The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 394 Our World Is Too Crowded
The seminar concluded, and the scholars gradually left.

The first batch of twelve virtual realm resources all found researchers who, in Luo Yan's opinion, were most suitable for them.

Those who were chosen could not hide their excitement and joy. They repeatedly expressed their gratitude to Prince Colin and swore that they would not let him down.

As for the scholars who were not selected, apart from the arrogant Professor Camille and the untalented tutor Rucoro, most of them, though disappointed, did not harbor much resentment and were more convinced of their defeat.

After all, they witnessed the entire qualification review process firsthand, and every approved scholar earned it through their own merit.

This is certainly a good thing for scholars with genuine talent and learning.

Many people have already secretly resolved that they must prepare diligently after returning this time, and strive to impress this selfless prince with their true knowledge in the next selection.

The scholars' whispers echoed throughout the corridor.

"That prince is truly unfathomable! He saw through the problems in Professor Camille's report at a glance!"

"Yes, I really didn't expect that His Highness would actually be willing to give an 'old-fashioned' like Professor Rockwell a chance!"

"It seems the heavens above the Tower of Great Sages are truly about to change..."

A hint of resentment flashed in Professor Camille's eyes, but he ultimately swallowed his anger and hurriedly left down the corridor.

The seminar room.

Luo Yan leaned back comfortably in his chair, looking at the file in his hand with a satisfied expression on his face.

Verich, who was serving as the recorder, was carefully organizing the interview notes, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at His Highness the Prince.

Noticing his gaze, Luo Yan smiled and casually said something.

"It seems you have something to say to me."

"No, Your Highness, I was just... a little surprised."

Velich stopped what he was doing, scratched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly, paused for a moment, and then continued.

"I never imagined that the selection of virtual resources could be so fair. Thank you, you have shown me what academia should be like."

Luo Yan smiled faintly and spoke in a casual tone.

"This is nothing, or rather... this is how the world should have been. Now that you've seen it here, I hope you can carry on this spirit. Sooner or later I will leave this place, and then it will be up to you."

Looking into those trusting eyes, a sense of mission suddenly welled up in Vilich's heart, but there was also a faint sadness.

His Highness has been saying this a lot lately, which has made him start to worry that he might be about to leave this snowfield.

He genuinely hoped that His Highness could stay here a little longer.

The time he spent working with him was the most relaxed and free period he had experienced since he stepped into the school.

He saw another possibility in him; they actually had a chance to escape the vortex that trapped them all.

It only takes a small change.

This heartfelt longing is like the beings behind the illusory realm, gazing up at the ancient gods in the void through whispers in the darkness.

Velich took a deep breath and placed his palms on his chest.

"Rest assured, Your Highness! I will definitely pass on your teachings to my students and ensure that they are passed down from generation to generation!"

Luo Yan smiled and nodded.

"With your words, I feel relieved."

……

As the evening bells rang, Luo Yan returned to his dormitory tower.

Sarah, who was waiting in the entryway, walked to his side and gently took his slightly chilly coat from him. Her usually indifferent vertical pupils only showed a look full of concern when she saw her Demon Lord.

"Your Highness, how did today go?"

"Well, it went fairly smoothly," Luo Yan said with a slightly tired smile. "It was just a bit tiring dealing with a bunch of old foxes, but none of them were major problems. Actually, I was quite surprised. I thought Mr. Arist Thorne would be unable to sit still, but he was surprisingly patient."

Sarah paused for a moment, slightly taken aback.

"Does that person... have a grudge against you?"

Luo Yan replied casually.

"No, he even helped me a few times... though it wasn't for me, but for some other purpose of his own."

Sarah thought for a moment and then said.

"Then why do you think he will... be detrimental to you?"

“That’s inevitable,” Luo Yan smiled and said gently. “Sarah, this tower is more crowded than we imagined, even more crowded than Shanghai and the Holy City. Do you remember Elder Dragon? He and I don’t actually have any grudges, but… once we reach that position and are unwilling to give up our resources, we will automatically become his enemies, and he will become someone we have to defeat.”

For those in positions of power, personal grudges are a superficial emotion, and conflicts arising from such emotions are actually quite easy to resolve.

For example, Shinno Dragon, that not-so-bright fool, has now become friends with him despite their initial antagonism.

