Chapter 503: Daughter

"I want to... adopt a daughter."

Hearing that, the Netherlord was utterly confused. He stared at Li Pin, unable to grasp his intentions.

"Initially, I considered taking her as a disciple," said Li Pin. "But for various reasons, I believe recognizing her as a daughter is the better choice."

The Netherlord sneered at this. If not for suspecting the man before him to be the Immortal God Emperor—an existence whose depth was impossible to gauge—he would have already drawn his sword to strike.

"What makes you think I'll agree?"

"The Supreme Demonic Sword," Li Pin replied.

"So you came for the Supreme Demonic Sword."

"No." Li Pin shook his head. "I came for you and for the young girl, Cang Ruoxi."

The Netherlord studied Li Pin, seemingly trying to discern the truth behind his words.

Li Pin made no effort to conceal his emotions or thoughts. For one, it might not even be possible, and for another, this approach better demonstrated his sincerity.

He was indeed telling the truth. He was truly here for Cang Ruoxi, not the Supreme Demonic Sword.

Sensing the sincerity in Li Pin's words, the Netherlord fell silent. He didn't know how to respond.

This person standing before him was supposedly the Immortal God Emperor, one of the Four Great God Emperors recorded in the annals of the Three Domains.

The original owner of the Supreme Demonic Sword, the ancestor of the Moon Demon Clan and the founder of the Moon Demon Domain, might have surpassed the God Emperor Realm entirely. However, such figures remained speculative legends, their existence uncertain.

In contrast, the Four Great God Emperors were confirmed historical figures: the Moon Demon God Emperor, the Kirin Clan God Emperor, the Immortal God Emperor, and the God Emperor who created the Heavenly Demon Clan.

Strictly speaking, only three had truly attained the God Emperor realm. The Heavenly Demon Clan's God Emperor was originally just a God Monarch. However, by wielding the Supreme Demonic Sword, he elevated his combat power to the God Emperor level and became the most powerful God Emperor in history.

In the legendary battle against the Moon Demon Clan for supremacy over the Moon Demon Domain, he faced three adversaries alone.

He slew the Kirin Clan God Emperor and seemingly killed the Immortal God Emperor. Though, it later became evident he had not.

Additionally, he gravely injured the Moon Demon God Emperor, forcing the latter into hiding and leading the Moon Demon Clan in a desperate retreat from the Moon Demon Domain.

Even countless years later, the Moon Demon God Emperor never fully recovered. Ultimately, the second wielder of the Supreme Demonic Sword, Xuan Tianzong, renowned as the First Myth, slew him.

A Myth capable of killing a God Emperor! This alone attested to the severity of the Moon Demon God Emperor's injuries.

Now, of the Four Great God Emperors, only the Immortal God Emperor remained. The survival of this enigmatic figure underscored his unmatched power and mystery.

"No wonder you dare call yourself Immortal..." The Netherlord pondered, then turned back to Li Pin. "But... I refuse."

"Do you know the consequences of refusing?" asked Li Pin.

Before the Netherlord could respond, he continued, "You will die—in the hands of the Supreme Demonic Sword. Perhaps your death will simply be the end for you, but have you considered what comes after? Your wife and daughter, living in the Moon Demon Domain without sufficient protection—what kind of future will they face?"

"You're implying you'll protect them?"

"No." Li Pin shook his head. "The one who will protect them is still you."

"Me?" The Netherlord sneered. "Didn't you just say I'll die?"

"You'll die if you refuse. But if you agree, I can help you. I can..." Li Pin met the Netherlord's sharp gaze, "help you defeat the Supreme Demonic Sword."

The Netherlord's expression darkened. "You?"

"Me," Li Pin replied calmly.

What was the main task in Mara World?

It wasn't saving the Netherlord. It wasn't saving Cang Ruoxi. Nor was it opposing Cang Ruoxi, confronting her as she bathed the world in blood, and defeating her.

The true main task was as clear as day, as if it had been written in the rules.

It had always been the Supreme Demonic Sword.

"Do you think you can defeat the Supreme Demonic Sword?" the Netherlord asked. "You've probably heard the rumors."

"I know them," Li Pin said. "The Supreme Demonic Sword's power is unstoppable."

Cang Ruoxi's greatest obsession in life wasn't watching her father, the Netherlord, die. It wasn't the destruction after her bloodbath, nor the lingering resentment from severing the world. It was the Supreme Demonic Sword.

Even after she stepped into the cosmos, she never fully subdued it. Instead, she abandoned it, casting it into a massive black hole, hoping the black hole would destroy it.

But that act of "escape" became her deepest regret, her final inner demon.

Until the collapse of the Astral World, that regret never left her. She had never truly faced her inner demons.

When confronted with the Supreme Demonic Sword, the source of all evil, she had chosen to avoid it.

Many had speculated that the main quest was tied to the Supreme Demonic Sword but failed to uncover how it could break this world.

The key to breaking this world wasn't in the third or fourth stages. It lay in the first stage, before the Netherlord's death.

At that stage, what needed to be shown was that the Supreme Demonic Sword could be defeated, that this unstoppable force could be overcome.

"But I want to try," Li Pin said, looking at the Netherlord. "You can't hold on much longer, can you? Ten years? Five? Three? Or just one or two?"

"That's not your concern," the Netherlord replied coldly.

