armies. Countless demons lowered their heads, none daring to look directly at this Demon Emperor.

Autumn's face was pale, her steps slow, always lagging half a body length behind her royal father.

Although several princes in the demon army had long known that their father favored this younger sister above all, seeing this scene again still caused their thoughts to run wild.

There had never been a female Demon Emperor in the history of the demon realm, but given Autumn's current talent and cultivation level, as well as the extent of their royal father's favor, once Royal Father passed away, this position would most likely be passed on to this woman.

But even knowing this, they had no recourse. Aside from being male, in many other aspects, they were completely no match for this woman before them.

A group of great demons, including the High Priest, had stopped long ago. The High Priest watched the Demon Emperor inspecting the army, feeling greatly pleased. "Your Majesty has now taken another step forward. Once the lingering auras in the desolate north dissipate, this time we will be able to completely defeat Great Liang. The vast lands of the south should have been ours long ago."

"High Priest, are we going to wage war again?"

Not all members of the demon race supported the southern campaign. Some of the demon elites preferred to go into seclusion and pursue higher realms, rather than fight on the battlefield and throw their lives away.

After all, while the human race was weak, conquering them entirely would still come at a steep cost. At the very least, the first step of crossing the Northern Frontier Great Wall was no easy task.

The Demon Emperor was the supreme ruler of the demon realm. In the past, perhaps there were still those who paid lip service while defying him in secret, even harbored thoughts of overthrowing his rule. But after today, in the face of this Demon Emperor, all they could do was submit. There was no other path.

"His Majesty's divine power is undeniable. We shall naturally obey."

One of the great demons spoke up. Thinking back on the terrifying aura the Demon Emperor had released earlier, he still felt terror in his heart.

......

......

A father and daughter walked slowly among the demon army. The Demon Emperor was long used to such grand scenes. Having reigned for so many years, he was already the most powerful figure in the demon race. He had seen countless great occasions like this.

Yet halfway through, the Demon Emperor deliberately slowed his pace with interest, walking side by side with his daughter. He asked in a low voice, "What do you think?"

Autumn's face was pale, her steps slow, but her spirit remained focused. She could feel the genuine fear and awe the demon army had toward her royal father. Somewhat moved, she smiled and replied, "It's very grand."

The Demon Emperor shook his head and smiled. "It's not truly grand. A truly magnificent sight is something else entirely."

Autumn asked curiously, "Would that be when we battle fiercely with the Great Liang atop the walls of the Northern Frontier?"

The Demon Emperor shook his head again. After a moment's thought, he said, "Years ago, we and Great Liang fought a true field battle in the desolate north."

A so-called field battle?

A battle fought without relying on the defenses of a city, without taking advantage of terrain. It was just two sides clashing head-on, relying only on their raw strength. That is a true field battle.

"At the time, the combined forces of both sides totaled nearly a million. On the plains of the desolate north, a fierce slaughter broke out. We went personally to observe. Looking down from a height, the battlefield was littered with corpses, rivers of blood flowing endlessly. Every moment, someone would fall. The loss of life became something utterly commonplace. In just half a day, the entire battlefield was dyed crimson. The blood was so thick it looked like melted syrup."

The Demon Emperor recalled the scene, but his tone held no emotion.

Autumn said softly, "This daughter read the records. After that day, the human race never again dared to fight us on such a large scale."

There was no doubt that the battle had ended in a decisive victory for the demon race.

The Demon Emperor nodded and smiled. "The truths of the world are not spoken by human scholars, they are proven through actions. No matter how highly humans think of themselves, in the face of our demon race's blades, they can only be crushed."

Autumn nodded silently and did not speak further.

The Demon Emperor suddenly remembered something and lamented, "But that year, Chen Che left the desolate north by himself. The cavalry of Great Liang rode out to escort him. With Chen Che present, that great battle took on a trace of grandeur. Unfortunately, We didn't see it with Our own eyes."

"Royal Father still hasn't forgotten Chen Che?"

Autumn was naturally curious, why could her Royal Father not let go of that Emperor of Great Liang?

The Demon Emperor smiled. "A single battle. In Our entire life, the only time We were ever defeated was at his hands. Such a thing, We will remember for the rest of my life."

Autumn gently consoled him, "Royal Father has now taken a great step forward, your injuries are healed. If you were to fight again, I fear the Great Liang Emperor can only die with regrets."

"Though We do believe that as well, the fact remains We once truly lost to him. That's why We have decided to send out my entire demon army, to destroy that Great Wall, to bring down his two-hundred-year dynasty, and to utterly and completely defeat him here."

The rivalry between men can often be personal, but this was not just any rivalry. The Demon Emperor and the Great Liang Emperor were not ordinary men. They were the most powerful entities - one human, one demon. Their struggle was not merely between individuals, but between civilizations.

The conquest of the demon race by humans, or the conquest of the human race by demons, whoever succeeded would be the true and absolute victor.

The Demon Emperor said calmly, "Chen Che may indeed be able to reach some unfathomable realm by relying on himself. But the human race is weak as a whole. How could they possibly compare?"