Since that power struggle, the Dragon family has lost its status as one of the top families in Shanghai, even without "Councilor Luo Yan".

If they want to keep the resources they have, they can only cooperate with Luo Yan, the only councilor who is currently willing to pay attention to them and has unlimited potential.

Luo Yan was naturally happy to do so.

Just as he enjoys using the Shadow Demon Thanos, they are all people who have the remote control in their hands.

He can press it whenever he feels unhappy.

Just then, a lazy voice came from the sofa.

"Oh? The great CEO has finally decided to come back? I thought you were planning to sleep on that pile of moldy parchment."

Taffy groggily lifted her head from a pile of soft cushions, her golden vertical pupils full of mockery, as if she were the owner of the house.

This guy's voice is still so irritating.

However, after spending more time with him, Luo Yan realized that this Dragon God was just bored, lonely, and cold.

In addition, perhaps because it has been away from home for too long and the initial excitement of coming to Xuebang has worn off, it has recently started to miss the tropical climate.

Luo Yan glanced at her and said with a smile.

"What, you missed me?"

Taf yawned.

"Why would I miss you? I'm actually hungry."

Luo Yan smiled faintly.

"If you had learned to read those 'moldy parchments' sooner, you might have been able to help, instead of just complaining about being hungry here."

Upon hearing this, Taff rolled her eyes.

"Why should I study primitive graffiti? What good would it do me to figure out such trivial knowledge?"

"Child's play," Luo Yan quipped, looking at the arrogant "Dragon God." "I remember someone's jaw nearly dropping when they saw the Void Realm. You're not just clueless, are you?"

"You, you're talking nonsense!"

Tafel was instantly hit where it hurt, and sat up straight. Although she was still being stubborn, her expression clearly showed that she was about to break down.

"I don't understand? When I created dragon language magic, you were just an atom in the vast ocean! I just... have doubts about those unsystematic and unfounded theories! And, and, enough nonsense! Get the kitchen to prepare dinner! I want double the amount of honey-glazed roast meat!"

“Okay, let’s have barbecue tonight,” Luo Yan said with a smile as he walked over, completely ignoring her grimacing, and expertly scratched her chubby chin. “Double the amount of barbecue, and extra honey, right?”

Tafle squinted comfortably as she was tickled, but quickly realized what was happening and bared her teeth in dissatisfaction. However, she didn't know how to refute it and could only let out a resentful grumble.

Sarah, standing to the side, watched this harmonious scene, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Luo Yan casually remarked after coaxing Taf into a good mood.

"Sarah, I'm leaving the dinner preparation to you... As usual, noodles will do."

Taf, who was enjoying being petted by the "hairy monkey," suddenly became alert and, like a mouse that had smelled a cat, darted under the sofa.

But this little trick was no problem for Sarah.

She nodded slightly and spoke with ease.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Regardless of how Sarah managed to drag Taff out from under the sofa, Luo Yan turned and walked to his study, sitting down in the comfortable armchair in front of the fireplace.

He closed his eyes and entered meditation, opening his divine interface in a vast sea of ​​consciousness, as boundless as the starry sky.

【

Godhead: Luo Yan

Legendary Factors: The Demon King of Thunder County, the Flame King south of the Ten Thousand Ren Mountains, the generous, wealthy, and benevolent Prince Colin, a commoner senator born in the Demon God Temple, the founder of science...

Influence share: 0.9% (↑0.8%)

Overdraft limit: 0%
Domination efficiency: 100%

Having not checked his influence earnings for some time, Luo Yan was pleased to find that, unsurprisingly, the number had skyrocketed.

Especially the title of "founder of science".

It seems that after his persistent nonsense, the school of thought called "science" has become deeply ingrained in the minds of the young men and women of Xuebang.

"As expected of the Demon King! Congratulations, your faith power has expanded once again!" A milky white shadow appeared beside his consciousness, its leisurely voice filled with joy, saying with heartfelt delight.

Luo Yan said in a gentle tone.

"It's alright, it's within my expectations."

Thanks to the growing popularity of the "Prince Colin" legend on the continent of Gana and in the Holy City, coupled with his recent actions at the Academy, his influence on this planet is about to reach the milestone of 1%.

