"Yes, yes, yes!" a group of people chimed in.

At that moment, the Demon Emperor spoke, "I don’t like idle chatter. Why did you want to see me?"

"It’s a delicate matter, Demon Emperor. We revere you, so we can’t keep you in the dark. We have to tell you this, even at the risk of your anger!"

"What is it?" the Demon Emperor asked curiously.

Young Master Guo stepped forward and handed over his phone. Yu’er tapped the screen to play a video, and an image of Ye Fan and Qin Yanran immediately appeared. The two of them were incredibly intimate, embracing and sharing a farewell kiss. The video said it all.

Furious, Yu’er was about to smash the phone to pieces, but the Demon Emperor stopped her. "Wait."

There was no trace of anger in his voice. He took the phone, watched the video a second time, and remarked, "I seem to recognize this man, but I can’t recall who he is. Perhaps I’m mistaken."

With that, CRACK! The phone in the Demon Emperor’s hand crumbled into dust. His power was truly terrifying.

"This matter also involves the He Family," Young Master Guo said immediately. "The one who connected them was He Yu of the He Family!"

He was clearly going all out in his effort to drag the He Family down with them.

At that, the Demon Emperor said, "I know about your plans and schemes. There’s no need to hide them from me. If you’re truly sincere, make your move on my wedding day."

"Alright!" Young Master Guo agreed at once. With the Demon Emperor handling the other experts, they had nothing to fear. After an incident like this, they knew the Demon Emperor must be seething with rage. Perhaps it was time for the four great millennia-old families to be reshuffled.

"Get out!" Yu’er commanded.

The young masters scurried away, their hearts pounding in their chests.

Once they were gone, Yu’er said angrily, "The Qin Family doesn’t know what’s good for them. Shall I annihilate them for you, Master?"

The Demon Emperor replied, "No need. The wedding will proceed as planned. But after the wedding..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear. He had come to Shangjing for one reason: to bring the four great millennia-old families and the seven Ancient Martial Families under his command. His ambition was immense, but for someone like him, the task seemed anything but difficult.

As for the Demon Emperor, he was pondering Ye Fan. He couldn’t place him, yet he had the strangest feeling that Ye Fan was once someone he knew intimately. The memory, however, remained out of reach.

Of course, it was normal not to remember. A person changes so much over the years. Besides, during his time with the Divine Dragon, he wasn’t known as the King of Heaven. That was a title he had given himself on the South America Battlefield, a name that unexpectedly propelled him to become the foremost among the seven Kings.

That night, Ye Fan and He Yu were also deep in discussion.

"When the Demon Emperor arrives tomorrow," Ye Fan told He Yu, "I will fight him to the death at the wedding!"

"Big Brother, isn’t that too risky?" He Yu warned.

Ye Fan’s expression was grim. "No, it’s not risky at all. For me, it’s the perfect opportunity. The Demon Emperor must die!"

He spoke with vicious intensity. The hatred between them had reached a boiling point and was about to erupt. The shadow of the Demon Emperor had been behind the plot that framed him during his time with the Divine Dragon. Now, the same was true for Qin Yanran. The engagement was to be held at the estate of an Ancient Martial Family, which Ye Fan saw as the perfect place to strike. His grudge, and Qin Yanran’s fate, could not wait another day.

At that moment, He Yu offered, "Big Brother, I can plant some Martial Artists from the He Family inside. With me there, we can lend you a hand!"

Ye Fan shook his head. "There’s no need. You just keep an eye on the other Ancient Martial Families. As for the Demon Emperor, your intervention would be futile."

"Alright!" He Yu nodded in agreement.

The next day, at a resort estate sprawling over ten kilometers outside Shangjing, the usually quiet grounds were bustling with activity. It was the day of the Demon Emperor and Qin Yanran’s engagement. In the underground world, an engagement was considered as binding as a marriage.

In a room of the estate, Qin Yanran was lost in a daze, frightening her attendants. At this moment, the only person on her mind was Ye Fan.

So, in the end, I still can’t be with him, she thought, her heart aching. Clutched in her hand, she had prepared a long, sharp needle. She had already made a solemn decision. The moment I see him at the ceremony, I will end my own life. I am his woman. How could I ever belong to another?

She was resolved to take her own life, but before she died, she had to see him one last time. She couldn’t bear the thought of dragging Ye Fan into this vortex. I know that no matter how strong he is, he’s no match for the Demon Emperor. I can’t let him die for me. When it came to matters of love, Qin Yanran’s devotion was truly a painful burden. She hid the needle in the folds of her silk gown, where it was perfectly concealed.

Just then, the enchanting woman arrived. As she entered the room, the other attendants scurried out in fear. Yu’er looked at Qin Yanran, her eyes burning with a mixture of rage and jealousy.

Qin Yanran, however, was not afraid. She said calmly, "It’s not time yet. Isn’t it inappropriate for you to be in my room?"

"You filthy woman," Yu’er sneered. "Do you really think the Demon Emperor doesn’t know about you and that man?!"

"What?" Qin Yanran panicked.

"I truly don’t understand why the Demon Emperor would want to marry a filthy woman like you!" Yu’er continued.

"Shut up!" Qin Yanran retorted sharply. "I have a clear conscience for being with the man I love. It’s not your place to lecture me!"

Yu’er seemed to freeze, as if struck by a thought. But isn’t the magnificent Demon Emperor the man I’ve loved my entire life? she thought bitterly. Though he wasn’t physically harmed by this matter, she couldn’t bear to see the man she loved suffer even the slightest humiliation.

She lunged forward, her hand closing around Qin Yanran’s throat. "I could just kill you right now."

"Then do it!" Qin Yanran gasped, defiant.

"Hmph! Your time will come. For now, I’ll let you live a little longer!" Yu’er released her grip and stormed out of the room.

Qin Yanran collapsed, tears streaming down her face, but they were tears without regret.

Outside, the estate’s sprawling grounds were filled with people. These were the great families and powers of Shangjing’s underground world, all gathered in one place—the spectacle was breathtaking. The number of powerful individuals was countless; nine out of ten people present were Martial Artists. The sheer presence was so imposing that an ordinary person would surely be overwhelmed.

As the host, Qin Family Patriarch Qin Changsheng was feeling quite proud. His granddaughter was about to be engaged to the Demon Emperor, a union that would cement the Qin Family as the number one family in Shangjing. Such was the influence a King held; it was simply the way of the world.

Little did they know this lively celebration was merely the prelude to an eruption.

He stepped forward and announced, "Welcome, friends, to the Qin Family estate. The engagement ceremony will begin shortly. Please be patient for just a moment!"

It must be said, the Demon Emperor put on great airs. The entire event was arranged solely to cater to him.

Soon after, the Demon Emperor appeared. Dressed in a Western suit, he seemed even more unapproachable. Beside him was Qin Yanran, wearing a white wedding gown. But anyone could see she was not in good spirits. Not at all.

The Demon Emperor glanced at her, and panic seized Qin Yanran’s heart. She felt no affection for him whatsoever. If only he would just die.