Douluo Dalu 5: Rebirth Of Tang San

The Tenebrous Demon Emperor was actually being rather honest. The severe injury Meng Dede had suffered back then had indeed caused him deep pain, as Meng Dede was his chosen heir. Yet at the same time, he felt that the Endless Blue Sea could turn into a major threat, and he very much wanted Kali City to be a proper stronghold.

Whether the Sea God truly existed, he did not know, but the power that Asura wielded indeed frightened him a bit. If the Sea God truly existed and had an understanding with Kali City, then the Sea God’s power could very well rival that of the top three Emperors. With such a mighty figure behind Kali City, whoever ruled the city wasn't someone he wished to provoke. Of course, he believed it was more likely that the Sea God did not exist; if such a powerful Emperor did, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor would have sensed it, and that would impact the fate of the entire Falan Planet. But even so…

The atmosphere in the Ancestral Court Council grew somewhat eerie following the Tenebrous Demon Emperor's words.

"Three votes in favor, one vote against."

Yes, among the four Demon Emperors who had already voted, three were in favor. Who could have imagined this beforehand? Next up was the Heaven-Crossing Earth-Piercing White Tiger Demon Emperor, and everyone knew he would certainly vote in favor. What had originally seemed an impossible second trial now appeared to be turning into a possibility.

With four votes already secured, who could say that further surprises wouldn't arise?

Many Emperors instinctively turned their gazes toward the Indomitable Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor, wondering if there might be another unexpected turn with this King of the Behemoth Beasts.

"White Tiger Demon Emperor!" The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor looked toward him.

The White Tiger Demon Emperor smiled. No matter what, even if Mei Gongzi ultimately failed her trial, he was quite pleased with the current situation. He didn’t know how Mei Gongzi had managed this, and he could tell from her expression that even she didn’t fully understand what was happening. But was it mere coincidence? Luck? That was impossible, especially since the one opposing her was literally able to manipulate fortune.

There was only one explanation: that young man, the one who had always been by her side, brought the White Tiger Demon Emperor more than a few surprises. The young man who always seemed so calm and composed, no matter the situation.

He obviously could not be inside this hall, but the White Tiger Demon Emperor knew full well that he was around. He had even given the White Tiger Demon Emperor a hint about the trial.

Even the White Tiger Demon Emperor was curious about how Tang San had managed it. How had he convinced so many Emperors to support Mei Gongzi? It was truly unbelievable.

"I approve of her. The reasons are simple: she's my granddaughter, she carries the White Tiger bloodline, and her strength and talent are evident to all. I don't think there’s anything else to say." The White Tiger Demon Emperor was blunt as usual. His vote, unsurprisingly, fell in favor of Mei Gongzi.

"Four votes in favor, one against." The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor turned his gaze to the fourth in line, the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor.

The Unbreakable Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor, with his towering stature and naturally imposing aura, looked somewhat surprised as he said, "Why is everyone looking at me like that? Especially you three."

By "you three," he was clearly referring to the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, the Sword Saint Demon Emperor, and the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, who had all voted in favor despite being expected to oppose.

The White Tiger Demon Emperor chuckled. He couldn't speak up due to the rules of the council, which prevented him from influencing the choices of the other Emperors, but he was clearly enjoying the situation.

The Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor frowned. He raised his hand and said, "I do not approve. The reason is the same as Golden Mammoth's. A foreign bloodline is still a foreign bloodline. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it's better not to let her become the city lord. If she truly becomes an Emperor in the future, she can inherit White Tiger's city."

Upon hearing this opposition, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's expression seemed to ease slightly.

Yes, Mei Gongzi had already secured four votes in her favor. But with no surprises from the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor, everything was still under the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's control.

"Four votes in favor, two against."

There were only eight Demon Emperors present, meaning that even if one of the remaining two voted in favor of Mei Gongzi, it wouldn't make a difference.

The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor would certainly not support her, and the top-ranked Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor was absent, effectively abstaining. This meant she couldn't possibly reach six votes. So when the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor voiced his opposition, the outcome seemed already decided.

Hearing the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor's opposition, the White Tiger Demon Emperor couldn't help but show a trace of surprise. Even the Tenebrous Demon Emperor and the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, who shouldn't have supported Mei Gongzi, had done so. Could it be that the boy hadn't managed to sway the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor? Or had he simply set his expectations for Tang San too high?

The Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor's opposition brought a slight sense of relief to the Tenebrous Demon Emperor, who had previously voiced his support. As long as he hadn't disrupted the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's plans, he could explain his reasoning later.

The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor turned his gaze toward the Celestial Pillar next to him. "Undying Demon Emperor, it’s your turn."

The Undying Demon Emperor glanced at him, then turned to look at the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, who was seated at the lowest rank among the Emperors.

The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor couldn't speak, but he nodded somewhat urgently toward him.

The Undying Demon Emperor frowned, as if he were hesitating over something.

Seeing this, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly. But at this moment, even he couldn't influence the Undying Demon Emperor's decision. The man in front of him was the most powerful demon alive, especially in the absence of the Crystal Demon Emperor. His power even rivaled that of the Sunborne Nymph Emperor on the other side. Therefore, his opinion held great sway.

"I approve of her. I will be honest: I am doing this against my will, but I am doing it for the future of the Ancestral Court. As for the reason, I won't make one up, and I don't want to speak the real one, so I won't say anything."

His words left the Emperors stunned once again. Or rather, they had been shocked so many times today that their expressions had become almost numb.

Undying chose to support her? How the hell is this possible?!

Even forgetting that the phoenix race and the Peacock Demon clan were sworn enemies, Mei Gongzi had just defeated and severely injured one of his top subordinates. The Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor's support was strange enough, but now the Undying Demon Emperor was supporting her too? He was the sovereign of all phoenixes and needed to have his entire race’s future in mind, so… why?

The dragons and the phoenixes had always been the most powerful within the Demon Clan. Though each of their clans had few members, their status had never been challenged.

The current leader of the dragon race was the Crystal Demon Emperor. However, it was a mutated existence, with no offspring or direct lineage. It also did not involve itself in any actual form of leadership, so for all intents and purposes, it was nothing more than a weapon lying in wait. The Undying Demon Emperor, on the other hand, was different. As the leader of the Immortal Flame Phoenix lineage and the leader of the entire phoenix race, his status and influence within the Phoenix Demon Clan were unparalleled. Even as the head of the Ancestral Court, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor had to show him some deference.

At this moment, even the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor wanted to ask why the Undying Demon Emperor chose to support Mei Gongzi. The Crystal Demon Emperor's support was strange enough, so why would he support her too? There was no apparent reason for it.

…

Inside a vast crimson sanctuary, a man whose body was shimmering with crystalline light stood respectfully, facing another man seated on the throne—a man whose entire being was enveloped in a blazing golden-red aura.

"Great Uncle, after much consideration, I've decided there's something I need to report to you."

"Ximo, you are now an Emperor; you should carry yourself as one. Although, by lineage, I am your great uncle, within the Ancestral Court, our statuses are equal. You don't need to report anything to me," the Undying Demon Emperor said, looking somewhat puzzled at the Crystal Demon Emperor standing below.

The Crystal Demon Emperor, Lin Ximo, respectfully replied, "No matter the time, you are the true sovereign of our race. No matter how far I go, I will always be your descendant. Moreover without you, I could never have become an Emperor."

The Undying Demon Emperor waved his hand dismissively. "No need for such flattery. In truth, I didn't have high hopes for you at the start. You seized your own opportunity, gained the Crystal Majesty's approval, and finally passed the Crystal Trial to become an Emperor. However, your foundation is rather weak. If you want to go further in the future and raise your Celestial Pillar higher, you must work much harder."

"Yes." Lin Ximo bowed deeply.

Although he was now an Emperor, he had never been so aware of the vast difference between himself and his great uncle, even though the latter was also an Emperor.

"Go ahead, what is it that has made you so nervous?"

"It concerns my personal matters. Great Uncle, I've only recently learned that I have a daughter," Lin Ximo said with a bitter smile.

"A daughter? Where did that come from? Uh… No, you know what, who cares? This is great news! As an Emperor, your offspring is to be nurtured with great care. Why do you say that as if it’s a problem? Do you want to send her to me for training?"

Lin Ximo shook his head. "You have already seen this daughter of mine. It's truly a long story. She's the young girl from the Peacock Demon clan who recently won the Ancestral Court's Elite Tournament."

"...What?"