Chapter 378: The Demon Cloud Empire

Chapter 378 The Demon Cloud Empire

"Have this year's boys and girls been gathered? If we don't gather them soon, the Divine Monarch will flood Dragon Ridge City again."

"Why can't we gather them? These officials have their ways. If we don't gather enough people, how can we survive?"

"Lord, please, have mercy. My family only has this one child. Please don't take him away! If he dies, I won't be able to go on living!"

As people were chatting, a cry for help came from not far away where a crowd had gathered.

A middle-aged man with a pale face was tightly holding onto a chubby boy. He was kneeling on the ground and pleading desperately to the soldier in uniform in front of him.

The expressionless soldier said coldly, "This has been the rule of our Dragon Ridge City for many years. I’m simply following the rules, and I’m afraid I cannot accommodate your request."

"Give it up, Old Wang. Dragon Ridge City has been like this for many years. It's your turn now."

Many onlookers began to speak up, persuading the man.

"These are offerings to the Divine Monarch. Only when the Divine Monarch receives the offerings can we ensure good weather and blessings for our land. Otherwise, we won't even be able to survive!"

"What heartless words are you saying!" said Old Wang, fiercely. "Don't think I don't know that you're secretly raising your children elsewhere! If not for you doing that, it wouldn't have been my turn this year! One more year and my son would've been too old for this! Tell me, why should I give him up as a tribute to the Divine Monarch?"

The crowd fell silent as ambiguous expressions appeared on their faces.

The soldier had no choice but to walk up and forcefully pull Old Wang away from the chubby boy in his arms.

The little child was only three years old and didn't know what was happening. However, due to the commotion, he became startled and started crying loudly.

Fang Chen was standing outside the crowd with his brow furrowed.

"Tribute?"

He had been following the route provided by Nong Guiquan for almost half a month. He was currently outside but near the borders of Grand Qian. He still had no idea which empire this was, however.

The route had turned a bit unclear, so Fang Chen stopped to be on the safer side. That was when he stumbled upon this event by coincidence.

Who was this Divine Monarch these mortals mentioned? And why did he require young boys and girls to be offered to him? There was such a brazen demonic cultivator out there? Even the Spirit Blood Sect acted only in secret.

When the people saw the soldiers taking the boy away, they didn't leave. Instead, they followed the soldiers in mass.

Not long after, Fang Chen saw these soldiers convene with a troop that had hundreds of young children.

An official was counting the numbers, repeatedly checking the children present.

Suddenly, the official grinned and said, "Three hundred boys, three hundred girls. The numbers are complete. Let's go deliver them to the Divine Monarch."

The massive group proceeded to move in a certain direction, with more and more commoners joining along the way.

"Senior Brother, who is this Divine Monarch they speak of?"

"There’s a river outside of Dragon Ridge City. The Divine Monarch they mention is a demonic cultivator in that river, who is rumored to be in the Foundation Building Realm and have the Flood Dragon Bloodline."

Fang Chen's gaze shifted as he looked in the direction of that voice.

He saw several young men and women talking. They were clearly cultivators.

A young girl revealed a shocked expression. "Even if it's a Foundation Building Realm demonic cultivator, isn't this too lawless? Sacrificing young boys and girls in broad daylight…. Don't the cultivators in Demon Cloud Empire care about this?

A slightly older youth sighed lightly. "Tell me again, what is this place called?"

"Demon Cloud Empire?"

"Exactly. This empire is different from other empires. It's been rumored that many years ago, a demonic cloud arrived, pouring down demonic rain for ten years. Since that day, the cultivators in the Demon Cloud Empire changed. They have all fallen into the demonic Dao.

"The cultivation techniques they practice are all extremely sinister. This is true for everywhere else in the empire," the youth explained.

The young girl and several other young men and women looked astonished. "Are all the cultivators in the Demon Cloud Empire like that Divine Monarch?"

The youth spoke softly. "Not entirely. There are cultivators who are more sober than others and they fall into a more grey area. After the outside world learned of this, there were sects that wanted to take action to eliminate those cultivators who fell into the demonic path. But the Emperor of the Demon Cloud Empire threw his lot behind the Hidden Cloud Ancestor."

"Upon hearing about this, the empires and sects turned a blind eye. They won't risk offending a Nascent Soul Realm expert who has lived for almost eight hundred years because of these matters."

The young men and women showed expressions of shock. There was fear and dread in their eyes.

"Hidden Cloud Ancestor!"

It was clear they knew who the Hidden Cloud Ancestor was and knew how terrifying he could be.

"Brothers and sisters, we are here on this trip to get medicine for our master, so let's not bother with these trivial matters. Even if we want to help, we can't deal with that Divine Monarch with our cultivation level," said the young man softly.

Through the conversation of these young people, Fang Chen gained a bit of understanding of this place.

It seemed that the route Nong Quiquan recorded led to a place inside the Demon Cloud Empire. It was no wonder he said that there were many dangerous individuals staying here. According to these young people he had overheard, the entire Demon Cloud Empire Country was immersed in the demonic Dao. It was a fifth-tier demonic empire.

Fang Chen took out the Mirror of the Universe and asked, "Xiao Zhou, how much do you know about the Demon Cloud Empire?"

This piece of information seemed to be free, as Mirror of the Universe immediately displayed some basic information about the Demon Cloud Empire.

Demon Cloud Empire., a fifth-tier empire with a Golden Core Realm expert sitting in power. This land has undergone a baptism of demonic blood, enhancing the comprehension of demonic techniques among the local cultivators!

Fang Chen was slightly startled. "Increased comprehension of demonic techniques? These cultivators didn't become demonic because they got tainted with demonic blood?"

"Brother, of course they didn't become demonic cultivators out of nowhere. Which cultivator hasn't been practicing and cultivating their hearts for years? It's just that the cultivators here discovered that they have a natural talent for the demonic dao, and in pursuit of stronger cultivation, they chose this path," mumbled Mirror of the Universe. It then added, "Hey, Brother, can you give me some more low-grade spirit stones?"

Suddenly, Little Sword's voice rang out. "Little Chen, don't give it to him! Save the spirit stones for me! Buy me treasures with them!"

The Mirror of the Universe scolded, "You little rascal, why are you so selfish? Even if you want treasures for yourself, they won't cost that many spirit stones."

Fang Chen felt helpless when he saw them start arguing again. However, he did feel that Little Sword's words made sense. He couldn’t continue giving spirit stones to Mirror of the Universe. He needed to spend money on his sword.

The roaring river waters surged unpredictably as a large group of Dragon Ridge City’s folk gathered here.

An official, accompanied by soldiers, arrived at the riverbank and called out, "Great Divine Monarch, Great Divine Monarch~"

Splash!

The river waters surged to the sides, and a huge head covered in densely packed black scales slowly emerged from the surface. There were two bulges on its forehead as if something was about to burst out from within. With its ferocious appearance and its pair of emerald green eyes, the residents on the riverbank immediately showed expressions of fear and awe.

The official said respectfully, "Great Divine Monarch, we have prepared three hundred boys and girls."

The Divine Monarch glanced at the innocent and clueless children with satisfaction. Just as he was about to speak, a figure descended from the sky.

"Out of the way!"

A flash of sword light flickered, and a bloody hole appeared in the middle of the huge head's forehead. The Divine Monarch's eyes turned blank, and it slowly lost all signs of life. Its massive body slowly sank back down into the waters and disappeared.

The crowd was dumbfounded, unable to wrap their heads around what just happened.