The Demon Empire.
Consciousness returned amid searing pain.
In the endless darkness and chaos, after a soul-rending agony, countless memory fragments that did not belong to him, along with a vast magical power potent enough to burst a demigod, surged into his body and soul with an irresistible force.
At this moment, Chu Tian was like an outsider watching the history of a race’s rise and fall.
Amid hunger and despair, he saw that barren, desolate, lifeless land, saw the demon race struggling in desperation, saw the heavy weight and helplessness that forced them to wage war outward just to survive.
All the power of the previous Demon King before his fall, his insights into the laws, and that deep, lingering unwillingness had now become Chu Tian’s own.
When he opened his eyes again, that magical power—surpassing demigods and truly stepping onto the threshold of godhood—had completely merged with him, as if it were his innate strength.
He moved his body, feeling this new power capable of tearing apart stars, his mood indescribably complex.
So… he was the new Demon King now?
With a thought, he summoned his system panel.
He could still use Annoyance Value to purchase items.
The Annoyance Value System was still there, and his strength had indeed reached the same level as Su Nian’s.
A smile uncontrollably tugged at his lips.
This time, he couldn’t be easily defeated by that woman and locked up again.
Nor could he let her trigger some “rule game” from an unknown existence, dragging him into an illusion realm to be used as a tool to soothe her body.
Though he had been furious at the time, looking back now, a smile involuntarily rose at the corners of his mouth.
Compared to those things, the woman’s revenge was like a kitten scratching with its soft paw pads—gentle… and even quite pleasant.
Compared to what he had done to Su Nian before, her little retaliation was nothing.
Especially the moment he was dragged away by the Abyssal Gate.
He clearly remembered Su Nian’s stunning face filled with panic and reluctance, and she even cried.
Hee hee, she has feelings for me!
This realization instantly brightened Chu Tian’s mood, sweeping away his previous depression.
Becoming the new Demon King didn’t seem like such a bad thing.
At the very least, the demon invasion plan he had once worried so much about now had a chance of being halted.
Having merged with the previous Demon King’s memories, he now understood why the demon race was obsessed with waging war.
At its core, it was due to resource scarcity.
The land of the Demon Realm was too barren to support such a large population.
There were “professionally aligned” talents in economic development.
But the demon race revered martial prowess, and its talented individuals were all battle maniacs who understood nothing about technology.
Aside from waging war to consume part of the population and plunder more resources, they had no other choice.
But he was different.
As the newly appointed Demon King, his mind was filled with knowledge from another world, and the Annoyance Value System shop contained countless plans to improve land and boost production.
Without fighting, he could ensure every demon had enough to eat.
Of course, besides saving the world, there was something else he wanted… Su Nian.
Now that she had become a deity, if he could still keep her by his side, that would be wonderful!
In an instant, a plan capable of both “winning back Su Nian” and “farming Annoyance Value” began to take shape in his mind.
Three days later.
The Demon Empire.
The newly appointed Demon King, Chu Tian, used his absolute power to completely suppress the Eight Demon Generals and the hardliners clamoring for immediate war.
Before absolute strength, any schemes or defiance were merely a joke.
On the cold, deathly throne, a specially modified “Magic Phone” capable of bearing divine-level magical energy fluctuations was respectfully presented before him.
He contacted his remaining agents lurking in the Red Maple Kingdom.
He would use this device to launch a…
Nationwide broadcast!
The next moment, across the entire continent—from bustling royal capitals to remote villages—all privately held Magic Phones, as well as the Magic Crystal walls in public areas, were forcibly switched to a single image by an irresistible Law Force.
Castle District.
Su Nian was curled up somewhat listlessly on the soft sofa.
She wore a comfortable home silk dress, her fair calves swinging idly, like a lazy black-purple kitten.
Her fingertips pinched a delicate strawberry cake, sending small bites into her lips.
The sweet cream and slightly tart strawberry melted on her taste buds.
Very cozy.
This was a rare moment of leisure since she became the mistress of the castle.
Two days ago.
One of Chu Tian’s trusted men—that perpetually serious-faced man—had respectfully come to her, conveying the “Master’s” intent.
[Don’t worry, after the Master has settled the internal affairs of the demon race, he will naturally come to find you, Miss.]
Originally, the irritation in her chest had almost become unbearable, and she had even prepared to charge into the Demon Realm alone.
With this assurance, Su Nian’s restless heart had temporarily settled down.
Still, without that bastard Demon King’s consciousness, the “Real Dreams” of the past few days had reverted to being a boring “ordinary illusion” woven from her own memories.
Better than nothing, she supposed.
She enjoyed her afternoon dessert while idly scrolling through gossip news on her Magic Phone.
Suddenly, the phone screen flickered, and the image was instantly replaced by a blinding patch of static snow.
“Krrrck”
A sharp electrical hiss sounded.
Su Nian frowned, thinking it was a signal problem.
But the next second, not just her phone, but the massive Magic Crystal wall in the living room also switched to the same image.
The picture twisted, spun, and finally froze.
Endless darkness became the main theme of the image.
A figure, shrouded in sky-obscuring demonic energy, slowly walked out from the darkness.
Behind him was a vast, endless demon army, banners blotting out the sky, killing intent soaring to the heavens.
Hideous monsters growled lowly, armor-clad demon warriors stood in silent formation.
The aura of iron and blood threatened to pierce through the screen and hit them in the face.
At the figure’s side stood eight forms of varied shapes, each emanating a terrifying aura to the extreme, their hands hanging respectfully at their sides.
One of the Demon Generals stood a hundred meters tall, muscles bulging.
Just standing there, he emitted a pressure that could freeze the soul.
For a moment, countless humans witnessed this scene.
Academy City, Red Maple City, Platinum City, the City-State Alliance, the Holy City…
All humans across the continent stopped what they were doing and stared in terror at this sudden, horrifying spectacle.
The man on the screen—the newly born new Demon King who had stirred up the entire world—Chu Tian.
He let out the most classic villainous laugh.
“Heh heh heh heh—”
That laughter, distorted and amplified by magic amplification, carried a soul-shivering pressure, echoing above every human city.
Su Nian, who had been taking small bites of her cake, nearly sprayed it out upon seeing this.
The silver fork in her hand froze in midair, her stunning sky-blue eyes wide with shock.
‘What the hell is this guy up to!’