Chapter 612: The Bearing of a Great Leader?

For Emperors, controlling a main city was key; it was their greatest source of income, which was extremely important not just for them but for the entire race they belonged to.

Among the demon races, there were only two Emperors who had no interest in this aspect. One was the top-ranked Omnipotent Crystal Demon Emperor, and the other was the economically impotent Sword Saint Demon Emperor.

The Crystal Demon Emperor simply didn’t care, because its bloodline was a mutation, and it had no true descendants. Additionally, the dragon race was powerful and controlled a main city anyway, so it had no reason to fight over other cities. Moreover, one reason all Emperors feared the Crystal Demon Emperor was that it had no attachments of the sort; if provoked, it could do anything without any hesitation.

The Sword Saint Demon Emperor lacking a main city, on the other hand, was due to the peculiarities of the Red-Crowned Crane lineage. These demons focused solely on sword practice, which required utmost concentration. Therefore, they didn't understand management, preferred a simple life, and had unusually low material needs. This was why they didn't bother to occupy a main city, and if they had, it probably wouldn’t be managed terribly well.

The Peacock Demon clan had once been extremely powerful, and the main city they occupied was not Kali City but a more prosperous and affluent city. However, after the Peacock Demon Emperor passed away without a successor, the Peacock Demon clan's strength diminished significantly, making it difficult to maintain control of that city.

The only reason they still had a main city like Kali City was due to the care of the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor. The Celestial Fox's control over fate and the Peacock's ability to peer into the secrets of heaven were related, and they very much did work together. The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor declared that the early death of the Peacock Demon Emperor was largely due to excessive peering into celestial secrets for the sake of the clan. Therefore, the Peacock Demon clan's ancestral home had to be protected. This allowed the Peacock Demon clan to remain the rulers of a main city. However, without an Emperor, they had to give up their original prosperous main city and manage the comparatively peripheral Kali City for many years.

Now, with the attitude of the newly-ascended Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, many nobles in Kali City understood that the Ancestral Court would eventually make a move against Kali City. The phoenix race also had one other emperor and a city, but unlike the Crystal Demon Emperor, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor very much desired control over a city. Moreover, the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor's lineage and the Peacock Demon clan were natural enemies. Now that it had become an Emperor, how could it possibly spare the Peacock Demon clan?

Although the Peacock Great Demon King was not weak and even repelled the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor once, an Emperor is still an Emperor. If he returned with full force, the Peacock Demon clan might not be able to survive. It was hard to say what would become of the Peacock Demon clan then.

One had to acknowledge the Peacock Demon clan's talent in management. Despite Kali City being the most remote and secluded main city, it never lacked wealth due to the efforts of the Aetherhorn Deers and Golden Deers. This was great for the inhabitants, but at the same time, it only made the city a fatter sheep.

Word had spread throughout Kali City that the Peacock Great Demon King's daughter, born of a human mother, had won double championships in the Ancestral Court Elite Competition and might become the next Peacock Demon Emperor. This was obviously not just a rumor. If true, the Peacock Demon clan had hope. The Peacock Great Demon King's announcement that he would pass the position of clan leader to Mei Gongzi in seven days further confirmed these rumors.

Although it was only the position of clan leader for now, not that of city lord, it was clear to everyone that Mei Gongzi was the designated heir of the Peacock Great Demon King in that respect as well.

The most troublesome issue now was the internal strife within the Peacock Demon clan. Mei Gongzi's biggest problem was that she was not of pure Peacock Demon blood; she also had human blood. This was looked down upon within the Peacock Demon clan.

Although the Peacock Great Demon King was the clan leader, he was not the only Great Demon King in the entire Peacock Demon clan. He was certainly the strongest, but the Peacock Demon clan had deep foundations, with many elders being at the tenth tier and some even above that. The biggest issue facing Kali City was how to get these elders to recognize Mei Gongzi and allow her to become the clan leader. Thus, with the date set, there was no doubt that this would be a fierce internal struggle within the Peacock Demon clan.

All the clans under the rule Peacock Demon clan had been keeping a very low profile recently. They had received reminders from the Peacock Great Demon King and were adopting a wait-and-see attitude. Whether Mei Gongzi could inherit the position of clan leader would determine the future direction of Kali City. The specific situation would only become clear on the day of the grand ceremony.

"How are you adjusting?" asked the Peacock Great Demon King, looking at Mei Gongzi with concern.

Mei Gongzi nodded lightly. "Much better."

The Peacock Great Demon King carefully observed his daughter and was surprised to see that her deep sadness seemed to have genuinely disappeared.

He was experienced and knew that for a woman, the first man to enter her heart would have the greatest impact on her. Moreover, that person had died for her, making the emotional impact even more profound.

Seeing Mei Gongzi recover so quickly, the Peacock Great Demon King couldn't help but show a look of admiration. "As expected of my daughter, you have the bearing of a great leader. The future looks promising!"

Mei Gongzi's lips twitched slightly.

The bearing of a great leader? I’m not sad anymore because that person isn't dead at all!

Thinking of Tang San made her heart clench. She didn't even know how to face him now.

Asura wasn't dead, but he had become Tang San, and he claimed to be her predestined husband. Meanwhile, she was just a teenage girl and had never even considered the idea of a husband, much less one from a past life. How could she not feel conflicted?

Seeing her emotional change, the Peacock Great Demon King thought she was feeling sad again and quickly said, "Let's not talk about this. The date for you to inherit the position of clan leader is set. Before that, you must undergo your tribulation. This is the most important thing. You know how demons are: strength is the foundation of everything. If you can beat them up, then even if you want to become the queen of the world, nobody will bat an eye. With your talent and the Celestial Plume, as long as you can reach godhood, there should be no problem inheriting the position of clan leader. Have you thought about where you want to undergo your tribulation?"

Mei Gongzi almost instinctively blurted out, "At sea."

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The Peacock Great Demon King was stunned. "At sea?"

Mei Gongzi then realized what she’d just said, and her mind couldn't help but recall what that guy had told her about his past life as the Sea God.

"Yes, at sea. It would be beyond all the clans' expectations, and the open sea offers no cover, making it difficult for them to interfere. By the time they realize I'm undergoing my tribulation on the sea, the tribulation may already be over."

The Peacock Great Demon King nodded and said, "That does make sense. If this were before, it would certainly be fine, and I would agree. But the problem is, do you remember when that Crystal Phoenix came, a so-called Sea God appeared? That Sea God is likely an Emperor-level existence in the Endless Blue Sea. The Ancestral Court actually had some people directly investigate the Endless Blue Sea but found nothing. I'm worried that if you undergo your tribulation at sea and attract that entity, it will be troublesome."

Mei Gongzi opened her mouth but didn't know how to explain things to her father. At this moment, she suddenly understood why Tang San had always been with her as Asura; many things about him were hard to explain!

She could only grit her teeth and placate her father for now. "Alright, I'll think about it again."

"I will also protect you if you want to do it in Kali City, but just in case the commotion is too great, you can go to the Kali Mountains and find a secluded place for your tribulation. I will personally guard you."

Mei Gongzi nodded. "Understood."

"Then you just make sure you’re in absolute peak condition. We don’t need to decide this just yet; just in case someone catches wind of where you want to do it. I’ll go make some preparations for now."

"Okay."