When that time comes, the "Seed of Purple Crystal" he holds in his hand will officially condense into a "Seed of Grandmaster"!
Luo Yan is very satisfied with the current situation.

This is a good start.

On this planet, the map of faith divided between Saint Sith and the demon god has once again been breached by him, with a solid corner being pried open...

……

Just as the demon king from hell was quietly undermining Saint Sith's foundation, the great sage of the Academy finally accepted the empire's invitation and set off for the Bronze Pass.

After several days of long-distance flight, the giant nightingale he was riding finally broke through the fierce winds and sandstorms raging in the middle of the Wanren Mountains.

Through the sandstorm, the city wall winding through the mountains came into view. A giant beast several meters long let out a long roar to announce its existence, then folded its wings, which were as black as night, and slowly landed on the incredibly wide city wall after a few circles.

Unlike the perpetual cold of Xuebang, here, almost as soon as you land, a scorching and dry gale hits you in the face.

The wind carried the scent of sand and sulfur from the dimensional desert, forcefully filling the mouths and noses of the accompanying magic apprentice, almost stealing all the air from his lungs.

He coughed violently a few times.

Just then, a broad, kind hand landed on his shoulder and patted him gently.

Then a miraculous thing happened: a gentle, cool sensation instantly flowed through his entire body, and the burning and suffocating feeling vanished, leaving only an unprecedented feeling of comfort.

The apprentice looked up in surprise, then met the Great Sage's kind face, and blushed as he hurriedly lowered his head again. "Thank you... Your Highness, Great Sage."

Dolph smiled kindly, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite.

"You're welcome. The climate here is different from Xuebang's. Please let me know if you feel unwell."

After saying this, the elderly man flipped off the nightingale's back and calmly surveyed the magnificent scene before him.

This is the legendary miracle built by the Dwarf Kingdom with all its might—the Brass Pass!

Its city walls are not simply made of bricks and stones, but seem to grow directly from the spine of the mountain, blending seamlessly with the steep cliffs.

On the wall, a huge runic war banner fluttered in the wind.

Between the battlements, the Black Iron Eagle Banner of the Os Empire, the Golden Lion Banner of the Kingdom of Ryan, and the Silver Leaf Banner of the Elven Allies all proclaimed the gathering of various forces here.

The air was thick with the chill of war and the metallic smell of rust.

On the city walls, human musketeers, heavily armored dwarven infantry, and nimble elven rangers were on a tense patrol.

Beyond the city walls, on the horizon of the boundless desert, the shadows of the Chaos army loomed, and the dull, oppressive sound of ogre war drums drifted on the wind, like the ominous pulse of the earth.

The giant beast that fell from the sky immediately alerted the guards, especially since its arrival did not trigger the alarm of the warning rune array!
A commotion broke out on the city wall. The elven ranger drew his longbow, while the human musketeers pointed their dark gun barrels at the uninvited guest, ready for battle.

A knight captain wearing the insignia of the Kingdom of Ryan strode forward, his hand already on his sword hilt, and shouted sternly, "Halt! State your identity!"

As he spoke, a bead of cold sweat rolled down his brow.

In his mind, only the chosen ones of chaos could land safely on their city walls without triggering any warning mechanisms.

Despite being pointed at by countless guns, Dolrich remained calm.

The giant nightingale beside him did the same, snorting at these mortal weapons as if mocking a toy in a child's hand.

The apprentice, sitting on the nightingale's back, frantically searched for his identification in the package. Before he could find it, a magic crystal waist token floated out of the package and landed in Dolph's hand.

Looking at the guard captain who was standing ready, Doluk handed over his waist token and said in a gentle tone.

“I came here on His Majesty’s orders. Because of the urgency of the matter, he did not give me a written notice, but I think... that is enough to prove my identity.”

The captain hesitated before accepting it, but his expression changed drastically when he saw the emblem of the Tower of Source Law engraved on the waist tag.

He immediately knelt on one knee and said in a panic.

"Forgive my rudeness, but I never expected you to be His Highness the Great Sage!"

After saying that, he turned around and sternly ordered the soldiers behind him to put away their weapons. The soldiers also looked horrified and hurriedly put away their muskets and sheathed their swords.

Unlike their well-informed captain, they had neither been to the Academy nor had they met any of its mages. However, they had always heard that the mages there were the stingiest on the entire continent, and that the thirteen sages were their kings!