"It is to me," Li Pin said. "Don't you want to see Cang Ruoxi grow up happily?"

"In the end, you're only here for the Supreme Demonic Sword," the Netherlord said indifferently.

"That's not wrong," Li Pin said calmly. "I've come to fight the Supreme Demonic Sword, entrusted by another to prevent future tragedies."

For a moment, the Netherlord seemed to realize something. "Entrusted by another..."

Li Pin didn't rush him. Everything he said was true. At least, he believed it to be.

Defeating the Supreme Demonic Sword was the key to breaking the current predicament, but this victory wouldn't be conventional. Or rather, it wouldn't be a perfect one. Only if Cang Ruoxi defeated the Supreme Demonic Sword using her own power could she truly find peace.

Her power lay in the first rule: "My dad is invincible."

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Thus, Li Pin came here, assuming the identity of the Immortal God Emperor.

The Moon Demon, Heavenly Demon, the true Immortal, and the Kirin Clan God Emperor had all failed to defeat the Supreme Demonic Sword. Even the invincible Netherlord couldn't succeed.

When a God Emperor was bestowed with the rule of invincibility, they could have a chance of defeating the Supreme Demonic Sword.

This was the sole method to break free from this world.

The Immortal God Emperor had always been enigmatic, as though he came from beyond this world.

In the ancient era, before the Four Great God Emperors had perished, a rumor had been circulating that the Immortal God Emperor was the original master of the Supreme Demonic Sword.

No one knew how he had obtained it, but he hid in the Moon Demon Domain, unable to control the divine weapon. When it threatened to control him instead, he abandoned it with great resolve and passed it to the Heavenly Demon God Emperor of that time.

Ultimately, everyone who tried to wield the Supreme Demonic Sword—be it the God Monarchs or God Emperors—met their demise. Only the Immortal God Emperor, who had held the sword multiple times, survived.

If anyone in the Mara World had a chance at defeating the Supreme Demonic Sword, it would be none other than the Immortal God Emperor.

The Netherlord suddenly asked, "If I use everything to fully unleash the Supreme Demonic Sword, do you think I could kill you?"

"You are the invincible Netherlord, wielding the unstoppable Supreme Demonic Sword. Together, you could kill anyone in this world—including me."

"Then, can I trust you?"

"Entirely," Li Pin said, meeting his gaze. "I can't guarantee your survival, but when it comes to Cang Ruoxi, even in the face of an insurmountable threat... I would die before her."

The Netherlord looked at Li Pin in silence.

Li Pin remained calm under his gaze, his words and promises sincere.

After a long pause, the Netherlord was convinced. "Enough."

He added, "I'll take you to see Ruoxi, but whether she accepts you as her adoptive father will depend on her choice. I won't force her to do anything against her will."

Li Pin smiled faintly. "Of course."

"Follow me."

With that, the Netherlord moved and headed toward his God Kingdom.

Li Pin followed closely. As he did, he seemed to recall something. "I haven't formed a God Kingdom yet. These eighty-eight avatars—if you need them, they can guard your God Kingdom and strengthen your power..."

"No need," the Netherlord spoke with quiet confidence. "I'm not weak to the point I'm unable to wield my sword. No one in the Three Domains can make me feel fear."

Li Pin remained silent.

When the Netherlord was empowered with invincibility, he could only be defeated by a plot-induced death. That is, only at the hands of a heroic figure like Yun Xi. But without that invincibility... hundreds of Pioneer God Kings would easily overpower him.

They traveled quickly and soon arrived at the God Kingdom.

In a courtyard with an ancient, somewhat nostalgic architectural style, Li Pin saw Cang Ruoxi by a lotus pond. She was reading a book with a lady dressed in the style of a young woman. The lady possessed a refined and gentle demeanor.

Cang Ruoxi looked like a doll—exquisite and adorable.

It was hard to imagine that she would turn out to be the Heavenly Demon God Emperor in the future, slaughtering the world and flooding the Three Domains with blood.

Cang Ruoxi seemed to feel their presence as they entered the courtyard.

Her gaze shifted past the Netherlord, whom she viewed as her entire world, and landed on Li Pin.

Li Pin smiled faintly. "Ruoxi."

He spoke as if they had known each other for a long time.

"Why... do you feel familiar?" Cang Ruoxi asked, a bit puzzled.

The Netherlord and the woman exchanged surprised glances. But neither said anything.

"Perhaps... in the distant future, we'll meet and, through a communion of souls, forge a bond far deeper than any ordinary connection." Li Pin maintained his connection with the will of the Astral God Mara and smiled as he approached her. "Would you... perhaps... call me father?"

Cang Ruoxi turned her gaze toward the Netherlord.

The Netherlord looked at the exchange between Cang Ruoxi and Li Pin, then fell silent for a moment. In the end, he said, "Ruoxi, he wants to acknowledge you as his daughter. Would you accept it?"

Cang Ruoxi lifted her head and asked, "Does that mean he's my second father?"

"As long as you agree," the Netherlord replied.

Li Pin smiled, his gaze encouraging.

Cang Ruoxi tilted her head to look at Li Pin, sensing the subtle energy radiating from him. She couldn't quite describe it, but that energy was comforting. It induced in her a sense of deep familiarity.

After a long moment, she whispered tentatively, "Father?"