Autumn said nothing. She merely felt that her father seemed to place too much weight on personal grudges. But given the centuries of enmity between the demon and human races, a great war was inevitable. No one could really say otherwise.

"This time, heading south, you still didn't manage to kill that young man?"

The Demon Emperor changed the subject. When Autumn had last come to the desolate north to see him, she had brought him a medicinal pill and a fruit, which helped him recover. But she had not said much else.

Autumn nodded, her gaze complex. "We had a true life-and-death battle. I nearly killed him, but in the end, we both suffered grievous injuries."

Though she spoke lightly, the battle had truly been the most dangerous of her life. They had fought endlessly, she had even revealed her true form, but still failed to cut Chen Chao down.

The Demon Emperor said flatly, "Judging by the severity of your injuries, I already guessed the outcome. That nephew of Chen Che's really does carry his style. Chen Che's sons are all worthless, but having this nephew, heaven must have taken pity on him."

"You've gained much insight this time. Go into seclusion. Before the next war begins, you should be able to break through and step into the end of Nepenthe."

The Demon Emperor looked at Autumn and smiled. "This time, Royal Father will personally transmit the Dao to you."

Though this supreme monarch of the demon realm had doted on his daughter and even taught her a bit in childhood, this would be the first time he truly passed on the Dao to her.

Autumn thought for a moment, then nodded. "This daughter wishes to enter seclusion in the Parasol Palace."

The Demon Emperor looked at Autumn, and a trace of sorrow flickered in his eyes. "You still can't let go of your consort mother."

Autumn nodded. "Being closer to Consort Mother puts this daughter more at ease."

"Very well. We haven't visited her in some time either. Go on first, then."

The Demon Emperor nodded. The sorrow in his eyes faded quickly, replaced once more with indifference. He became the cold, emotionless Demon Emperor once again.

Autumn's figure flickered and vanished.

The Demon Emperor continued through the ranks of the demon army until he reached the far end. He came to a halt and stood still, his back facing them all.

......

......

Autumn returned to the demon capital city and stepped into the palace. She eventually arrived at the most remote palace hall.

Before the hall stood a tall parasol tree, lush and towering, its branches stretching into the clouds.

The ground was covered with fallen leaves.

Ever since her consort mother's death, Autumn had not allowed anyone else to come here. As a result, the fallen leaves beneath this parasol tree were never cleared.

Autumn stood beneath the tree, tilting her head back to look through the mottled shadows of the leaves. Faintly, she could see the sky beyond the foliage.

Retracting her gaze, Autumn looked at the trunk of the tree.

The scene before her changed.

Back in those years, there had been no such parasol tree in front of the Parasol Palace. That gentle-featured woman had taken a little girl by the hand and walked out through the palace gates. She personally planted a parasol sapling of a rare variety, watered it carefully, then turned and softly said to the little girl beside her, "Manman, today we plant this parasol tree. If Consort Mother is no longer here in the future, then this parasol tree will keep Manman company and grow up with you in her place."

That year, the woman had been on the brink of death, breath barely hanging on, yet she still struggled up from her bed and sat at the palace threshold with her daughter beside her. She opened her mouth with difficulty and said, "Manman, Consort Mother won't be able to see my Manman grow to be as tall as this parasol tree."

At the time, she had stroked the girl's head, her eyes full of worry.

Life had never been easy for a woman, even if she were the daughter of the Demon Emperor.

Throughout history, most demon princesses had ended up as pawns in marriages between the royal family and other great clans.

Though the title of demon princess was noble, it did not mean she had control over her own fate.

"Manman, you must remember your promise to Mother Consort. You must try your best to grow up, to grow tall, to be like this parasol tree. Only then will you be able to choose your own destiny."

In the end, the woman leaned weakly against her daughter's embrace, murmuring over and over, "Manman... Manman..."

......

......

Autumn's eyes were damp, and her heart adrift. Only after a long while did she slowly walk past the parasol tree and step into the long-lifeless Parasol Palace.

The palace was not large. It was because Autumn's consort mother had not come from a noble clan and held no high status in the royal court. If not for giving birth to Autumn, and Autumn's gradual rise in recent years to become a leading figure among the younger generation, that woman might have long been forgotten by the demon realm.

Even now, few remember the woman herself. When mentioned, she was referred to only as Autumn's mother.

Yes, most women were pitiful, be it among humans or demons. They often became mere appendages of men.

If Autumn did not have her current accomplishments, she would likely be known only as the demon princess. Who would care that she had once given herself the name Autumn?

Even the favor she received now, if not for her talent, perhaps it would never have come at all.

Autumn slowly moved forward and finally stopped at the entrance to the bedchamber. After a moment of silence, she stepped inside.

Inside, there was a bed once crafted by that woman's own hands. Its style was vastly different from those of the demon realm. leaning more toward the human race's style.

Autumn walked to the bed.

Lying on the bed was a woman, quiet and unadorned, so her appearance was merely gentle.

Autumn looked at her in silence, tears falling. Before long, her face was wet with them.

This demon princess, always cold and aloof in others' eyes, now slowly crouched down. Looking at that woman's face, at those eyes that would never open again. Her lips parted.

"Consort Mother."