That must be the epitome of stinginess.

Although their first impression of this great sage was actually quite good, and they didn't think he was a stingy person...

Doluk wore a gentle smile, showing no anger at the offense. He waved his hand lightly, like any ordinary, kind old man.

"It's alright, it's your duty. No need for pleasantries and formalities, just take me to see your commander."

"Yes, Your Highness—"

Just as the knight captain was about to lead the way for Dolrich, a loud and boisterous voice, accompanied by heavy metallic footsteps, came from one side of the city wall.

"No need to trouble him, I'm right here!"

The crowd standing on the city wall looked in the direction of the sound and saw a sturdy dwarf general striding towards them.

His signature long red beard was meticulously braided into several strands of braided hair adorned with runic gold rings, and the heavy runic plate armor he wore reflected the unique cold light of metal under the desert sun.

He was none other than Salut Copper Helmet, the supreme commander of Huangtong Pass!

Although dwarves are generally xenophobic, they have a natural respect for knowledge and wisdom, even if such knowledge does not belong to them.

Sarut stepped forward and gave this most renowned sage in the human world a standard dwarven military salute.

His voice was bold and rugged.

"Welcome, great sage. What kind of noble wind has brought you here?"

Looking at the dwarf general before him, Dolph smiled gently and spoke in a casual tone.

"It's our Emperor. He said he needed me here, so I came... But the defenses look solid, the troops are well-disciplined, so things seem pretty good?"

Upon hearing this, Salut's hearty smile faded slightly, and he let out a heavy sigh.

"To be honest, the situation here is not optimistic. The vanguard of the ogres has launched several attacks on the city. Although we have repelled them all, the allied forces have suffered considerable losses."

He paused, then shooed away the guard captain who was eavesdropping nearby, and lowered his voice to speak to the great sage in front of him.

"And just yesterday, a terrifyingly powerful Chosen of Chaos appeared on the front lines, injuring several of our Rune Warriors. In the end, it was only through Mr. Gaunt's personal intervention that he was defeated, but... that gentleman was also slightly injured."

Dolphin's warm smile froze instantly, and a look of seriousness appeared between his brows.

"Mr. Gaunt is injured? Is it... serious?"

Salut shook his head vigorously, his beard sweeping back and forth across his breastplate.

"It's not serious, just a minor injury."

Dolph's solemn expression did not lessen in the slightest, and even the apprentice lying on Nightingale's back couldn't help but swallow.

Günter Steinggraber, the Rock Sword Saint!
A living legend, and a legend belonging to the Rhodes people, the image of that silent, mountain-like figure almost immediately appeared in his mind!
Since the founding of the Adventurers' Guild, Gaunt is the only mortal to have entered the realm of demigods through pure martial skill and willpower, rather than magic or divine grace.

He elevated the simple and resilient national character of the Rhodes people to the extreme, and his power was like a mountain. When he slashed with his sword, even the space itself would tremble!
It is said that three demon kings died by his greatsword.

How could a martial artist who had honed himself to the extreme be injured by a mere Chosen One of Chaos?
This is incredible!
Doryuk said in a low voice, "Did Gaunt say what the force that injured him was? Magic? Swordsmanship? Or... something else?"

Salut shook his head, a hint of confusion and seriousness on his rugged face: "I don't know, that guy's power is very strange! Mr. Gaunt only said that it was a power he had never seen before."

Doluke sighed softly and turned his gaze to the boundless desert beyond the pass.

"I never imagined that the corruption of our world by chaos had reached such a severe level..."

"Do you have any clues?" Salut asked, clinging to a sliver of hope. This was not only a concern for him, but also for their king.

Dolphin remained silent for a long time before finally shaking his head slowly.

"Where does chaos come from, and why does it come about? These are questions that the Academy has been studying for a long time. Its history can even be traced back to the late First Era, the time when the Dragon God and Saint Sith cooperated... Unfortunately, the exploration of the void has been very slow, and only recently has there been a little progress. However, we are still far from solving this problem."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Salut's eyes; though regretful, he also expressed understanding.

"Perhaps... this is not a problem that our generation can solve."

He laughed heartily, his voice regaining the resolute quality befitting a dwarf general: "In short, we must first overcome the current difficulties and drive these bastards who appeared out of nowhere back into the desert!"

Just then, a silent figure walked over from not far away.

The man was dressed in simple leather armor, with a huge sword on his back that was disproportionate to his height, and his expression was as cold and stern as the frozen ground of the North.

He was none other than the Rock Sword Saint, Günter Steinggraber, who had just been mentioned. Judging from his appearance alone, there was absolutely no indication that he was injured.

After all, almost no part of his exposed skin was intact.

Those scars were like medals branded on his body, radiating an invisible pressure.

Gunter walked straight up to the two men, nodded to Dolrich, and said bluntly, "Master Dolrich, I have something I'd like to discuss with you."

Dolph nodded happily, then looked at Salut.

The dwarf general immediately understood and readily said, "You two chat first, I'll wait for you here. I'll take you to the tent to rest later!"

Nothing is more important than the affairs of a demigod-level powerhouse.

Although in this day and age, mortals have the opportunity to defeat demigod-level powerhouses by sheer numbers and equipment, it still cannot change the latter's strategic strength!

The two left the noisy camp side by side and came to a secluded section of the city wall.

The biting wind tugged at the hems of their robes, and beneath their feet lay a bottomless abyss; a single glance was enough to send shivers down one's spine and involuntarily chill one to the bone.

On the boundless desert beyond their sight, the outlines of a dark, chaotic army were slowly writhing on the horizon, like an endless, churning sea of ​​blood.

They seemed to have wound their way from the ends of the earth all the way here, along with the seemingly endless supply lines behind them...

Dolphin was the first to break the silence.

"I never expected that you would be injured by the Chosen One of Chaos."

He gazed at Gaunt's weathered profile and asked softly, "What level is that guy? Is he a demigod like you?"

Gunter shook his head, offering no answer.

He simply stared at the distant army of chaos, his voice low and hoarse: "Recently, our strength has been weakening. Do you have any clues?"

Dolph immediately understood the deeper meaning behind his words—the Chaos Chosen who injured him must not be a demigod, and might not even be a grandmaster.

Otherwise, he would never have acted as if facing a formidable enemy.

After a moment of silence, a complex look flashed in his cloudy old eyes, and Dolph slowly began to speak.

"Perhaps... it's related to the fact that there are too many demigod-level powerhouses in our world."

Gunter frowned.

"What do you mean?"

“Based on the research of the Academy over the past few hundred years, there is a limit to the power that a world can bear.” From a scholar’s ​​perspective, Doluk explained in a tone devoid of any emotion, “Ideally, ten demigods might be the best balance for a world, because above that, there are true gods.”

He paused for a moment, then continued.

"However, persuading those who possess power to return to the cycle of reincarnation is not an easy task. The nobles of the empire have shown a certain degree of restraint when faced with the temptation of power and lifespan, but this restraint is far from enough. There are too many people with souls that are too noble, and even if only one-tenth of them show a desire for power, it will take away the glory in our hands."

“Right now, our human kingdom alone has ten demigods, and a vast number of artifacts imbued with demigod power. The dwarves have their Runemaster, the elves have their Forest Speakers, and the demons of hell and that guy’s lackeys are taking away our already precarious faith…”

He looked at Gunter, who was deep in thought, and continued in a very soft voice.

"Our world is too crowded. This probably has nothing to do with whether you or I strive to cultivate ourselves... I thought you had already realized this."

The voice was hard to describe as either regret or helplessness; it was more like a statement of fact.

Gunter remained silent for a long time, then suddenly grinned, a smile that was resolute and stubborn.

"This is not the answer I want to hear."

Dolph sighed softly, his voice seemingly carried away by the wind.

"But that's the truth."

Gangte nodded, indicating that he understood, and said no more before turning and leaving along the city wall.

He still believed that since he could break free from the shackles of fate and ascend to the demigod's ladder as a commoner with the sword in his hand, he would surely be able to break through his own bottleneck again and become stronger in his limited life!
If there aren't enough demigods—

Then become an existence above demigod!
He firmly believed that the path to godhood lay in the sword in his hand!
Presumably, once one becomes a being above demigod, they will no longer be held back by those weaklings...

Dolphin did not try to stop him, but simply watched his unwavering back.

And in those cloudy eyes, a profound meaning, unfathomable to anyone, flowed quietly...

(End of this chapter)